The ‘atheist Pope Francis’? Uruguay’s president draws comparisons

[rug]

Chris Stedman | May 22, 2014

Following a televised interview, Uruguay’s President José Mujica has been the talk of Spain.

According to the BBC, more than 100,000 tweets have been issued using the hashtag #UnPresidenteDiferente (“a different president”) in the last few days, with users comparing Mujica against their own Prime Minister.

But some Twitter users in Spain have been drawing an even more interesting comparison—and a more controversial one. Per the BBC:

Some using the hashtag have even been comparing Uruguay’s president with the Pope—himself quite a social media star. But there’s at least one big difference. In his interview on Spanish TV, President Mujica declared himself an atheist.

Why are people drawing a parallel between Mujica, an atheist, and Pope Francis?

http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2014/05/22/atheist-pope-francis-uruguays-president-draws-comparisons/

[Brettongarcia]

1. Now and then you hear an old theory that our religious leaders don't believe religion themselves;

It's said that at least some suspect religion is a "white lie" designed to get the lower classes to behave.

[MellowDem]

2. Who wants to be compared to that misogynistic bigot

That thinks the devil is behind marriage equality?

[rug]

5. Who wants even to be seen with him?

[MellowDem]

21. He's not the only powerful misogynistic bigot

World leaders want to be seen with, that's for sure.

[rug]

22. Oh, yeah, Mujica has dedicated his life to misogynistic bigotry.

[MellowDem]

23. No, but the Pope has, and it causes countless death and suffering

[rug]

24. Ah. So when you posted this

He's not the only powerful misogynistic bigot

World leaders want to be seen with, that's for sure.

in reply to a picture of Mujica and the Pope, you were referring to someone else.

[MellowDem]

25. No, I meant what I said...

I didn't say Mujica was a misogynistic bigot. But the Pope sure is. World leaders want to be seen with him for a lot of very practical reasons, and religious privilege makes it hunky dory.

Misogyny and bigotry still play well in many parts of the world.

[rug]

29. Who were you referring to then?

[MellowDem]

35. The Pope

[rug]

36. Well then, which world leader were you referring to?

World leaders want to be seen with, that's for sure.

[MellowDem]

37. Nobody in particular...

The Pope is a popular and powerful figure. He's the kind of misogynistic bigot a world leader, progressive or otherwise, could have a sit down with, and even progressives here in the US would nod their heads and smile. I mean, sure, he's a misogynistic bigot that continues to back a ideology which causes untold pain and suffering and perpetuates poverty, but, religion.

[rug]

4. You didn't read past the headline again, did you?

[cleanhippie]

6. Is it always required?

Also, I'll be sure to include the sarcasm tag next time.

[rug]

7. Only if you want to base your opinions on evidence.

Carry on.

[cleanhippie]

8. Is there something inaccaurate enough thats it's causing your missing of the point?

[rug]

9. Non sequiturs are not a matter of accuracy.

They're usually the result of inattention or perseverance.

[cleanhippie]

10. So there's not, then.

You simply felt the need to snipe.


Got it.

[rug]

11. Read it again.

Your post was nonresponsive snark. As usual.

[cleanhippie]

12. Actually it was sarcasm with a point.

I know, you need the tag to get it.


But all that is irrelevant. None of it was directed at you, personally. It was a comment on the subject of the OP. You took it personally and here we are.

With that, I'll leave you the floor, if you still feel you need it.

[rug]

13. Ah, sarcasm.

And it was excellent sarcasm.

[cleanhippie]

14. Why the need to berate me personally, rug? How many times need I tell you my comment wasn't pointed

at you? Why the need to make this personal with me? Why are you attacking me personally?

[rug]

15. You're right.

I will disregard your dozens of posts in the past that have done precisely that and leave it that your original comment was gratuitous snark on what is an interesting observation by Stedman.

[cleanhippie]

17. Disregard what you want.

This isn't about you.

[rug]

18. Keep it that way.

[cleanhippie]

16. Just like the pope, only without the homophobia, misogyny, and belief in the supernatural.

Oh, and he's not sitting on BILLIONS in assets that could be used to help people.


Otherwise, he just like the pope.



