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Hold the phone gentle readers, the persecuted christian majority in the United States is once again in crisis mode. Why? Satanists want to put up a religious monument of their own, just like the pious Christians have done on the capitol grounds. The threat of Satan beckoning to them, on the grounds of the Oklahoma state legislature no less, is causing the usual conniptions among the faithful (you know, the usual conniptions, where they get called on their abject duplicity and refuse to back down while accusing others of persecuting them). Amanda Marcotte from alter.net writes about the christian stupidity and the highlights are quoted here.
“Christian fundamentalists in Oklahoma managed to get a Ten Commandments monument placed on capitol grounds in 2012. Though the supporters of the monument deny it, it’s an obvious attempt by fundamentalists to get the state government to endorse Christianity above all other religious beliefs, in a direct violation of the Constitution’s ban on state establishment of religion.”
This should be no-shit-sherlock material. Narnian American christians tend to shit all over their venerated Constitution when it suits their needs. However, when other groups attempt to get their idols onto the capitol grounds then – dear reader – the problems begin.
“After receiving requests for monuments not just from Satanists, but from Hindus and animal rights activists, the legislature decided to place a moratorium on the building of monuments. The message is crystal-clear: The Oklahoma state legislature is not interested in reflecting the diversity of Americans, but only wants to elevate Christians above everyone else.”
Here is where we can delve into the murky depths of the persecuted majority complex that makes up so much of the mendacious superstructure of the reactionary christian right.
“Which is why prank-minded groups like the Satanists are doing such an important public service: They are able to challenge religious fundamentalists in their attempts to stomp out freedom of religion and religious plurality without having to worry overmuch about enduring the oppression real religious minorities face. When a Muslim or Jewish group objects to the religious right’s attempts to enshrine Christianity as an official or endorsed state religion, they run the risk of provoking the exact fear of religious pluralism that leads conservative Christians to do things like build Ten Commandments monuments in the first place. Ugly prejudice against minority religions is why Christian conservatives want the government to affirm their belief that theirs is the one true religion. When religious minorities push back, many Christians use that pushback as evidence that “they” are out to destroy Christian America.”
Interesting how that works, no?
Chalk this up as reason #239482 illustrating why the separation of church and state is a necessary feature of civilized societies.
It happens in almost every thread here that the dudosphere gets wind of.
A jesus I can get behind. :)
Gore and silliness warning.
Somehow, it is still hard to talk to men about sexism without meeting a wall of defensiveness that shades into outright hostility, even violence. Anger is an entirely appropriate response to learning that you’re implicated in a system that oppresses women – but the solution isn’t to direct that anger back at women. The solution isn’t to shut down debate by accusing us of “reverse sexism”, as if that will somehow balance out the problem and stop you feeling so uncomfortable.
Sexism should be uncomfortable. It is painful and enraging to be on the receiving end of misogynist attacks and it is also painful to watch them happen and to know that you’re implicated, even though you never chose to be. You’re supposed to react when you’re told that a group you are a member of is actively screwing over other human beings, in the same way that you’re supposed to react when a doctor hammers your knee to test your nerves. If it doesn’t move, something is horribly wrong.
Saying that “all men are implicated in a culture of sexism” – all men, not just some men –may sound like an accusation. In reality, it’s a challenge. You, individual man, with your individual dreams and desires, did not ask to be born into a world where being a boy gave you social and sexual advantages over girls. You don’t want to live in a world where little girls get raped and then are told they provoked it in a court of law; where women’s work is poorly paid or unpaid; where we are called sluts and whores for demanding simple sexual equality. You did not choose any of this. What you do get to choose, right now, is what happens next.
You can choose, as a man, to help create a fairer world for women – and for men, too. You can choose to challenge misogyny and sexual violence wherever you see them. You can choose to take risks and spend energy supporting women, promoting women, treating the women in your life as true equals. You can choose to stand up and say no and, every day, more men and boys are making that choice. The question is – will you be one of them?
– Laurie Penny
I’m amused. The denizens of Bullshite Mountain just *will not* give in to reason. We are messing with the earth’s climate and the best the right wingnutz can do is blame the government for attempting to infringe on their right to destroy biosphere. I’m thinking that when New York is underwater, and Florida an undersea park, then… then we might start getting stuff done when it comes to maintaining our environment. Jon Stewart attempts and fails to remain apolitical when the crazy overwhelms him and forces his hand. One cannot just *not* comment when the weapons grade stupidity is being fired full auto on the air waves.
Not to sure how long the ytube vid will last, so here is the video on Raw Story with the vid hosted elsewhere.
Good intentions and all that…
The idea that those in control would want media to promote their ideology seems obvious. Let’s examine two helpful charts.
Huh, a bias toward white males. What could it mean?
bleatmop
Mystro
Dead Wild Roses 
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