Today I received one of those emails that are supposed to "scare" you into voting for John McCain - or anyone but Barack Obama. I responded by calling it bullshit, but later realized it was actually horseshit, 'as it had to have come from the working end of a horse's ass!Maybe you've seen it. It's titled "Stupid is as stupid does," and the title could not be more appropriate considering the material. The material is stupid and the author is stupid. I explain below.
It begins with a statement that has no connection with what follows:
"A lot of Americans have become so insulated from reality that they imagine that America can suffer defeat without any inconvenience to them."
As it stands, that makes some sense. Bush invaded Iraq and that disaster is now costing us $12 billion per month in BORROWED money, but the only real inconvenience (other than for those who have to fight and die over there...oh, and their families...) is that the price of oil is going through the roof and after five years of the mess, inflation is soon gonna be in the double-digits! Oh yeah, one other thing, we owe our shirt to the Japanese, the Chinese, and the Saudis!
But this letter doesn't talk about that. Instead it relates all the bad things that various Muslims have done in the past 40 years, like assassinating Robert F. Kennedy, and bombing planes and embassies, etc. I guess those things were inconvenient for the people involved, but they really didn't affect most of us except tangentially.
Furthermore, the letter ignores all the "bad" things the United States has done; like torture, preemptive invasions, rendition, illegal spying, murdering hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan...which are even now inconveniencing the hell out of most of us, and this is just the beginning.
Then the letter jumps to another subject and comments in a rather snide and sarcastic fashion about how the government doesn't want to do "profiling" of male Muslims between the ages of 17 and 40 (those specifics become important as you shall see in a minute) but would rather pick on old ladies and little kids, and secret agents and aged, crippled Congressmen.
It's all pretty silly although I have to say the Homeland Security folks who work at the airports don't seem to have all their oars in the water much of the time and they have made some rather blatant errors in judgment.
However, and here it comes, just what you've been waiting for - the IDENTITY of the Anti-Christ!!! Dum, de dum, dum!
"According to the Book of Revelations"...well, gotta interrupt here, 'cause there is no book of Revelations...there is the book of Revelation, or The Revelation of John, which is its real title, but no book of Revelations. People who call it the "book of Revelations" almost always have no frigging clue what they're talking about. In spite of the fact that it is said to have been written by John, we know not who wrote it or when it was written. There were a gazillion Johns running around the Fertile Crescent in those days, and the writer is not further identified. So that's a bummer right from the start. In order to determine the validity of a book, you must know who the author is and what his/her credentials are!
Not only so, but if these idiots would just read the beginning sentences, they might figure out that the Revelation of John is totally irrelevant to their lives! It starts out by explaining "This is the revelation given by God to Jesus Christ." What? I thought it said the Revelation of John? "It was given to him so that he might show his servants what must shortly happen."
Aha! All this stuff was going to happen SOON, not two thousand years later!
But if the "revelation" was given to Jesus Christ, how'd John get into the picture? "He" which I assume refers to Jesus Christ, "made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who, in telling all that he saw, has borne witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ."
Wait just a minute! Did an angel come down from the sky and tell this "John" what to write? Or did an angel simply appear out of nowhere pen in hand? Or maybe the angel floated down on a cloud just before a storm, took John by the hand and led him into a cave, where by candlelight he dictated the "book of Revelations?"
It's interesting, though, 'cause it's kinda the same story as that Mormon guy, Joseph Smith, who had a revelation brought to him by an angel, too! Wow. And it must all be true! But the stories of John and Joseph both can't be true! What to do? Who to believe?
The last sentence in this introduction says "Happy is the man (sorry ladies!) who reads, and happy those who listen to the words of this prophecy and heed what is written in it. For the hour of fulfilment is near."
It's near. It's nigh. It's coming soon.
Oops. None of that happened! Now what? Well, if you're stupid you make up all kinds of crap based on the so-called "prophecies" in the "book of Revelations" and then write really stupid letters with slamming lies about Barack Obama.
