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Torture, The Passion, and a Great Awakening
Mel Gibson’s celebrated/infamous The Passion of the Christ returned to movie theatres this week in a sanitized version. This latest cut of the film is about six minutes shorter than the edition that appeared in theatres in 2004. The cuts largely come from the lengthy scourging scene that disturbed many viewers who otherwise enjoyed the film.
Given its recent return to theatres, Easter Sunday strikes me as the perfect day to raise a few knotty questions about the film, and its continuing popularity. Two thousand years later, why make a passion film at all? Why emphasize Christ’s suffering, and the violence done to him, to such an extraordinary degree – as opposed to the teachings that Thomas Jefferson described as “more pure, correct and sublime than those of the ancient philosophers?” And inasmuch as torture and hideous forms of execution haven’t exactly disappeared from the world stage, and that senseless brutality and violence are a staple of Hollywood blockbusters, why exactly is the film’s graphic violence having such a powerful impact on Catholic, evangelical and fundamentalist audiences?
Jesus suffered horribly during the last eighteen hours of his life. This is a given. One would hope that anyone seeing a depiction of his suffering would be forever changed by the experience. One hopes that they would ask how human beings could ever do such a thing. But the Gospels are a bit confusing on a key issue, as is Gibson – who essentially follows them. Is the Romans’ torture of Jesus hideous and indefensible simply because they should have known that He was the Son of God? Or is their real crime that of subjecting any human being to such a fate? The difference is profound.
With regard to the first condition, how could the Romans even know that Jesus was the Savior? Christ’s ministry was directed towards his own people, not Pilate, who gave the order for his death, or the soldiers who took part in his torture and execution.
With regard to the second condition, one assumes that the reasonable twenty-first century man or woman would conclude that Roman guilt here is assured. Torture, humiliation, and wrongful execution have no place in the human experience.
Yet, if this realization were the primary message being communicated by the film – a realization that is as firmly rooted in Jesus’ philosophy of love and non-violence as a majestic Redwood is in the Northern California earth – then shouldn’t we be seeing a ripple effect across the nation?
Shouldn’t we be hearing calls by American evangelicals and fundamentalists for, as one example, an end to the policy of shuttling Al-Qaeda prisoners off to “allies” who use their own hideous means of torture in extracting information?
Shouldn’t we also be seeing outrage and disgust among movie audiences at the recent revelation that over twenty-six prisoners have died in United States custody since the start of the War on Terror?
And even though the media has largely chosen to brush Abu Ghraib under the rug, shouldn’t we also be seeing the film’s multitude of viewers coming to grips with a horrible irony: the vast majority of prisoners held there were later simply released by American authorities. This indicates to me that these prisoners were likely innocent men, caught up in a political/religious struggle, and yet subjected to torture, humiliation, and even loss of life in our name.
We’re not seeing that kind of reaction from Passion audiences. We’re not seeing a spike in intellectual recognition of the profound humanitarian issues raised by the film – or the truly revolutionary philosophy that Jesus taught.
If anything, the film must be seen as illustrative of our collective presence amidst yet another Great Awakening – a phenomenon quite common in American history, where often-irrational religious emotion and fervor overtake reason and authentic spiritual insight.
The Founders and Framers each lived through at least one of these periods – the first of which in American history ran from about 1730 to 1760, and the second from 1820 to the mid-1830s. These were decades of great religious revivals, and fiery preachers – whose message, heard through modern ears, is apt to strike us as the Book of Revelation struck Thomas Jefferson – “the ravings of a maniac”.
For an example of what I’m describing, take the time to read the linked sermon by Jonathan Edwards, one of the leading figures of the First Great Awakening, his “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”.
These “awakening” periods are a part of our history, but let me strongly suggest that the thinking that they reflect is far removed from the breakthrough in human consciousness that was behind the birth of this nation in 1776. As historians point out time and again, it was a miracle of near-biblical proportions that a group of men as forward thinking and intellectually brilliant as the Founders and Framers even came together at that point in human history.
Furthermore, the emotion-laden thinking that these "awakenings" exploit, and is either deliberately or unconsciously being communicated through Mel Gibson’s film, is not much different than that used by Islamic clerics when coercing young men and women with potentially promising lives to become suicide bombers.
Let me close this Easter Sunday with two final points. One, in my experience, this kind of emotion has almost nothing to do with authentic spiritual development or cosmic insight into the human condition. It is the cotton candy of spiritual experience. It tastes sweet, but it can rot your teeth - and it has little nutritional value.
Two, to paraphrase the advice that a Fordham professor once gave this student, don’t blame the problems of the world on Jesus when His actual philosophy has rarely, if ever, been tried - especially by those who most rapturously, and publicly, speak His name.
******
Matthew Carnicelli's new bio is now available online.
Off Topic, but the height of hypocrisy: Tom Delay!
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-delay27mar27,0,5710023.story?coll=la-home-headlines
When confronted with his own father in a Terri Schiavo situation, what did Tom Delay decide? A dignified death, not a never-ending legal struggle to continue a brain dead existence.
And, then, what did he do about the product liability? He sued.
Matt
Excellent! I had to read "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" in literature class in high school, along with "The Scarlet Letter" and a bunch of other early American stuff. I was so happy when we finally got to Emerson and Thoreau!
