The Fear Fundamentalists: The future is calling on that 3 a.m. phone

[tpsbmam]

http://www.commonwonders.com/archives/col437.htm

Robert Koehler

Oh Lord, the last thing we need is bipartisan agreement about this — bipartisan collusion, the equivalent, you might say, of price-fixing: We pledge not to challenge our fundamental illusions or question the righteousness of the military pursuit of “national interest.” We pledge not to unravel history by suggesting that our country has ever been wrong. We pledge not to ridicule the fear card.

But somebody has to do just this: Challenge the fundamentals of our national identity, to the extent that that identity is a front for something predatory and amoral. At a moment in our history when, thanks to the smirking shabbiness of the Bush era, something really could change, Clinton and her advisers seem hell-bent on maintaining business as usual. We cannot repudiate the Bush administration if we pull up short.

And the selling of fear — “Hey, America, boo!” — is at the core of everything. Invent an enemy, call him evil, dehumanize him and do what you will. The roots of this are deep. The Bush administration didn’t invent the practice, just employed it with shocking cynicism and assumed a mandate it didn’t have.

Its 3 a.m. and your child is sleeping. A phone rings in the White House. The future is calling.

[Enthusiast]

1. My friend sent this to my mail box

I received this from my friend this morning. My FEAR is that many Americans subscribe to these beliefs.

http://www.usawakeup.org/

[tpsbmam]

2. Sadly, way too many do....

I recently blasted a friend who sent one of the anti-Muslim chain mails around. I responded to everyone on the list refuting every point (with references) the stupid piece of shit email made. I wasn't terribly popular after that. :evilgrin: