Conference quark::human_relations-v1

288.0. "Jimmy Baker, where Jerry left off!" by TIPPLE::HANSON (We Came,We Saw,We Raised Bail!) Mon Apr 20 1987 13:54

    
    Being somewhat new to this conference, I'm not sure if I'm duplicating
    comments or effort by bringing up the subject of the Radical Right,
    the Moral Majority, or whatever the media chooses to call them this
    week (yes, I have read #28, but it seems a bit dated now...)
    
    But the showdown is gettin' terminal, here, between what Jerry F.,
    Pat Robertson, Jimmy Swaggart, et.al are saying, and what most 
    people's sensibilities are telling them.  As has been discussed,
    these people are often dangerous, always ludicrous (opinion), and,
    hopefully, beginning to be exposed for what they really are... BS!
    
    Now, I'm not plugging for this group, but I'm a member of an
    organization called People For The American Way, a non-profit
    civil liberties group that is countering the evangelists wherever
    possible.  The group, founded by Norman Lear and spearheaded by
    laywer Tony Podesta, has their platform in the (paraphrased) premise
    that "Certain liberties, such as freedom of speech, freedom of
    religion, and freedom of thought are gaurenteed by the U.S.
    Constitution.  This and other provisos ensure a seperation, where
    possible, of church and state.  Evangelists, you are citizens, and
    can say or do what you want... rant and rave to your heart's content.
    But as soon as you try to tell *us* what to do, you're violating
    *our* rights, and we can't let you do that !"
    
    Seems common sense to me.  But these people (the televangelists)
    are trying to tell me what my kids are going to be allowed to read,
    what movies are shown in my neighborhood, what videocassettes I
    can rent, what gets programmed on network TV, and the like.  But
    did you know that these people are trying to stack the deck towards
    more conservative viewpoints in our court system ?  In Congress ?
    Indeed, did you know that at one point, Jerry F. was a close advisor
    to Ronald Reagan ?  It scared the beejeezuz out of me when Ron said
    we were fighting a "Holy War" in Lebanon.
    
    Did you know :
    
      - Jack and Jill was banned from elementary schools in Tennesee?
      - And in other places, so was Catcher in the Rye, Of Mice and Men,
         the Diary of Anne Franke, amongst others ?
      - That schoolbook publishers are "dumbing down" textbooks so as
         to avoid RadRight controversy and dissent, thus ensuring their
         continued sales ?
      - That the RadRight continues to lobby for *their* judges and
         politicians, proclaiming them to be "Good Christians" or 
         "Bad Christians" ?
      - That if they're not successful with the above, or if they cannot
         displace from office someone with whom they do not share the
         same ideological viewpoints, that they actually pray for the
         death of that person or candidate ?  Darn scary ! 
    
    Ok, I've said enough, and am likely to take a bit of heat here,
    but these people have money, they have the media, somehow they have
    a following (perhaps based, with people, in the fear of death, dis-
    cussed elsewhere in this conference...), and yet they have the single
    most narrow viewpoint that I've ever seen.  If you don't think, do,
    and say *exactly* what they feel is right, then you're doomed to
    burn forever.
    
    Whaddyathink ?
    
    Bob "Give me a match, I'm goin' up" H.
    

    I agree with Marge, and I am a moderator.  I'll write-lock
    this topic for now.  Send me mail if you have comments or
    questions.
    			Steve

    I'm discussing the suitability of this topic with the other
    moderators.  My objection is mainly that the note doesn't really
    go in any particular direction that seems relevant to HUMAN_RELATIONS
    - in fact, it doesn't really go in any direction at all.
    
    It's possible that we could direct this topic appropriately -
    and I'd welcome suggestions by MAIL as to where we could take it.
    Lest people think I'm being inconsistent, please note that note
    28 was started while there was no active moderation of this conference
    at all.  I'll also point out that my personal views are similar
    to those of Bob Hanson regarding the tele-evangelists, but that
    does not affect my believe that SOAPBOX is a more appropriate place
    for a general discussion on the subject.
    
    Watch this space for further details.
    
    					Steve