I have encountered quite a few fundamentalist Christian homeschoolers and even a therapist who advocated using "Resurrection Eggs" as a project with children. Each was to contain a Bible verse and a symbol of the story of the Crucifixion and they would be opened in sequence. One contained a piece of lashing to represent the flogging of Christ.
Then yesterday I read that Russell Stover candy company is putting out a chocolate cross for those who think the chocolate bunny is too pagan. Yet there are other ministers who think it is wrong to eat a chocolate cross.
Is it ok to say "bah humbug" for Easter as well as Christmas?
Easter was always my favorite holiday. I'd get up really early with my dad and go to church for home made cinnamin rolls and fresh lilies. I'd have new clothes, including a hat. We had 500 people in our town & 4 churches - Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran and Catholic. No one talked about it in school, quoted Bible verses or carried crosses in the street like I'm hearing of now. In fact, we went had sex education both at church and in biology, and the parents insisted on it (this in South Dakota), just as we learned not to drink and drive by watching gory wreck movies in the auditorium.
Yes I think this is one of those crazy panicked anti-intellectual periods in history. I am glad I won't live long enough to be vulnerable to group mind control. Just to make sure, I don't watch tv news or participate in organized religion.
I hope this doesn't get ignored now that it's hit the New York Times:
FBI Aided Saudi Flight after 9/11
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032705Z.shtml
Matt:
I just sent the article & link out to a bunch of people.
Those are questions I have every day Matt. I don't understand the conviction to following Jesus's path, yet the tolerance of the evil you mentioned. That's why I'm happy to be here doing what I'm doing--I'm fighting for these same values Jesus held dear and I'm fighting against the same evil forces who cruisified him. No--not the jews as what has been repeated for thousands of years--but the evil establishment which in Jesus's case was the Romans.
The few of these fundies I've talked with believe we are living in the "end times" and that trouble in the middle east is just the fulfillment of a prophesy. One said she is looking forward to the hereafter and a little impatient with time on earth. I heard another guy say that we should not give aid to tsunami victims because some are Muslim. His wife said, yes but they are children & he answered that they grow up to be adult Muslims. So I think that some think like Crusaders & it's like the Dark Ages for them.
Rather than "showcasing" Christ's suffering,why not discuss how abandonded HE must have felt at that moment in time and relate that suffering to the many in all societies that now feel the "PASSION" HE experienced. Such hypocrisy as never before is hard to swallow! Take that child in the Red River slayings last week. We have ABANDONED many,this child is a only a symptom of our society making wrong choices. This ADM doesn't get how much they are guilty of wrong doings. It makes me sick!
HAPPY EASTER E1!
Yes Jesus railed against the money lenders - today that would be Wolfowitz and the IMF.
I don't think Jesus would have hung with neocons.
Happy Easter Patti! Hope your arms are healing & I still owe you dinner & drinks for not watching much of the Republican convention, remember?!
Amy if you did not get your link to the Euro Dollar and Saddam it is on the last Thread at the end Rossi
When confronted with his own father in a Terri Schiavo situation, what did Tom Delay decide? A dignified death, not a never-ending legal struggle to continue a brain dead existence.
And, then, what did he do about the product liability? He sued.
Posted by: Ray S at March 27, 2005 09:47 AM
Thanks for the link Rays S
And Happy Easter for all you guys from Aussieland
Chuck in Baku for All:
On the Happy Easter note, thought I'd just pass something along from here in Baku. Just had Easter dinner here (leg of lamb) with one of my oldest friends here in Azerbaijan as I am leaving Wednesday. We worked together a long time (oil patch) but haven't seen too much of eacy other for a while. Anyway, as usual we talked shop, which led to Iran (we're oil patch) which led to religion (Azerbaijan was historically Shiite and some 20% of Iranians are ethnic Azeris). Anyhow, in discussing the powers that be in Iran as an aside, my friend, who is not really Muslim (Azerbaijan is ex-Soviet but historically and culturally Shiia Muslim), started on about the role of hypocrisy in religion in Iran and about how carrying out religious acts in public is antithetical to the true meaning of faith. Some of you may know that that is one of my favorite themes on this blog (Matthew 6:1-8), even though I am not a practicing Christian. Anyhow, seemed like an appropriate thought to pass on to everyone on an Easter Sunday.
Happy Easter and Nov Ruz bayraminiz mubarek olsun to All!
Chuck in Baku
Wolfowitz, Moneylenders & "Compassion"
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/217624_focusworldbank27.html
Here is some feedback on Matt's article, by a couple of people who know more about theology than I and they are antiwar activists:
I have heard Christian apologists - one of them a professor of religion at Harvard - say that Jesus' philosophy, his teachings, are meaningless without the crucifixion and resurrection. That those last thee days are what it's all about. This has never made sense to me. The crucifixion has been the excuse for continuous torture and murder for centuries. Which never made sense to me either, since if it was necessary to the Plan, why blame those you have inveigled into carrying it out. Judas wasn't a betrayer. He was a co-conspirator. The original J might have had a plan for his message to be remembered, and may have willingly martyred himself for it, but it backfired. Within a very few years, the agape feast turned into the who's more righteous than thou feast, and the ostracism began. Once you start fighting about who's going to sit on whose right hand in the after life, this life loses its importance and let the killing begin.
and more (from Niteskystar):
Jesus is and was the message of Love. This is the greatest message in the Passion movie. Had there been love and acceptance of Jesus, there would not have been torture and abuse of him. Love by example would conquer war and abuse of all living things. Happy Easter
Benson on DeLay...It is one of his best...
