Our real enemies are the relgious right in this country

[alarimer]

I have just finished American Fascists and it scared me to death. I have mentioned it in a couple of posts but I thought I would start a thread to see if anyone has any ideas about what we can do to rid our country of this menace. They have begun like any other fascist movement, by targeting those who, because of circumstances in their lives (divorce, unemployment, illness) need something to fill the void. They are extremely persuasive and once someone is sucked into their cult, it is extremely hard to get out. The movement is very cult-like. As an atheist and a liberal, I feel very threatened by this movement. As a single woman, I am also their worst nightmare.

This is not the first book I have read on the subject. Kevin Phillips wrote one on a similar theme but Christ Hedges actually infiltrates their conventions and their churches to talk to people who are victims of this movement.

Everyone is aware of how they have hijacked the Republican party. But my question is what do we do about this? We on the left are far too nice, too "tolerant" of this intolerance. The hate that these people have for all of us is astonishing. They would kill us if they could. For them it is no less than a religious war. So what do we do? I don't think violence is the answer necessarily. I hope it never comes to that. First, I think we need to improve the lives of all the marginalized people in the country. Bring back good jobs. Lift people up out of poverty and despair. Universal health care. Our communities need to be actual communities, not vast wastelands of big box stores and no sidewalks. We are so insulated and isolated from each other. Also, as political activists we need to take back the country one precinct, one school board at a time.

[librechik]

1. The leaders are complicit

but we really have to fear the gang of Nazis that has been growing and lurking in our country ever since the end of WW2, who connive to use the Religious Right for their own ends by appealing to their priggish judgmental nature and profound xenophism/racism.

[alarimer]

3. Yes

I read here this morning about a library program for kids (can't remember where) that was canceled because one or two people complained that they were teaching the kids witchcraft. There were actual threats to the librarians. We have to stand up to stuff like that and not let the bullies win.

Falwell and company did not have any power until Reagan was elected; now they choose the Republican nominee.

I think the election of 2008 will be a turning point. We need to ensure a Democratic victory for President and we have to increase our majority Congress. Only then can we reverse the damage. And it would be nice if the new Democratic President has 3-4 vacancies on the Supreme Court to fill. Unfortunately the oldest members are the most liberal; it will be a LONG time before Roberts and Scalia die.

[pepperbear]

2. Please check this out.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjPs3bFQxKo


thanks!

[alarimer]

4. That's cool

very chilling. It seems that no matter the scandal with these organizations, people still support them and give them money. I think Pat Robertson could eat a small child on TV and still they would send him money.

[durrrty libby]

5. People are afraid of death, and will buy their ticket to

Angel Town, no matter how irrational it is.

[alarimer]

9. Yes, he did make that point

Apparently becoming a Christian (according to the definition of the extreme religious right) is that you will live forever. Or something. I am not quite clear on that.

[Warpy]

6. Yes, and the talking heads would burble

about his love of little children.

Honestly, the taboo surrounding criticising any of these fat frauds for a false god is infuriating.

[TechBear_Seattle]

7. And let us not forget the politicians - GOP *and* Dems - who enable the religious right

We might actually get some candidates with gonads if they didn't feel they had to pander to the Talibangelicals and religious extremists.

[alarimer]

11. Absolutely

But the ones I am talking about HATE us and will never vote for a Democrat, no matter how much they pander. Those on the Billy Graham/ Jim Wallis wing might. But those are not the scary ones anyway and I am not worried about them.

[lvx35]

8. I don't think they are the real enemies.

The real enemies are the amoral areligious corrupt corporate powers, like the folks behind big oil. I mean you have to ask who has the power here: The number 1 agenda item for the relgious right is stopping abortion....Yet with a republican controlled congress, supreme court and whitehouse, they got NOTHING done on it. The number one agenda item for big oil was getting control of the middle east oil supplies, and here we are in Iraq.

The religious right are nothing but tools of the amoral corporate players.