People who think that the Revelation of John has anything to do with the 21st Century indicate that they are maybe not so stupid as that they are ignorant fools who know nothing of biblical scholarship. The Revelation of John is mostly apocalyptic material written to give hope to Christians in the first century who were having a problem with the Roman authorities. The wild and weird stuff was code that was comprehended by these early Christians but is incomprehensible for us and has nothing whatsoever to do with anything today.
Nevertheless, we shall proceed with this stupid letter. "According to the Book of Revelations:
"The Anti-Christ will be a man, in his 40s, of MUSLIM descent, (did you get that MUSLIM bit? But didn't that other boob, Jerry Falwell say he was already on earth and he was Jewish? Damn, who to believe?) who will deceive the nations with persuasive language, and have a MASSIVE Christ-like appeal...the prophecy says that people will flock to him and he will promise false hope and world peace, and when he is in power, ... (Oh my God, that sounds like Obama...Oh my God) he will destroy everything."
(Wow. Can you imagine? This is really sumthin'! Shore enuf! Jest in case yer thinkin' maybe it weren't Obama, the letter continues...)
"And Now: For the award winning Act of Stuidity (sic) Of all time the People of America want to elect, to the most Powerful position on the face of the Planet -- The Presidency of the United States of A merica (sic)
"A Muslim
Male
Extremist
Between
the ages
of 17 and 40."
(Holy crap. We's in big truble!) But there's more...this is shore worrisome!)
"Have the American People completely lost their Minds, or just their Power of Reason??? I'm sorry but I refuse to take a chance on the 'unknown' candidate
"Obama...
"I hope this goes to as many people it can so that the Gloria Aldreds and other stupid attorneys along with Federal Justices that want to thwart common sense, feel ashamed of themselves -- if they have any such sense.
"As the writer of the award winning story 'Forrest Gump' so aptly put it,
'Stupid is as stupid does.'"
That sums it up nicely 'cause it'd be hard to write anything more stupid than to suggest that Barack Obama is the Anti-Christ based on the "book of Revelations!"
8 comments:
They are not ony ignorant but are stupid. I was under the impression that since Islam was not a religon until the seventh century, those that testified in the Bible had not idea it was coming. I am no Bible scholar but.....
What does it take to ocnvince people that Obama is not a Muslim? I thouhgt that myth had been exposed earlier on.
Oh well, those people cannot be argied with.
They live in their own world tht has little to do with anythion real.
Bob Poris
You got something against Christians? I'll agree with you and say that I don't think Obama is the anti-Christ. However, I don't think he's going to be the kind of president that will uphold the beliefs that this nation was founded on. What will it take to convince me that Obama is not a Muslim? Why doesn't he just come out and say it? I don't want him to come out and say he's a Christian or a Catholic just to make people happy. I want to see him swear on a Bible. I want to hear him say the pledge of allegiance. I want him to be authentic and real so that people can know who he really is. And just to throw it out there, Oprah is backing this guy. I highly doubt that she would be backing a God fearing Christian. If anybody is the anti-Christ, it's that woman! (sarcasm).
Dear Robbie,
First of all, the people who send out a letter like the "stupid" letter have left Christianity long ago!
Secondly, why would you give a rat's ass what Obama's religion is? Where does it say that a Muslim can't be president? In fact, if you knew anything about our Constitution you would know that there is NO religious test for public office.
You should also know, from your personal experience, that so-called Christians can be some of the nastiest people around. If you haven't learned that yet, you will to your great dismay.
You don't make a hell of a lot of sense. First you say that you don't think Obama is the anti-Christ. That's big of you! Then you want him to prove it to you somehow. He has said that he is not a Muslim, over and over again. Maybe if you'd read something other than the fundamentalist rightwing rags you would know that!
You are funny, too. He has lead the Senate in the Pledge of Allegiance, as if that means anything. How dumb can you be? If he really was a secret Muslim just waiting to call his brethren to take over our country, he would do all the patriotic things so people like you, easily fooled, would be conned good!
And what do you have against Oprah?