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/benson/
don’t blame the problems of the world on Jesus when His actual philosophy has rarely, if ever, been tried -
......especially by those who most rapturously, and publicly, speak His name.
Posted by Matthew Carnicelli at March 27, 2005 08:54 AM
So much for a personal relationship with the Lord.
It's tabloid news, and tell-all books, and T.V. drama, and preaching via pre-arranged publicity stunts. These people don't have time for God, they're busy working on their fifteen minutes of fame. The first rule of self promotion has always been to link one-self with someone famous in order to get a piece of the spotlight. The red carpet on the way to heaven sure is crowded these days........
Chuck in Baku for All:
Re-read my post above and realized it didn't really make the point I intended, which is that I just had another confirmation that faith transcends beliefs, and that people everywhere come to remarkably similar insights with respect to the big picture, regardless of the conditions or ritualistic particulars we come up in.
Happy Easter!
Chuck in Baku
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=219
Very good article: But two or tree more cycles of the NeoCon Parasites in power of the free World would send me off the deep end, God help me I hope they are bought up for war crimes long before then. I can only hope but I will not hold my breath waiting for the American People to wake up and put them where they belong behind bars
So much for a personal relationship with the Lord.
It's tabloid news, and tell-all books, and T.V. drama, and preaching via pre-arranged publicity stunts. These people don't have time for God, they're busy working on their fifteen minutes of fame. The first rule of self promotion has always been to link one-self with someone famous in order to get a piece of the spotlight. The red carpet on the way to heaven sure is crowded these days........
Posted by: tutterfly at March 27, 2005 02:28 PM
You sure tell it like it is, way to go tutt
Schiavo Case Has Parallels Throughout the World:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002221477_euthanasia27.html
Comprehensive article raises some interesting philosopical, ethical and legal issues.
Rossian
That Scott Ritter interview on the neocon parasites in Raw Story is fascinating. Thanks.
Chuck in Baku off topic for All:
By the way, on the last thread, there was some discussion of the historical impact of cold war thinking and cold war politics on today's political landscape. Off topic, but just wanted to touch on the passing of George Kennan at 101, a great American statesman. Reading through a bit of his past works, a person gets a sense of how quickly, on the one hand, certain stylistic frames become dated, while, on the other hand, certain truths or insights transcend style or even the direct subject matter (parables, I guess). In that spirit, I recommend taking a look at these:
http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0322-22.htm
http://www.foreignaffairs.org/background/kennan
As parables, I like to read them not so much as stories about the cold war as stories about human and international relations in general and also about out past -- and also about how an issue of ostensibly over-riding importance became a historical footnote overnight (and vice-versa).
Chuck in Baku
Tutt I posted you on ReBelle dont sue me babe please, just wanted to let you know, I like you style. Rossi
Oops - sorry - "out past" = "our past" in my above.
Chuck in Baku
PS: Bad keyboard! Bad!
Chuck in Baku for Rossiann:
Rossiann, not to pry, and really not any of my business, but are you a citizen of the US? Again, not my business, I've just always been curious, so apologies if that is out of line.
Chuck in Baku (US Citizen and registerd Oregon voter)
And, then, what did he do about the product liability? He sued.
Posted by: Ray S at March 27, 2005 09:47 AM
Ray,
That's a good, succinct way to characterize Mr. Save Terry Tort Reform Ethics?-What-Me-Worry DeLay.
Business Sees Gain In GOP Takeover
Political Allies Push Corporate Agenda
By Jim VandeHei
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 27, 2005; Page A01
Fortune 500 companies that invested millions of dollars in electing Republicans are emerging as the earliest beneficiaries of a government controlled by President Bush and the largest GOP House and Senate majority in a half century.
http://rawstory.com/news/2005/index.php?p=223
Happy Eastern, Joyeuses Pâques, evryone.
Eastern? I just realized yersterday that, that was it.
Don't expect me to go to church, I never do, but I have my values, human ones.
I just shared my table with many ones. And I am just about dying out of the muti courses meal we had! Everybody came with something. I had enough food for a week., but we had such fun.
Is it bad, good, religiuosly or politically correct, I don't care. That was just a great day...sharing.
They are coming tomorrow again, because there is much left, and we just want to go on with the spirit and atmosphere.
How many more times will Jesus be crucified, once isnt enough.....?
Excellent writing Matthew..
It is far easier to trigger emotional response of anguish and suffering, the need to act upon these, instead of triggering the need to feed the hungry, care for the ill, house the homeless and love your neighbor, as jesus actually instructed his followers to do. People heard the words, but they did not listen.
Where did things go wrong? how did the Religious Right become so confused they actively back an administration that bombs, kills and maims innocent people...
This Administration cuts welfare, WIC, education, medicare, and the rest of the services that are built to care for those that need help the most...and is supported by a group that is diametrically opposed by their own beliefs to pursue these very courses of action.
The Religious Right has been hijacked by their own leadership, and is being led down a path that will eventually force them to question their actions, but not before massive amounts of damage have been done to the world, and to the very country they love.
