Lord, I am not worthy to receive you. Say the word and my soul shall be healed.
The brilliance of this administration's war on truth was in commandeering an unsuspecting army that had already surrendered critical thinking skills in return for the promise of paradise. A lifetime of reciting self-deprecating mantras like the one above, and blind faith in a deity who would expect it in return for the favors his father sent him to bestow, prepared the Christian soldiers for an unapproachable administration, sent by a higher power that considers itself above question.
The war on truth is creative, carried out behind the scenes, between the lines, under the covers, and up their sleeves. A few subliminal messages, offered in the form of innocuous religious phrases, served as weapons to kill intellects and souls, leaving empty shells to skew the body count. The shells, accustomed to chanting thoughtlessly, now repeat the administration's mantras like automatons.
Embracing God fearing as an admirable trait, Christian soldiers welcomed the opportunity to stockpile admiration, and readily assumed foreigner fearing, non-believer fearing, liberal fearing, and tax fearing. Proud of their Christian soldiers status, they sacrificed logic and accepted anything the administration presented as Christian values, without demanding harmony with their traditional values.
In meshing religion and politics, this administration uses the bible to remind their followers that they already embrace one documented set of contradictions that can be interpreted to support whichever side of the issue benefits them at the time, and it would somehow be sacrilegious not to accept the same level of contradiction from their earthly leaders. They call on their followers to pray, when action would be more appropriate, knowing that puts them in the vulnerable position of waiting for what they trust as an infallible decision from a higher power. Questioning higher power, worldly or heavenly, is a weakness.
By combining religion and politics, this administration has successfully silenced millions of unsuspecting victims. Now, these people march in fear of losing paradise if they question their spiritual or mortal leaders. Stripped of free will and the ability to process new information, they aren't capable of seeing what is happening to them, so we must protect them. We must become true soldiers in the war on truth, arm ourselves with facts, and combat the insidious messages they unknowingly spread. We must ask questions of and for them, and fight to refill their shells with what this administration took from them.
This administration has capitalized on innocence and ignorance.
Poem format:
War On Truth
It's covert
in the dark
behind the scenes
between the lines
up their sleeves
The war on truth is like no other
Religious phrases
with subliminal messages
weapons that kill
minds
souls
wills
no's
Leaving shells that skew body counts
God fearing soldiers
fear of terror
fear of foreigners
fear of taxes
fear of liberals
Stockpiling patriotic fear
Lines blur
preach at rallies
campaign in church
Information gets lost
Questions go unanawered
The administration capitalizes
on innocence and ignorance
Christian soldiers march on
in a trance
Sandy Knauer
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Comments: 60
thats all I could find from the start
you hit the nail on the head
for truths shared from the heart
This administration seems to create
what will soon be called new history
with the War On Truth so strong
everything seems a real mystery
But truth ever remains the same. Great write.
The Bush boys played a thoughtful chess match and all they care about is winning. They know they are going home after all this. They don't give a damn about truth, war or religion. All they care about padding the pockets of their cronies and perpetuating that padding as long as possible. They are not, nor have they ever been govenors of America. They are merely clever looters.
Ultimately people have the goverment they deserve, let's be more truthful ourselves in every aspect of our lives and create a generation of people who may govern accordingly.
It's not that I'm addicted to oil, or even to creature comforts like my luxurious home, it's cathedral ceilings and multiple walk-in closets, my SUV, my two-zone (or three-zone) indoor space heating and airconditioning system and my two (or three) car garage.
My obesity isn't due to excessive consumption. And my five pound cosmetic bag actually helps me excercise. Can't go anywhere without being able to make-over my face.
Hey,it's just the American way! Fat, ugly, number one, neurotic (like my dog) and determined to stay that way. And if my spouse doesn't like it, I'll get another .. the hell with what the kids think. Huh! I thought I lived thru my kids!
We've been had, peoples...
Richard the Lion-Hearted fought Islam with the Bible and Sword, too -- and how many Crusades were there in history which wound up coming, like Vietnam, to naught, to nothing, to no gain, to utter futility, to incredible loss of life?
A rhetorical question -- drenched in blood, unfortunately.
As you may've picked up on, I don't quite follow the same political ideas that you do, but I'm not so hard-headed that I can't listen to the opinions and views of others. I'm enjoying seeing through your eyes. Thanks.
Regards,
Doyle I <~~~~~
Next time you hear about implementing toxics/environmental restrictions killing our economy, laugh like crazy. I think it probably says something in the bible that science should be the best money can buy.
