Friday, September 18, 2009

Notes on the American Right Wing Ethos


Fox News. Neo-Confederates. Tea-baggers. Glenn Beck. Rush Limbaugh. Joe Wilson. Sarah Palin. A loose confederation held together under the banner of the American right wing "social conservative" ethos.

Fear of change. Fear of the status quo. Fear of the US federal government. Fear of diversity. Reacting to change. Desire for rollback of social norms to an imaginary 1876 or 1861 or 1776.


(First national flag, Confederate States of America, 1861. See this waving at "values voter" gatherings and tea-bagging rallies.)

Hostile to science, reason and rational discussion (exactly contrary to the literate ethos of the Age of Enlightenment and the "Founding Fathers").

Mean and mean-spirited.

The American right wing ethos doesn't encompass tragedy or humility or even an understanding of comedy (most successful public comics are lefties or anarchists, yes?)

It is simplistic, filtering life in binary terms of Good vs. Bad, lacking in nuance or acknowledgement of subtlety.

It is super-nationalistic, jingoistic, xenophobic, flag-waving.

It delights in the ideals of brute force and poison.

It displays very little knowledge or understanding of the complexities of history, which proponents like Palin and Beck prefer to whitewash and mold into their own image.

It sneers at ecology, and apparently prefers unsupervised rapine and pillaging.



(Confederate battle flag adorned with rattlesnake. Photo by Holly Le taken at Washington DC, 9/12/2009 rally). Such are my notes on the American right wing ethos as of right now. Thanks go out to three long-standing friends, including a rare moderate Republican, for their input before I posted this.

Today's Rune: Joy.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

"'I don't believe in global warming,' said conservative activist Kim Simac, a horse trainer and mother of nine from Wisconsin who also believes that the teaching of creationism and prayer need to be brought back to public schools."

Anonymous said...

IT IS ABOUT TIME THE NOT CRAZY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY SPEAK UP AND GET AS LOUD AND BOISTROUS , PUSH BACK. AND WHERE WERE THE RIGHT WINGERS WHEN BUSH 2 AND THE GOP TOOK OUR ECONOMY FROM A PLUS TO A MINUS IN 8 YEARS?! NOW THE DEFICIT IS IMPORTANT?! TOO MANY OF OUR CONGRESS PEOPLE ARE IN THE POCKETS OF LOBBYISTS. THE GOP BETTER WATCH OUT WHO THEY GO TO BED WITH FOR WHEN YOU DANCE WITH THE DEVIL YOU GET BURNED.

Erik Donald France said...

Wow, check this out, the "Values" Summit schedule, in their own words: http://www.valuesvotersummit.org/schedule.

Samples from tomorrow's agenda:

"TRUE TOLERANCE: COUNTERING THE HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS - CONGRESSIONAL B
Candi Cushman--Education Analyst, Focus on the Family Action

THE THREAT OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION - EMPIRE ROOM
The Honarable Corey Stewart, Chairman, Prince William Board of County Supervisors; Dr. Jim Edwards, Principal, MITA Group

This panel explores the threatening consequences of current immigration policy. It discusses how lackluster enforcement of the laws has added to our nation's vulnerabilities. It discusses the harmful impact on our communities, our quality of life, and our national security.

MARRIAGE: WHY IT'S WORTH DEFENDING AND HOW REDEFINING IT THREATENS RELIGIOUS LIBERTY - DIPLOMAT ROOM
Charles Donovan, Senior Research Fellow, The Heritage Foundation; Thomas Messner, Visiting Fellow; The Heritage Foundation; Dr. Jennifer Roback Morse, Founder and President, Ruth Institute

GLOBAL WARMING HYSTERIA: THE NEW FACE OF THE "PRO-DEATH" AGENDA - CABINET ROOM
Dr. Calvin Beisner, National Spokesman, Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation

Ultimately, climate change hysteria rests on an unbiblical view of God, mankind, and the environment. Come and hear how the Cornwall Alliance is pushing back--producing ground-breaking studies on Biblical environmentalism, educating pastors and churches across the country, and activating thousands of Christians to rally against the hype through the WeGetIt.org Campaign. Learn why policies to fight alleged man-made global warming will instead cause hundreds of millions of premature deaths throughout this century, and how human liberty, responsibility, and flourishing are the key to a healthier environment.