So...How many times must Jesus be crucified..?
until his followers start acting upon what he instructed to do, instead of a leadership that has compromised religious beliefs for political power.
Here is what I am listening to, this Easter Day:
Leonard Cohen - Anthem Lyrics
The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.
Ah the wars they will
be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
bought and sold
and bought again
the dove is never free.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
We asked for signs
the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed
the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
of every government --
signs for all to see.
I can't run no more
with that lawless crowd
while the killers in high places
say their prayers out loud.
But they've summoned, they've summoned up
a thundercloud
and they're going to hear from me.
Ring the bells that still can ring ...
You can add up the parts
but you won't have the sum
You can strike up the march,
there is no drum
Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
That's how the light gets in.
Chuck in Baku for Andree - France:
And Happy Easter / Nov Ruz / et al / to you and yours from here in Baku! My leg of lamb on a bed of sliced potatoes and onions all marinated in a garlic-rosemary-olive oil paste and doused with cheap white wine (every 20 minutes) turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself....
Happy Easter and Liberte, Egalite, and Fraternite (and Sororite)!
Chuck in Baku
Chuck,
Please do let us know where you land in the US. The lamb sounds yummy--bring the recipe with you!
Happy Easter!~
Chuck,
We are on the same trend! Except my lamb was coming from the the farm of a remote little cousin (very close in our Celtic traditions), which pasted along the sea!
So I payed much attention to it. It marinated, all day, in rock salt, olive oil and thyme and cooked dripping over the potatoes...
Before we had Corsican farm made pâté, after, stinky cheese and a Normand pear tart + lots of things before/after/in the middle..and very good wine.
The house smelling good and everyone steeking into the kitchen was greeeaaat!
gee STICKING!
Too much good wine.
Chuck in Baku for Karen:
Roger wilco... On the recipe, the key is to keep testing the "marinade" while chopping the stuff up and then having forgiving (or understanding) guests! Plus trim the leg well and don't spare the marinade or the olive oil and use one of those intant-read thermometers. The tough part is getting the lamb and potatoes to agree to finish at the same time. (No, really, the potatoes are supposed to look like that.)
On another note:
"Live if you want to live,
"Rastaman vibrations, yeah, positive
"That's what we've got to give...."
Chuck in Baku
PS: I.e., that's what I am listening to.
Chuck in Baku for Rossiann:
Rossiann, not to pry, and really not any of my business, but are you a citizen of the US? Again, not my business, I've just always been curious, so apologies if that is out of line.
Chuck in Baku (US Citizen and registerd Oregon voter)
Posted by: Chazman at March 27, 2005 03:08 PM
Not out of line Chuck, no I am a Kangaroo from Down Under Queensland Australia
Chuck in Baku for Andree - France:
Are you Breton? So is the Geoservice country manager here. Our lamb is very much local. One of my favorite memories from Baku is off-loading and AN-124 (very big cargo aircraft) at the airport back in 1993 with flocks grazing near the runway. But that gives the wrong impression of Baku. This is the town of Kasparov and Rostopovich (and others that ought to remain nameless).
Happy Easter and Bon Apetit!
Chuck in Baku
But Hell I wanted JK elected so badly I was with his campaing right from the time he was nominated, Have a great loathing for Liars and degenerates being learders of the free world and am not any more happy with my own govt who are a lot of lapdogs to you know the hell who;
That is the why chuck Kangaroo from down under
Chuck,
'Ia, me zo darc'h pen ar bed" = Yes I'm from Brittany (lit: end of the world). As you may see, I speak, read an write my old Gaelic language. I am from Finistère (in Latin: Finis Terrae = end of the world again) and my mother lives in Quimper, a place Americans know for its crockery, and my father came from Pointe du Raz, the ultimate village on the map...before falling into the sea.
And where did John Kerry spend his holidays when a kid? In Brittany! Ah, ah... His uncle still lives there.
Chuck in Baku for Rossiann:
Thanks for the reply -- someday all of us have to get into the concept that globalization needs to have a political as well as economic aspect, which is why I asked. It's really not about the US or EU or Anzac or anything else. Things have become so interconnected so fast that all of us have an obligation to consider the global impact of our local decisions. I hope we all can get there from here. Every national political equation has its international dimension, and we need to figure out how to leverage that so we can move forward together to make things better for all of us and for all of our kids and grand kids. I realize that many folks are focused on the USA now, but in the final analysis we are all in this together.
Chuck in Baku
Hello everyone
I went to the bakery where my son works & had a vanilla latte with cinnamin roll with pecans & raisins & I drew pictures of the workers. I will never lose weight gained since the election at this rate, but I'm having fun. No church, no eggs, no rabbits - I get enough of that at work. I agree about being in this all together across the world - it isn't just a US issue. Happy international Easter - awaiting the crucifixion of the neocons and the resurrection of democracy.
Chuck in Baku for Andree - France:
Well, my dad's mom's mom was born in Cork and my mom's dad was a Hopkins (Welsh, somewhat) so me an you and Linda Enterkin (who posts here off and on) are kin!
Chuck in Baku
Every national political equation has its international dimension, and we need to figure out how to leverage that so we can move forward together to make things better for all of us and for all of our kids and grand kids. I realize that many folks are focused on the USA now, but in the final analysis we are all in this together.
