Got this from one of my correspondents the other day. I hasten to state, an individual for whom I feel affection, in spite of his not infrequent inclination to (virtually) froth at the mouth and bleed from the eyeballs with hysterical pronouncements, reeking with sanctimony, like what follows here. I have not reproduced the flying American eagle graphic nor the soaring inspirational red/white/blue font, but I have left the capitalization intact. Here we go:
<START RANT>
BET YOU'LL SEND IT!!
88% will send this on...
Should be a 100% by 10/1/10
Nov 2010
"Change is a comin'"
Borders: CLOSED
Language: ENGLISH
Culture: CONSTITUTION, BILL OF RIGHTS,
and the BIBLE
NOVEMBER 2010
"CHANGE" IS A COMIN'"
We the people are coming!
I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG,
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ,
AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS,
ONE NATION UNDER GOD,
INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL!
IN GOD WE TRUST
<END RANT>
I have my own theory, that if a referendum were to be held today about the propriety of references in this context to the bible, god, and such, that a substantial number of us, maybe even a majority, would reject such notions. Actually, it's more like a forlorn hope. I invite your consideration.
But right now I'm here to pose a question (a real question, for which I earnestly solicit an answer). Why is it that such pronouncements, loaded with reactionary righteousness (and quite frequently with falsehoods posing as fact), come invariably from the (pretty far to the) right, the Christian religious, and those of us who wear "patriotism" like a badge? That is to say, from those uncomfortable with the humanistic persuasion of the rest of us.
I'm waiting....
It's the easy, simplistic way/view of things. We against "them." Everybody who doesn't agree with us is wrong. "Our country", "our culture", "our history", "our religion", "our politics, "our way life." Doesn't require much thought, and there are no doubts, no self-questioning. No searching for truth, we've got the truth.
ReplyDelete"Humanism," on the other hand, requires, first of all, dealing with all of humanity, everyone, as "one of us", even those who are "against" us, don't understand or agree with us. It is difficult, even distressing, in that it deals with complex human issues from a thoughtful, inquiring, demanding, and caring point of view, with much questioning of oneself and others mixed in. It is a seeking for justice in which there are rarely any easy or fully satisfying resolutions, just compromises. You have to grin and bear it.
That is, if you don't wear your humanism like a badge or shield, and turn your truth into dogmatic prescriptions, the way right-wing Bible-thumping "patriots" approach life and its complexities.