SPEECHLESS - SILENCING THE CHRISTIANS - CONGRESSIONAL B
Casey Smith, Jr., Executive Assistant to the Chairman and President, American Family Association

Americans are at a greater risk of losing their basic freedoms today than ever before in the history of this nation. Political correctness and the voice of the liberal minority are undermining the morals and values of main-stream America. Christians are being silenced all across America: in the political debate, the public square, the schools, the workplace, and even in the sanctuary of their own churches. Through video, renowned author and commentator, Janet Parshall, takes you on a journey across the country to meet citizens who have been arrested for speaking out at a public rally, students who are being forced to attend classes that require them to recite verses from the Koran and to stage their own Jihad and activists pushing social tolerance to such an extreme that the Bible itself is being labeled "hate speech."

(Pt. 1)

Erik Donald France said...

(Pt. 2):

THE NEW MASCULINITY -
Dr. Pat Fagan, Senior Fellow and Director, Center for Family and Religion, FRC; Michael Schwartz, Chief of Staff, Senator Tom Coburn (R-Okla.); Dr. Matthew Spalding, Director, B. Kenneth Simon Center for Studies, The Heritage Foundation

Feminism has wreaked havoc on marriage, women, children and men. It is time to redress the disorder it has wrought and that must start with getting the principles and ideals for a new "masculinism" right. Such a "masculinism" will have its dovetailing counterpart in a new "feminism" for they mutually define each other and, in nature, are meant to be complementary. This panel will begin this exploration.

THUGOCRACY - FIGHTING THE VAST LEFT WING CONSPIRACY - EMPIRE ROOM
Terry Jeffrey, Editor, CNSNews.com; Michael Barone*
"Hate crime" legislation, removal of conscience protections for health care workers, the Fairness Doctrine, groups like ACORN intimidating voters and committing voter fraud, "Card Check" legislation to create a permanent majority - President Obama and the Democratic Party is doing all it can to suppress free speech that they disagree with and that threatens their plans for a "permanent majority" in power. Political pundit Michael Barone calls it a "thugocracy" and "Gangster Government," how real is this threat and how can we fight it?

ACTIVISM AND CONSERVATISM: FIT TO A TEA (PARTY) - CABINET ROOM
Jeff Griffith, Pennsylvania Tea Party Coordinator; Amy Kremer, National Coordinator, Tea Party Patriots; Crane Durham, Host, "Nothing but the Truth"

On April 15th, hundreds of thousands of citizens gathered in more than 800 cities to voice their opposition to out of control spending at all levels of government. Organized in all 50 states by Americans from all walks of life, these "tea parties" were a true grassroots protest of irresponsible fiscal policies and intrusive government. The mainstream media could not explain the phenomenon that anyone would be fed up with Washington, D.C. now that the liberals in charge. We will tell you how it happened, why it is still happening and how you can organize your own.

FAITH, POLITICS, AND THE INTERNET: HOW TO CONTEND FOR TRUTH IN A DIGITAL AGE
Dr. Russell Moore, Dean of Theology and Senior Vice President for Academic Administration, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Joe Carter, Web Editor, First Things; Hunter Baker, Author and Professor, Houston Baptist University; Jared Bridges, Director of Online Communications, FRC

The new media has given new emphasis to the age-old, often contentious relationship between faith and politics. A panel of internet activists from across the new media spectrum will discuss what it takes to have an effective voice in the political discussion online while remaining faithful to the things that matter most"

This is excellent -- Palinists and Huckabites revealing their top issues of the day.

Lana Gramlich said...

I'm still trying to figure out how to start the REAL revolution. Will keep you posted (it's very slow going. I get to dealing with police & militia & things kind of come to a standstill...)

the walking man said...

I wonder what would happen if the right wing tea bagging neo-con tools ever learn that they are pawns used by them who only want to preserve their private wealth?

Here is an interesting video for you Erick:

http://jadedj-banquetofconsequencestoo.blogspot.com/2009/09/enlightenment.html

jodi said...

Erik, your dense, apolitical, ignorant blogfriend once again thanks you for making her think. x

the walking man said...

i have chosen my battles and unlike them of the hitlerite brigade I will fight on more than a single front and laugh my way to the grave knowing I fought with reckless abandon.

Anonymous said...

Enjoyed the read Erik and agree with the comments. MW

Distributorcap said...

the lunacy of these people knows no bounds - the scary part is the leaders are not just using the people to gather votes - they actually believe it

these are people to fear, not laugh at