Let me know if you find that bible verse.
When looked at without nationalistic blinders, the indoctrination of our soldiers (and various youth groups) today is no different than the cultivation of any number of historical armies: the German soldiers of WW2, the Conquistadors sent to the New World, the Crusaders, kamikaze pilots, and, of course, the terrorists of countries not our own.
We are so blind to how we commit the same heinous acts, because we cling to the Disneyesque illusion of America rather than looking clear-eyed at the United States and the damage its government surreptitiously supports. (Let's mention the School of the Americas, while we're on that subject, eh?)
In my reading today, I was hit with the fact that although the bulk of the population in Latin America cannot afford to own a car, they often have access to televisions -- so that we are exporting an image of what it means to be successful, which is well out of reach. How ugly! People living in a paradise without the stress and grief of our "never enough time or money" lifestyles, and our commercials endlessly work to convince them that ours is the better way. We export toxic dreams.
I want to discuss the Latin America television/car topic with people who live in those countries. I wonder how the need for a car plays into the picture, how much American television they watch, and whether they envy or pity us as a result. I'm not convinced that others do envy our greed and materialism the way we have been told they do. I have a fond memory of a mother-in-law who laughed when she came to visit and saw an electric knife. "How lazy," was her reaction.
I agree, Sandy -- there are surely many who can see the emptiness of existence as shown in various ads; they aren't stupid. The point the author of my textbook made was that the Latin American population is quite young on the average, as compared to the U.S., and we are creating a hunger in them. I wonder if that softens them up for voting in favor of CAFTA? I've heard that spells doom for many businesses down there. My textbook is too old to address that, but I've heard nothing good about CAFTA yet. I'd appreciate any authentic input.
Sheryl, I have the same memories of mass in Latin and reciting words that meant little to me (even when I understood the Latin and after they changed to English). I understand falling for that as a child, but can't imagine adults doing the same.
Not everyone in the military is a mindless automaton, although I guess that is hard to grasp for someone so thoroughly poisoned by the coolaid of the lefto-fascists.
I guess a mind as weak and indoctrinated as yours has to pigeonhole people in order to understand the big complicated world.
Go ahead and hate the soldiers for what both parties politicians have done. It takes a pitifully small mind to blame the messengers.
It's curious that someone would miss this, as these metaphors are not even Sandy's invention--they have a long track record in Christian usage. Crusades, "Onward Christian Soldier", "I'm in the Lord's Army", etc....
Wow! Wonderful writing and insight. We are of one mind on this topic.
Wonderful poem as well. I will be reading more of your work in the near future.
On the other hand, I think you might give me more credit than I deserve - but I thank you all the same. Do you have any idea how long it takes me to write something like this? Years, if I count observing, processing, and looking for words.
It mentions the effect on watching TV versus reading information and the process of the brain is different. Now with new teck I think they can see what part of the brain is doing the work. Apparently too much Tv will impair in time your critical thinking abilities.
I haven't read the book, but I will. You know what an Al Gore fan I am.
good night
Good night!
Where I grew up, if you asked for the truth, you got handed a bible and a bumpersticker. I believe this war has been a long time in the making. That makes me angry because I would really like to believe this country is more than a nation of stupid pawns.
"During almost fifteen centuries has the legal establishment of Christianity been on trial. What have been its fruits? More or less in all places, pride and indolence in the Clergy, ignorance and servility in the laity; in both, superstition, bigotry and persecution."
"What influence, in fact, have ecclesiastical establishments had on society? In some instances they have been seen to erect a spiritual tyranny on the ruins of the civil authority; on many instances they have been seen upholding the thrones of political tyranny; in no instance have they been the guardians of the liberties of the people. Rulers who wish to subvert the public liberty may have found an established clergy convenient auxiliaries. A just government, instituted to secure and perpetuate it, needs them not."
James Madison (The father of our constitution)
Great post Sandy, you got a 10 from me.
Here are some scary links:
The Despoiling of America: How George W. Bush became the head of the new American Dominionist Church/State
Rise of the Righteous Army
If you have not seen the Esoteric Agenda :: I urge you to do a google (it can also be found here on gather) here:
http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?memberId=545502&articleId=281474977529283
Let me know if you would like to work with a team of folks who are spreading truth through Yoga | Art | Music | Activism They have truly dedicated their practice to creating bridges between our practices.
Keep up the great work.