Do you not like her because she's a black woman?
Are you sure you're just not an old-time racist?
And yes, I've got a lot against fundamentalist Christians who think they "know" what God wants, and who think they know what's best for this country and want to turn this country into a Christian state!
This is a secular country; always has been. You can worship anything or anyone you want. What you can't do is impose your beliefs on the rest of us!
Why don't you worry about real problems like the horror of Iraq, or the price of gas, or the godawful inflation which is already crucifying a lot of middle-income folks?
You claim to be a Christian but lay false accusations against Obama, who is your brother in Christ! Some Christian!
For example, you say that Obama wouldn't "be the kind of president that will uphold the beliefs that this nation was founded on." How would you know that? And what beliefs are those? Don't tell me they are Christian beliefs because then I'll know you have not been educated, but propagandized!
Would you say that Bush upheld the beliefs this nation was founded on. Do you think McCain aka McBush would do that?
You must have forgotten most of the Gospels. Jesus never talked about any of the stuff you worry about.
Ah, what the heck. You wouldn't know what I was getting at anyway!
But thanks for writing!
Jacob
I read the comments re the “Stupid Letter” so I needn’t add to the Biblical and religious comments made by Jacob, who is obviously well educated with Christian theology and Biblical studies. The ignorance of some Christians re such studies is appalling but that is their misfortune. I have difficulty with a concept of an all powerful, all knowing God that needs the help of stupid people that ignore history and current events in a world where people hate enough to kill others for little reason. Do they really believe thtt God cannot change anything within the world He is credited with creating, including a large number of stupid people that ignore the teachings they profess to believe?
Religious intolerance led to the deaths of millions that believed in a different version of God and His works. The more famous incidents were The Crusades, the Inquisition and the Holocaust on the Christian side. We see by reading current events and contemporary history what intolerance has accomplished in reducing life on our planet. The Sunni Muslims manage to kill Shiite Muslims as often as possible. Both kill Jews whenever they can. We see what both the Taliban and Al Queda does to those that believe slightly differently than they do as to what their version of God tell them. Chinese anti religionists manage to kill Tibetans and we see religious battles going on all over many continents.
Now we have someone trying desperately to bring such nonsense to the USA, one of the few nations that made multi culturism work until now. We managed to keep separation of church and state out of our courts, schools and government, in spite of the efforts of the fundamentalist Christians so eager to use their version of Christianity as the basis of law in the USA. Should it be Roman Catholicism, Southern Baptist, Mormon, Episcopalian, Jewish, Muslim and if so, which version or denomination should be the law of the land? (I do not even ask about those that do not subscribe to any of the above a s they are not entitled to choose “other or none of the above”. Some will spend their life trying to prove that somehow our Christian founders deliberately demanded a wall between any church and the state simply because they foresaw the difficulty of rule by some denomination over all others. They were glad to be rid of any single authority making the rules for all citizens.
Bob Poris
Jacob,
First off, the reason I care about the religion of Obama is because...well, did you read the "Stupid" letter? Anyone who follows the god of that religion has no right being the president of this nation. And maybe there is no religious test for office, but after the events of 9/11 and the terrors of this war, I feel like it might make sense to have such a test. Am I taking crazy pills here or am I the only one who feels like it would be a really bad thing to have a Muslim as our president...especially at this time in history??
And I'll tell you what I've learned from my personal experience with Christians. They are the most selfless, humble, servant-like, encouraging people I have ever met. I don't know what "Christians" you are talking about, but they are giving the real ones a bad name.
And I don't want Obama to prove to me that he's not the anti-Christ! I never said that! I just want him to prove to me that he's not Muslim...two entirely different things.
I'm assuming that your comment about Oprah was sarcasm, I don't think it could have been anything else. But in case it wasn't, I'll just put it out there that I am definitely not racist...I just can't stand the fact that this one woman can say whatever she wants and millions of people will believe and follow her to the ends of the earth. Have you seen the religion/church that she is starting? It's ridiculous! Even from a non-Christian point of view, it just doesn't make any sense. And this woman, who obviously wants nothing to do with Christianity, is backing a man who claims to be a Christian...someone who would oppose the very religion she is founding. That doesn't add up. Either she knows something we don't, or she is just echoing her ignorance with her support of Obama.