Chuck in Baku
I agree totally with you chuck BUT; THE ILLITERATE MORON THAT RESIDES IN THE WHITE HOUSE HAS HIS FINGER ON ALL THE WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION THERE ARE A WIPE US ALL OUT THAT INCLUDES MY 3 CHILDREN AND 7 GRANDCHILDREN AND THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO ME AT ALL NOT IN THIS LIFETIME
Kangaroo Land down Under
Chuck in Baku for DiAnne:
Going back to Brother Bob, and I can't find the disk so this is an ad-lib:
"One world, one love
"let's get together and feel all right.
"As it was in the beginning,
"So shall it be in the end,
"Give thanks and praise to the lord and it will be all right."
Bob Marley.
That is my Easter thought for the day.
Secularly yours,
Chuck in Baku
Chuck in Baku,
We're everywhere. I'm Breton but of irish ancestry. Good stubborn, rebellious people fighting against "the lords".
Do you know we are 70 millions people all over the world? And Kennedy was one of us.
I didn't know about Linda. Thanks.
Hi, Rosiann down there, we are the only 2 foreigners who escaped Nov 3 . But we're still here.
Chuck in Baku for Rossiann:
We are working on that and of course we need your help down there as much as you need ours up here. At the end of the day, again, we are all in this life together. I guess that is what I am trying to say. We will do our best. My country is big and powerful and complex so we draw a lot of attention, and rightfully so. But at the end of the day the rest of the world can't just dump everything on us. We have to be smart and strong together to make this work. Unfortunately, the political system in the US has been hijacked by a group of folks that just don't see things that way, and, even more unfortunately, just (barely) over half of US voters don't seem to think that that is a problem. We all need to get together and figure out how to make this work for all of us.
"The biggest man you ever did see was just a baby in this life, in this old sweet life, coming in from the cold..."
Brother Bob
Chuck in Baku
I'm Irish, English, Welsh, Turkish & Sioux.
Chuck in Baku - for you
Build your penitentiary, we build your schools,
Brainwash education to make us the fools.
Hate is your reward for our love,
Telling us of your God above.
Here comes the conman
Coming with his con plan.
We won’t take no bribe;
We’ve got [to] stay alive.
We gonna chase those crazy -
Chase those crazy baldheads -
Chase those crazy baldheads out of the town.
Bob Marley
Let's give love a try
Let love control, control your destiny
Owe it to ourselves, yes we do
to live happy eternally.
Sweet love is what we're searching for
And love is what we're looking for
Now that I've got it right here in my hand
I'm gonna spread it all over the land.
Now that we found love what are we gonna do
.. with it
Third World
Jah Rastafari
Chuck in Baku for Andree - France:
Yeah, if I recall my Kerry blog days, Linda's folks came from Wales also, in part. Yes, we are stubborn. I've said it before and I'll say it again (and, Rossiann, this definitely applies to Australians I've known as well), we are very stubborn -- our greatest strength and perhaps our greatest weakness. But I like to think of it as a strength only. We will prevail, we will come together and make it work. Failure is not an option.
Chuck in Baku
Chuck in Baku,
I cannot but agree. We underwent the worst and survived, but our strenght is not only knowing where we are coming from, but that we are trans-cultural...
Strangely enough we have deep tribe connections, but we think internationally!
We could teach a lot to manies...if they were only willing to listen.
We are quoted as wild and crazy, unless it's wisdom.
Hi, Rosiann down there, we are the only 2 foreigners who escaped Nov 3 . But we're still here.
Posted by: Andrée - France at March 27, 2005 04:58 PM
God Andree the worst day of my life except for the day I lost my husband, Losing that election I was so naive about American election and politics I never thought it could possible happen, I cried for weeks and still raging so it seems forgive me guys but that is just who I am
Chuck in Baku for Rossiann:
Rossiann, if it makes you feel any better, it took us Americans some four-score and seven years to even get the slavery thing moving in the right direction. I like to think the important thing is the movement and the direction.
"Redemption songs...."
Chuck in Baku
PS: My mom's mom's step-uncle was Stonewall Jackson, I think! Moral: we all must grow.
Mr. Bush and His Easter Rebellion
Why do so many zealots live in the land of darkness?
Whatever they believe, those consumed by truth rarely understand how anyone of good faith can possibly fail to see their particular light. Those who refuse "the truth" must be wicked, willful, or somehow uninstructed, and become the target of fervid evangelism, whether with soothing words or avenging fire.
Our President uses both, as he showed in his Easter message.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16.
I send greetings to all those celebrating Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through His sacrifice and triumph over death, Christ lifted the sights of humanity forever. In His teachings, the poor have heard hope, the proud have been challenged, and the weak and dying have found assurance. Today, the words of Jesus continue to comfort and strengthen Christians around the world.
Many - though by no means anywhere near a majority - who believe in these words will find it wonderful that the President has repeated them in the exercise of his public office. Mr. Bush and his political advisors know this, and clearly used the opportunity of his weekly radio address to further cement the bond between the President and those who want to turn America into "a Christian nation."
Nor does the president or his flock necessarly mean to hurt or exclude those of us who follow other paths - or no religious path at all. He is only bringing us the Word, and what could be a greater gift?