*NOTE to rug: This response is in no way directed at you. It is a comment about the subject of the article you posted. Again, it's not directed at you in any way.

[rug]

19. Your comment is gratuitous snark on what is an interesting observation by Stedman.

[cleanhippie]

20. It's unfortunate that you see it that way.

For there is point to be found.

[hrmjustin]

26. I just clicked on this and it says you have 25 replies and I can't see any.

[No Vested Interest]

27. I have seen this lately as well, Justin.

I finally figured out that I/we must have put the responders on ignore, and therefore draw a blank on 25 replies.
It's likely just a back and forth between two or several.

[hrmjustin]

28. Lol it just really struck me as odd.

[rug]

30. If you can't see them they must not exist.

[hrmjustin]

31. LMFAO!

[struggle4progress]

32. José Mujica is an interesting man

... In the early 1960s Mujica joined the Tupamaro, a revolutionary organization founded by Raúl Sendic and others whose goal was to undermine Uruguay’s repressive leadership. Within a few years the Tupamaro turned to violent actions, including arson, political kidnappings, and assassinations of a number of police officers and some others. Mujica was arrested several times for his activities and was convicted in 1971 of having killed a police officer. He escaped from prison twice but was recaptured both times and served some 14 years in all. As a prisoner of the brutal military dictatorship that seized power in a coup in June 1973, Mujica was tortured and spent long periods of time in solitary confinement, including two years at the bottom of a well ...
José Mujica

... Laundry is strung outside the house. The water comes from a well in a yard, overgrown with weeds. Only two police officers and Manuela, a three-legged dog, keep watch outside ... President Mujica has shunned the luxurious house that the Uruguayan state provides for its leaders and opted to stay at his wife's farmhouse, off a dirt road outside the capital, Montevideo. The president and his wife work the land themselves, growing flowers. This austere lifestyle - and the fact that Mujica donates about 90% of his monthly salary, equivalent to $12,000 (£7,500), to charity - has led him to be labelled the poorest president in the world ...
Jose Mujica: The world's 'poorest' president
14 November 2012 Last updated at 19:29 ET
By Vladimir Hernandez BBC Mundo, Montevideo

... Mujica is a very serious man and has spent his presidential tenure enacting reforms that have made him the darling of progressives everywhere. He supported the most liberal abortion law in staunchly Catholic Latin America. He legalized gay marriage. And, last year, he helped push through the most sweeping pot legalization laws in the world even when public opinion was (slightly) against it. The Economist, not often charmed by Latin American leaders, named Uruguay “country of the year” in 2013, largely a compliment to Mujica’s time in office. On a visit to Washington this week, which included a sit-down with President Obama, Mujica spoke with my colleague Mary Beth Sheridan about his latest initiative: to take six Arab detainees from the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and settle them as refugees in Uruguay ... “We are not the jailers of the United States government, or the United States Senate,” Mujica told the Post. “We are offering solidarity on a question that we see as one of human rights” ...
After legalizing pot, Uruguay’s Jose Mujica will house Gitmo detainees
By Ishaan Tharoor
May 17 at 7:00 am

... Mujica, who is known for never celebrating his birthday, was present for the march and so was Senator Lucía Topolansky, his wife and fellow center-left Broad Front member. The Uruguayan President wore a beret to shield himself from the evening rain and walked in the middle of the thousands-strong crowd down the central 18th of July Street, apparently without any security escorts. The march began as always, with the participants quietly filing down the streets, carrying pictures of missing loved ones and (strictly apolitical) banners and slogans. This year’s march was titled: “In my country, there is no justice. Who are those responsible?” and was organized by the Mothers and Relatives of Disappeared Uruguayan Detainees ...
Mujica Marks Birthday With ‘Silence March’
May 23, 2014

[rug]

33. An amazing and consistent man.

[struggle4progress]

34. He seems willing to grow and change

I've followed him a bit now and then:

... Jose Mujica ... wept as he was sworn in to chair the Senate ...

... Mujica added that it’s only natural some businessmen mistrust him, “they have to look after the money; I don’t care who they vote for, we need businessmen to work, to create jobs to help multiply assets…it’s a matter of patience to convince them” ...

... "If at some point my temperament, which is combative, has let my tongue get away from me, I ask for forgiveness," he said ...