Wednesday, September 3, 2008, the third day of the Republican Convention and I am flabbergasted at the anti-intellectualism and selfishness that I see.
McCain – His wife is rolling in dough and won’t even acknowledge that she has two sisters. What sort of Christian behavior is this? Does McCain have any real values?
Palin – Book burner, creationist, Christian crusader (as in a messianic view of the war in Iraq – kill those infidels), vindictive, and laughs at someone suffering from cancer. These are Christ’s values?
I admit I am biased but come on, this is bad, especially the anti-intellectualism and ideolotry (the idolatry of ideology). This sort of thinking is dangerous for our nation. The world is complex and doesn’t bend to one’s ideology. This thinking threatens our freedoms of speech, religion, and association. And its just not nice.
3 comments:
Well, yes, you are being rather biased. And most of the Palin stories you link to are stretching the truth at best.
But if that's the sort of story you enjoy, it doesn't exactly sound like Obama is being his brother's keeper either:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/uselection2008/barackobama/2590614/Barack-Obamas-lost-brother-found-in-Kenya.html
"Palin – Book burner, creationist, Christian crusader (as in a messianic view of the war in Iraq – kill those infidels), vindictive, and laughs at someone suffering from cancer. These are Christ’s values?"
So, I followed the links you provided as support, and found that either they tried to make mountains out of molehills, or you exaggerated them yourself, or a combination of both:
"Book burner"
Here's what the NYT article you linked actually says:
"Shortly after becoming mayor, former city officials and Wasilla residents said, Ms. Palin approached the town librarian about the possibility of banning some books, though she never followed through and it was unclear which books or passages were in question."
That's it, and that's all. Some vague heresay. I also note that you somehow "book banning" has somehow morphed into "book burning" on your blog.
"creationist"
I followed the link you gave. What it actually says is that Palin is in favor of teaching intelligent design, then goes on to say that intelligent design is identical to "Biblical creationism" because creationists find common cause with ID proponents, and that therefore she supports teaching Biblical creationism (by that standard, everyone who opposes abortion is also a creationist, since creationists oppose abortion).
And it gives no evidence that she's offered more than mere sentiment. Has she actually taken any steps to put ID into schools? In fact, most of the article is bizarrely spent quoting Pawlenty about what he thinks, in order to show what Palin thinks!
"Christian crusader"
In the article linked, the sole "evidence" offered up for this is the following quote:
"Pray for our military men and women who are striving to do what is right. Also, for this country, that our leaders, our national leaders, are sending [U.S. soldiers] out on a task that is from God," she exhorted the congregants. "That's what we have to make sure that we're praying for, that there is a plan and that that plan is God's plan."
So, she actually prayed that our leaders will behave wisely and in accordance with God's will. Why, that's just horrible! There's no Biblical precedent for that all! Also, calls to "kill the infidels" are curiously absent, contrary to what your blog post may lead one to believe.
"vindictive"
I notice there's no link here, so I suppose this is just your opinion. Well, it's my opinion that you're vindictive. Oh, and also smelly.
"laughs at someone suffering from cancer"
That seemed like nervous laughter to me. Also, the host said the woman in question was a cancer, not that it was good that she had cancer.
"These are Christ’s values?"
Well, let's see. Jesus wasn't a book burner as far as I know, but neither is Palin. Book banner? Beyond slimmest heresay, we don't have any evidence for either Jesus' or Palin's views on that.
Creationist? Yeah, Jesus probably was some form of creationist. Would he support some counterbalance to "design is just an illusion" Darwinism in public schools if he were incarnate today? I don't know, maybe he'd oppose public schools altogether.
"Messianic view of the war in Iraq"? Well, we're commanded to pray for our leaders, which is all Palin actually did. So yeah, she's in Christ's camp on that one.
Laughing on that radio show where the host said some mean things about her opponent who had cancer? Okay, I'm inclined to think that Jesus probably would've stood up and said something. Is that all you've got?
Anyhow, thanks for offering up another prime example of the bizarre, irrational, and obsessive nature of the Palin-bashing that's been going on.
Darwin, thanks for the link to the Telegraph article. Families are complicated organizations. But at least Obama knows who his siblings are.
And Deuce, yea, sometimes I do stink. I ride my bike to work and these hot Kansas summers make me sweat profusely.
I pray regularly for American service men and women, particularly for those involved in Iraq and Afghanistan. But I think this talk of Palin's goes a little farther than praying for them. It links God's will with American policy and with Palin's policy as regards pipelines. At best this is pandering and, at worst, she believes it. Do you really think God has spoken to Sara Palin and told her this invasion of Iraq is God's will as well as a particular pipeline?
I don't think prayer is ever a substitute for hard thinking and recognizing genuine disagreements.
Best, Jim
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