Well, thanks, but no thanks. The dangers are far too real. By so publicly rejecting the Constitutionally mandated separation of church and state - and throwing off the good manners of millions of Americans who exercise their freedom of belief in private - Mr. Bush threatens to lead America down the road to open religious conflict. We've seen where that leads from South Asia to the Middle East, and in the bloody history of Europe's religious wars. Is that what we want for America? Is that what we want for the world?
From his first use of the word "Crusade" to describe his "War on Terror," Mr. Bush has led Muslims everywhere to see America as fighting a holy war against them. This only builds support for Osama bin Laden and others who would fight a holy war, or jihad, against those who fail to salute their religious banner. Why, in his self-righteous blindness, does Mr. Bush persist in being their recruiting sergeant?
No doubt, many on my side of the political divide will dismiss Mr. Bush's Easter antics as merely pandering to or emboldening his supporters on the religious right. I fear worse. I could be wrong, and hope I am. But I see our preacher-president raising the flag of Christian nationalism over the Oval Office. As my colleague Will Pitt has discussed, the religious right openly, even seditiously, calls for the creation of a United States of Jesus. With his Easter message, Mr. Bush has come perilously close to publicly joining their ranks.
Steve Weissman (Veteran of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement)
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/032705A.shtml
Rosiann,
When I went to bed about 3 in the morning (for me), everything was going fine about the elections. My journalists were high with joy...except my chidren told me "if things do not work the way you want, don't collapse". The morning after I couldn't believe the news, but didn't say a word, and then the blog stopped. it was only then I realized what had happened.
Has America gone stupid? That was my first question. But I was most angry, angry to hell with only one idea in mind "I want the Blue America I love back"...and I entered resistance as my family did against the nazis.
The fight must go on. The problem is we are only 2 watching the world the news outside, and I am the rebel French on top!
When I read most of American news they make me sick, so distorted....and so many swallow them. It's as if we were living in 2 separate worlds. Bushco and us...
By the way, my second daughter is fascinated by Australia.
The nightmare from here:
On election night we were downtown at the Westin Hotel & it was full of bartenders, happy campaigners dressed crazily, local and state dignitaries and candidates & we were prepared to celebrate. There were press and large screen tvs everywhere.
I didn't realize that Ohio was as crucial. I thought there might be other scenarios. At one point my son said, "Let's go." Only then did I realize that he believed we had lost for sure. The local candidates were still trying to keep people enthused for the other people who were running, such as Governor, Congressmen etc.
The place got quiet. Some people held each other and cried. I heard some say they would leave for Canada. The place started to empty, even though there was still plenty planned for the night. The escalators were full of festively dressed silent people, heads down.
On the way home, no one spoke. For two weeks, the busses were quiet, the streets. The day after, some young people were downtown with protest signs but heads down, depressed. I would wake up each morning feeling sick to my stomach. Sometimes I'd wake up in the middle of the night and people would still be instant messaging and emailing, like grief counselling.
I had taken the next day off from work, but the day after that I had to go in. People at work hugged me and said they were sorry for me. I told them they should be sorry for themselves, their families and their future too. Until recently, I couldn't look at my photos and I had a hard time packing away my mementos into a large box.
Only in the last 2 weeks have I started to heal at all, & also I got a nice letter from Teresa Kerry yesterday. It was a form letter for those who helped alot but personally signed & I sent her some photos "from the grassroots."
The day of the election I had emails from Britain and France congratulating us - then same people woke up in the morning & found out the worst case scenario had become reality.
One of the only concessions now is that W will have a bad legacy - but it's horrible that people have to suffer and even die for bad policy.
Andree:
On this Easter Sunday, maybe it's a good time to simply reaffirm the fact that we don't collapse. Right is right and wrong is wrong and never the twain shall meet. Things do get complicated, I will gladly admit, and sometimes it is hard to tell right from wrong. To me, the important thing isn't to be always right, but to always try to be right, and, if you get knocked down, to pick yourself up, brush off the dust, assess the situation, and move ahead. Or, as Brother Bob says:
"Why boasteth thyself, oh evil man,
"Playing smart, and not being clever
"I said you're working iniquity to achieve vanity...."
Happy Easter! And whosoever diggeth a pit, shall fall in it. If you are a big tree, we are the small axe....
Chuck in Baku signing off
Chuck in Baku for DiAnne:
One last thought -- I think Canada needs us down here more than up there. They seem to have their act together as it is.
Chuck, a proud American, in Baku
The witch hangings (1680) in the US ended when an accused lady was smart enough to name the wife of the governor as her mentor in witchcraft. The governor immediately put an end to the hysteria. When power becomes threatened, it responds. Brilliant move.
Grassroots organizations terrify Government, they always have. Grassroots threatens the power structure of government; the individual Vote.
If so many people see this Administration for what it is, we are obligated to act. If not for ourselves, for our children and for people living in other lands. The decisions this administration is making affects the world.
This medium, the Internet and soon to be Mobilenet, connect us. This is incredible POWER at our fingertips. We need to organize. We need to share ideas, thoughts, methods and support.
There is more political power in your neighborhood than your congressional office. Your congressional representative can do NOTHING without tactical voter support. When that support no longer exists, the office has no foundation. This is the dirty little secret of national Politics.
Our Government has been stolen, and we are going to take it back.
