American Christo-fascism: The Family
August 31st 2009 05:03
Some of us have warned for years about the dangers coming from an unholy alliance between religious, government, and corporate interests. Seemingly disparite groups working together for their own agendas, and one big common one. What these groups have in common is a desire to involve themselves in every facet of life.
Possibly the most dangerous group has been in the news alot lately. The "Family" is a collection of politicians, business people, lobbyists, and general ne'er do wells who believe themselves to be "chosen by God" to lead the rest of us. Members of The Family regard themselves as above the morality they espouse, above the reproach they themselves so aggressively hurl at others.
It's never been as obvious as now, with so many members of The Family involved in extra-marital affairs. And not only sex has people calling foul, as it appears those involved used government funds for their trysts, and/or threw big bribes at paramours (or the ladies husbands) for quiet.
What the entire attitude points to is a self-righteous look at life and their place over common folk. Like monarchies of old that held themselves to be deities, these ultimately pathetic caricatures are far less than they imagine themselves to be. Of course, that doesn't mean they aren't dangerous.
As The Family has fallen out of the news with disgraced Nevada Senator John Ensign and the laughable Governor Mark Sanford, it is important to look at who The Family is, and just what they believe is their role in the world. Members may wish to drop back off the radar, to fade back into the shadows of corporate and political power structures. That can't be allowed to happen, the light must be put upon them.
Why is it important? In a survey of national political figures who called themselves Christian - as virtually all of them do - 1 in 3 cited The Family as an important influence. Yes, one in three. You might have heard Glenn Beck raving about communists "czars" in the Obama Administration, but have you ever heard him speak about undue Chrsitian fundamentalist influence? Of course not. The right rants about church associations such as Reverend Wright, but doesn't comment on ties that are much more web-like and much more insidious.
Is America a country where we want people who believe themselves chosen by God to lord over the rest of us as our leaders? Family members regard themselves as not subject to laws or moralities the same as the rest of us. They are very spiteful toward the poor, believing their lot in life is because they are less in the eyes of God.
They are ultra-sexist, thinking women are tools for their pleasure. They have supported ruthless dictators in countries like Somalia and Indonesia. Members of The Family are from the most alarming of political cloth, that person who sees everyone not part of their group as somehow less, and very much expendable.
We should demand our leaders be first and foremost dedicated to leading for the people, and not for their onw self-importance or enrichment. We should and must demand relgion not be injected into national policy. We have recently learned that the ultra-nationalist and paramilitary mercenary group Blackwater imagined themselves modern day Crusaders. It is imperative that we not allow our government to become an extension of a twisted theology. We must re-establish a seperation of Church and State.
To learn more about The Family I recommend the very well done expose The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power by Jeff Sharlet.
Possibly the most dangerous group has been in the news alot lately. The "Family" is a collection of politicians, business people, lobbyists, and general ne'er do wells who believe themselves to be "chosen by God" to lead the rest of us. Members of The Family regard themselves as above the morality they espouse, above the reproach they themselves so aggressively hurl at others.
It's never been as obvious as now, with so many members of The Family involved in extra-marital affairs. And not only sex has people calling foul, as it appears those involved used government funds for their trysts, and/or threw big bribes at paramours (or the ladies husbands) for quiet.
What the entire attitude points to is a self-righteous look at life and their place over common folk. Like monarchies of old that held themselves to be deities, these ultimately pathetic caricatures are far less than they imagine themselves to be. Of course, that doesn't mean they aren't dangerous.
As The Family has fallen out of the news with disgraced Nevada Senator John Ensign and the laughable Governor Mark Sanford, it is important to look at who The Family is, and just what they believe is their role in the world. Members may wish to drop back off the radar, to fade back into the shadows of corporate and political power structures. That can't be allowed to happen, the light must be put upon them.
Why is it important? In a survey of national political figures who called themselves Christian - as virtually all of them do - 1 in 3 cited The Family as an important influence. Yes, one in three. You might have heard Glenn Beck raving about communists "czars" in the Obama Administration, but have you ever heard him speak about undue Chrsitian fundamentalist influence? Of course not. The right rants about church associations such as Reverend Wright, but doesn't comment on ties that are much more web-like and much more insidious.
Is America a country where we want people who believe themselves chosen by God to lord over the rest of us as our leaders? Family members regard themselves as not subject to laws or moralities the same as the rest of us. They are very spiteful toward the poor, believing their lot in life is because they are less in the eyes of God.
They are ultra-sexist, thinking women are tools for their pleasure. They have supported ruthless dictators in countries like Somalia and Indonesia. Members of The Family are from the most alarming of political cloth, that person who sees everyone not part of their group as somehow less, and very much expendable.
We should demand our leaders be first and foremost dedicated to leading for the people, and not for their onw self-importance or enrichment. We should and must demand relgion not be injected into national policy. We have recently learned that the ultra-nationalist and paramilitary mercenary group Blackwater imagined themselves modern day Crusaders. It is imperative that we not allow our government to become an extension of a twisted theology. We must re-establish a seperation of Church and State.
To learn more about The Family I recommend the very well done expose The Family: The Secret Fundamentalism at the Heart of American Power by Jeff Sharlet.
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