Comments on: Unleash Bull Connor’s Hounds

By: RevBev

RevBev — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 02:33:04 +0000

I think it is called freedom of speech. I guess I do not understand your arguement at all except to take all religious influence out of the discussion. Which only invites the question of who else would you choose to silence.

By: Plantsmantx

Plantsmantx — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:21:09 +0000

“A McCain campaign aide actively pushed an incendiary, racially-charged video that uses the controversial words of Barack Obama’s pastor to tar Obama as unpatriotic — despite the fact that McCain himself has suggested that Obama shouldn’t be held accountable for Wright’s views”.

“The aide, Soren Dayton, who works in McCain’s political department, has been suspended from the campaign, a McCain spokesperson, Jill Hazelbaker, confimed to me”.

From TPM.

By: mui1

mui1 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:45:15 +0000

Laura Ingraham etc. The republikans are really up our asses (excuse my French on this one). They are playing operative games, stirring up BS so that Clinton supporters will be mad at Obama supporters and v.v.. and either not vote, or support McCain in the General Election. This has to stop.

By: mui1

mui1 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 17:41:05 +0000

Okay I am a Clinton supporter. Which is why I don’t usually participate in heavily Obama-sided forums, but I am upset over the righty coverage of this Reverand Wright relationship. I cannot support charges of “Unamericanism” and “black hatred” levelled at either Wright or Obama. It makes my skin crawl to think that anyone might. Not only that, but Wright’s speeches are taken out of context. Mind you I saw very little of the clips (I missed anything inflammatory if there was any). But when his words “God damn America” are repeated without the qualifiers: “God damn America, for killing innocent people,” I get pissed. It doesn’t take much mind to know Wright is referring to Iraq, Vietnam, Jim Crow etc. If people are so prissy they can’t stand to hear “G* d* America” then wait till the troops come home, because I have heard some stronger words from veterans. And who knows if Wright is a veteran, or since black americans and the poor are more often in the military, than say Joe Lieberman’s children, Rev. Wright has every right to warn the congregation that not all American wars are right and good, or about justice, or etc.
I agree with Glenn Greenwald who wrote a piece on this for Salon.

By: SanderO

SanderO — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:18:20 +0000

I don’t want to leave the platform to the fundies. I want to proscribe all religions from taking to the public square for advocacy.

I realize there is a trade off. And I understand the good work of liberation theology.

But I would rather have those dedicated fighters for social justice take the frock off and fight for social justice without using their “religious imprimatur”.

I think silencing the fundies from interfering is well worth the tradeoff.

By: RevBev

RevBev — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:10:57 +0000

For your second point, of course they can. Out of whatever moral, personal persuasion etc. That wasn’t at issue, as I see it.

But I guess I do not get your point about the public square, which is, after all, public. For some folks, participation in moral, ethical issues of the day (advocacy, teaching, etc.) is a practice of one’s faith. For example, the UCC denomination of which Obama is a part has a very long tradition of positions in the public/justice arena. You seem to be saying that is a problem. Again, why leave that platform to the noisier fundie/evangelicals. Makes no sense to me. In addition, there are several schools these days that offer a dual degree in theology & public policy.

By: SanderO

SanderO — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:33:11 +0000

I don’t think social justice advocacy need be separated from the church. I just don’t want the church doing advocacy beyond issues of social justice and less not in the public square.

Why can’t people advocate for social justice without the church? On their own? for reasons that are not based on religion, but based on justice?

By: Boudica

Boudica — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 15:12:37 +0000

The right wingers are mad because they thought their “Macaca” spewing senator, George Allen might be their candidate. Awwwww.

By: RevBev

RevBev — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:51:06 +0000

I really disagree with your position on the public square. Part of the problem/picture of recent years is that progressive, social justice voice has yielded the square debate to the fundies. The Bible itself, Old and New Testament, is a document proclaiming equity, social justice, support for the poor, etc. Doing for the “least of these.” All of this underpins the Black and other Liberation theology and focus on the larger community interests. So, no, that position, Scriptural view, does not need to yield to the rugged individualist/I’ve got mine loud mouths. Social Justice advocay does not need to be limited to inside the church/pulpit, as I see it.

By: cbl2

cbl2 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 14:48:44 +0000

testing 1, 2,

did ya know there’s an OnionSpan ?