Andree I never went to sleep on election night, God remember the blog going down all sanity lost, where to go God what a night straight to the dcp chat and all our friends in the same state as me, Indy telling me breathe deeply it will be all right just breathe deeply the memories, I do not think they will ever go away my students where so worried in the morning they woke to find me sobbing my eyes out trying to get breakkie for them, and absolutely did not know what to do with me for weeks, I will never believe we lost that election, I will never know or understand what happened, but here we are and we go from here, but it scares the hell out of me that Fox Cnn and all of Cable have such a sway on the American People how do we cope with them I hold everyone of them accountable for the soldiers lost and maimed, and the maybe 100000 lost Iraqi people WOMEN AND CHILDREN that will not see this Easter with their families because of an Administration of of men that did not see fit to severe their Country in a time of need and one AWOL President who wanted to shove it to daddy whom had always gotten him out of every scrap he got into in his life time. Where is the moralty, sorry there is no moralty in the White House
Kangaroo Brisbane Australia
PS where are the babies of falluja sleeping tonight
From Kos -Sunday Morning Talk
from Kos:
The Sunday morning shows, this week, began to weave a collective nexus for Bush and the news cycle to come.
.......
As Dubya starts to see his numbers slide, This Week reported that the Bush administration are starting to distance themselves from Republicans on Capitol Hill, leaking that Bush didn't even want to return to Washington to sign the Schiavo bill last Sunday. In the spin wars, it's now clear that while the Democrats might have ran for cover last week, their storyline of the Republicans politicizing a family dispute in Florida has had traction in the polls.
....
Social security continues to flounder. On This Week, it was floated that Bush is ready to play, "Let's Make a Deal" before he completely loses face. It was mentioned that perhaps the White House is "looking for a Democrat to hug." Sen. Lieberman wants to be their man. But, in his effort to make himself be relevant, does he not begin to feel used by the Republicans after awhile? There's something sad about what has become of Lieberman since his run for VP. A man trying to desperately control a game where he always seems to be the pawn.
And Bush is seeing his approval ratings starting to drop, as a new Time Magazine poll reports. The nexus: Schiavo, Social Security and Gas prices, as suggested by FOX News Sunday. Oh, those gas prices. They are really, really starting to hurt.
....
If we don't see relief, look for the price of oil to take center stage on Sunday morning, in the coming weeks, as Bush's numbers continue to drop.
Really, Bush's poll numbers continue to drop. Republicans like to brag about his sweeping mandate on election day. Believe me, he is vulnerable. Americans are very fickle. He's last year's flavor. When he was sworn in, he was lowest at that point of any president in 80 years - barely 50 percent. He's weak, the weakest since Woodrow Wilson. Do you sense euphoria at this point, even with the big corporate hog feed coronation and the SS vaudeville tour and the Easter minister speech? I don't. He won over Kerry by 3% at best. Then there has been no bounce - none, even on Fox. He has flatlined - really. It's ironic. Normally 2nd term presidents are popular, especially right after the election. W has the lowest approval rating of any of the last 7 presidents who won 2 terms.
I found a Dec. '04 Salon article which put Clinton at 58%, Reagan at 61%, Nixon at 62%, Eisenhower at 75%, Lyndon Johnson at 70% and Harry Truman at 69%. Bush was 50% at the most and he's going to drop. He was 57% after his first election, even though it was so close the Supreme Court had to step in. Prop him up please and plug him in. JFK won an even closer race over Nixon in 1960 and he jumped up to 72% after just a month in office.
Andre in France- you knew about me, but you just didn't know my name. I post on the lounge as deValera. Remember, we had a nice discussion yesterday about our ancestry. Chuck and I are both big Anthony Hopkins fans too- I'm pretty fond of those big, blue Welsh eyes, by the way. Burton was a favorite of mine too.
It's the Celtic thing- the Irish, the Welsh, and now I've learned, the Bretons. You tought me a lot yesterday. This whole blogging thing has been a real learning experience for me.
Back on topic- I haven't seen the Passion movie myself, but I'm amazed that the fundamentalists have embraced it in the way that they have. When I was growing up (In an American Baptist Church, which took great pride in being more fundamentalist than those "liberal Southern Baptists"), even attending a movie about Christ was frowned upon. The reason for this was that, as my mom often told me, it was simply not right for an actor to portray Jesus. The movies themselves were looked on as somewhat suspect, and I can remember that one of the worst arguments I ever had with my mom was when I was bold enough to suggest going to see Rex Harrison talking to the animals in a movie theatre on a Sunday afternoon. You just did NOT attend a place so decadent as a movie theatre on a Sunday afternoon.
Now the so called "fundamentalists" are embracing this movie as though God himself had directed it personally. I have to refer to them as "so called" fundamentalists now, because when I was growing up, and up until about 4 years ago in fact, I was proud to call myself a fundamentalist. I am still a member of a Southern Baptist congregation- but they've abandoned the fundamental teachings of the Bible ( most especially the words in the red print), not me. So I have a really difficult time in calling these people fundamentalists- I just see them as the "Religious Right," - the Christian Coalition that has abandoned Christ's prime directive of teaching and practicing God's love in favor of spreading the doctrine of the Republican Party to America. They are now the "antichrists" to me- in the sense that they teach hatred for those who are different, they turn away from caring for the poor and the sick, and they make judgements on their fellow men that Jesus himself told them they had no right to do. There IS no other way to serve God than to serve your fellow man on this planet, and they seem to have completely forgotten that.