[alarimer]

10. well yes

They are in fact being used by the Republican party to get elected. That has always been true (at least since Reagan) but they have a LOT more power in this administration. Look at all the Regent Law School grads in the Justice Dept, for example. And those are people who do not believe the Constitution is the law of the land. They think the ten commandments are. And, as we have seen, they interpret the law and enforce it according to their Dominionist beliefs.

I don't believe they are simply tools anymore. Roberts is Chief Justice after all.

[Az]

12. The thing that both Corporations and Fundamentalist Religions have in common

They are both artificial social constructs that have rights similar to people. They are asocial and only attempt to fulfill their own needs. In the case of Corporations it is increasing their profits. In the case of fundamentalist religions it is spreading their mindset.

Both of these structures crave the power of government. Both have tasted it in the past. Corporations through Fascism and Religions during the Dark Ages. Both wish to posses it again.

Both seek a means of controlling the populace in such a way as favors their particular ideals. The ideas of either of them do not conflict with each other in most cases. Thus they make powerful allies.

Both seek tax exemption and increased representation in government.

They are both made up of people abiding by rules established that can quash humanity.

It is these two monoliths that are dismantling our nation.

[defendandprotect]

13. Gore picked Libermann as his VP -- !!!!

What was that about, folks???
Libermann is a religous fanatic --

Gore is less fanatical, but he's been trained in theology.

Patriarchy cannot exist on its own say-so. That's why it needs "god" arguments and organized patriarchal religion.

Notice -- Bush didn't attack Iraq . . . "god" told him to attack Iraq.

[CrispyQ]

14. Am I the only one who was

disheartened by the talk of faith at the recent dem debate? Yes, the integrity of the candidates is a valid issue, but their faith is not. I'm sick of the assumption that people of faith have integrity & morals & but non-believers do not.

I think that it is going to be the Christians -- real Christians, that is -- who are going to have to start speaking out against this pseudo-Christianity movement.

[durrrty libby]

16. You were not the only one. I did cringe at the faith pandering,

but I understand why they have to do it

[alarimer]

18. No, I cringed a little at that

Politically, it might be the more pragmatic thing to do and there is a chance they might be sincere. As an atheist though I am offended by the notion that only the religious can have morals. Um- Jim Bakker, Jimmy Swaggart and Ted Haggard clearly have no morals but claim to be Christian (although a bastardized Christianity to be sure).

What worries me is what our leaders are willing to give up to get the votes of these people. Equal rights for gays and lesbians? Women's reproductive freedom?

Of course the real religious fundamentalists hate Democrats and will never vote for any of them. Perhaps moderate Catholics can be persuaded to vote for the Democrats on poverty issues but realize that giving up choice is not an option.

[conscious evolution]

15. The religous right,along with the media

in this country, are in serious need of examination by a war crimes tribunal.
I would rather see US courts take them down but unfortunately they are protected by the First Amendment.
The good news is that this 'protection' gives the International Criminal Court jurisdiction.

To the Hague with them.

[Neurotica]

17. Our ability to shed light on the religious right starts locally

You first have to educate yourself about your community -- what indidviduals and groups are there, what activities/events are they conducting, how are they tied in to local officials (or if they are local officials, what actions have they taken and what statements have they made), etc. The local papers are a great source of news of this nature. In my county, we have 10 or more local papers.

Then you have to become a watchdog and constantly monitor these individuals/groups. You have to attend school board meetings and local government meetings. You have to pay attention to what's going on in the local libraries.

Then you have to network with like-minded individuals and work to educate others. The Internet is such a great tool to help in this area. Typically I have planted the seed and suggested that people do research on their own to learn more.

Then when certain situations arise, you have to speak out. Unfortunately, if often takes something newsworthy to spark discussions and once something's newsworthy, you're reacting instead of preventing.

But at least if you've done the steps above, you've laid a foundation for an organized community response.