Anyway, back on topic- the Passion movie, being directed by Mel Gibson who is a Roman Catholic, would have never been accepted by this group of people even as recently as 20 years ago. My understanding (and I haven't seen the movie, so correct me if I'm wrong), is that the movie contains some sections which are notably Roman Catholic in nature- some mysticism which is not part of the King James Bible which the religious right claims to be the "only word of God." That's where my surprise comes from- that Southern Baptists in Pensacola Florida would be so fond of a movie that is made from the Catholic point of view. My only answer is that the Republicans have suceeded in unifying the nearly "un-unifiable," the Southern Baptists and the Roman Catholics. They've done this by moving religion totally into the realm of politics- and by defining morality as whatever George W Bush professes it to be. It may not be the antichrist at work, but it is most certainly anti-Christian, and trying to explain it to these people is like talking to a wall. It's the most frightening movement I've seen in my lifetime. And the Passion is all part of it.
Two comments on the Passion movie:
1) Anyone calling themselves a "Christian" who was offended by the thrashing Jesus got, neither understands their own sins, nor the price of them.
2) The movie did not treat the meaning of Jesus' execution, which was his resurrection; it is a pitiful and cowardly shortcoming of the movie, reflecting a Jesus-lite view. Dear Mel, was there a Jewish deal in agreeing to the movie's distribution?
Conclusion:
What does need sanitizing is the hypocrisy of this ludicrous administration and short-circuited, ignorant, cowardly media and public conscience, afraid to ask the real questions let alone try to answer them honestly.
Is it ok to say Bah Humbug on Easter as well as Christmas? Easter was always my favorite holiday but now I feel as though I'm living among Christian Taleban.
The only way I would watch "The Passion" is if someone tied me up & pried my eyes open like Alex in "Clockwork Orange."
DiAnne- I'm sure that if W could figure out how to makd an Easter Bah Humbug a felony- you'd be the first one he'd come after to arrest. I hear they had a convention of anarchists un in S.F. this weekend. That must have been an interesting (if disorganized) place to be. And how can anarchists organize anyway???? That's really confusing to me.
Yeah - it's funny about anarchists. Actually, I'm reading a book called "Globalize Liberation - How to Uproot the System and Build a Better World" and it has some great ideas! I think if people are headed in the right direction they can be working within the system (vis conventional political parties) and outside of it (like when the Financial District was shut down in SF the day after the Iraq war started, or during the "Battle of Seattle" at WTO 1999). I think it's all good. This particular book is edited by a carpenter & he makes more sense than most of the "think tank" professionals.
& when we have people from several countries talking about politics over the internet & also about our common heritage (such as Welsh), we're actually working "outside the system" and using direct & democratic principles. We aren't depending on representatives to do the networking & brainstorming we're doing.
See the anarchists in action! Looks like they are milling around at a book fair looking for rare tomes. Sounds like a good thing to do on a rainy day.
http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2005/03/1712771.php
Here is where all chic radicals will want to be!
I'm not making fun of it - I'm really not. I wish them well as I don't think Paul Wolfowitz is right for the IMF either & I hate to see poor countries get ripped off. I'll be there in spirit.
http://www.globalizethis.org/
Fans of "The Passion" must really be riled by "Deadwood".
Who knew that the wild west was like this...
DiAnne,
Met some people who work for the World Bank yesterday--and I asked them about their new boss. One spewed wine when I asked...I don't think he will win the "Boss of the Year" award. Also, there are other rumors about him that may be problematic...
I am at the point where demonstrations are not making as much sense to me as they did--they are never large ENOUGH, and seem to be old news to the MSM.
The most effective approaches seem to be blogswarming and phone calling--things that have a threshold impact.
And the best way to be effective is to work within communities and get everyone onboard--share resources, information, and bolster the efforts as needed.
That is why I am working so hard here at the DCP.
Just keep repeating:
McNamara = Wolfowitz
Vietnam = Iraq
Matt, your writings are a joy to read. Thank you. I was trying to find some way to "celebrate" today, but was unsuccessful. You have given me some things to reflect upon instead.
Wish I could stay longer, but Edo thought there was Jewish conspiracy with the Passion. Let me say that when Mel had trouble with getting this movie out, he hired a firm that did outreach to fundie causes.
They decided to show the unedited version to maybe one Jew and many more Catholics, all of whom rejected this movie on accuracy, and for your same reason about the resurrection, among others. The uproar about the one Jew, and no Catholics being mentioned, forced an anti-semitic objection to sell papers, publicized the movie, without mentioning the Catholics.
I know this from the same group appearing as guest panelists where I work, the day before it opened.
Most of the clunky, gory appeal and provoked criticism, have to do with Hollywood technique and blockbuster lack of sensitivity.
I was away most of the day yesterday (Easter Sunday) but was able to read the entire thread last night.
I saw the film last year, and was disappointed that the emphasis seemed to be Jesus' suffering rather than the resurrection.
I enjoyed the thread very much. Thank you, Matthew. Karen, I loved the Anthem Lyrics by Leonard Cohen. DiAnne, you still crack me up! -
("someone tied me up and pried my eyes open like Alex in Clockwork Orange") lol. Linda, you said in a couple posts the point I have been trying to articulate for a while now. Glad to hear so many had a wonderful day, too!