And as far as this being a secular country, I couldn't agree more. You're right, I cannot impose my Christian beliefs upon you. But why do non-Christians feel that they can impose their beliefs upon me? Just take a look at some of the new laws in California. Apparently it is not ok to be a Christian in some places anymore.
And if you had read the Gospels and the rest of the New Testament like you claim, you would know what Jesus and Paul and others were driven by. Jesus' biggest concern was that His Father was pleased/honored and therefore, glorified in all that He did and said. It is from this example that I base my beliefs on what a follower of Jesus ought to look like, and I just don't see that in Obama.
I don't write this to influence others. I'm not going to protest the presidency and not vote...I've never understood people who do that. I will vote for McCain because I do not trust Obama. Could that change? Sure. But for the time being, I'm not going to worry about it. You're right, there are bigger things to worry about than who will fill the most powerful office in the world.
robbie
I hesitated to prolong this silly argument but the following just has to be said. (I served in WW2 and earned the right to be heard)
Dear Robbie: Please read the Constitution of this great country. You have some peculiar ideas re religious freedom, the right to have any religion or none at all., the reasons for the separation of church and state, etc.
I am not happy with Obama for many reasons but there is nothing, zero, zip, in his background to indicate that he is a Muslim. He has belonged to a Christian Church for twenty years. He was sworn in each time he was elected to anything with his hand on a Christian Bible. The only Congressman to be sworn in with his hand on a Koran is from Minnesota but perhaps all blacks look alike to some. As far as I know, no Senator has ever been sworn in with a Koran. He had that right, as so all citizens of the USA. Many of our Christian Presidents have been sinners and have not followed the teachings of Jesus. That can be said about leaders of any nation, regardless of their mouthing of words that do not affect how they live. Many have killed innocents, looted their treasuries, etc regardless of their professed religion. Hitler and many of his devoted followers were church going Christians but I do not think they followed the actual teachings. Both the victims and victimized profess to being good Christians. We only know them by their actions not their pious words.
What would it take for you to believe that Obama is not a Muslim? Does being a Muslim disqualify anyone from running or winning any office in this great multicultural nation? Would a Jew have to swear on your Bible or could he or she use their own Holy book. Which contains the first five books of your Bible? Jews do not accept the books that followed but do follow the Old Testament as you read it everyday.
What test do you want? Are you willing to serve in our armed forces and swear allegiance to the USA even if the Commander in Chief is not a Born again Christian like Carter and Bush?
What kind of country do you want and where can you find it anywhere on earth?
Bob Poris
Bob,
First off, I want to convey my sincere appreciation for your service in WW2. I have a very high respect for men like you and both of my grandfathers (who are no longer alive) who were willing to risk their lives for the freedom of many. Thank you for your service!
In response to your comment, I did a bunch of research on Obama trying to figure out who he really is and what he really believes. I found clips of him leading the pledge of allegiance. I apologize for my ignorance in making that comment earlier. But I also found a few sources which indicated that Obama was raised in a Muslim home and that his step dad who was there for more of his life than his real dad, made Obama go through Muslim schooling while growing up, and was himself a radical Muslim.
Now, if these reports are true, or even have a little bit of truth in them, this still does not necessarily mean that Obama is in fact a Muslim. However, I was raised by Christians, and ever since I was a little kid, I believed in Christian doctrine and wholeheartedly believe all that I was taught as a child (and have since made it my own faith, not my parents). I say this because I think it is easy to believe in that which you were raised up in. If one is raised in a Muslim home and taught Muslim "doctrine", then it will be easy for them to be a Muslim. This is why I think it is possible that Obama could be a Muslim. And I hope you understand why having a Muslim (not a Jew, or a Hindu, or a Catholic) would be a bad thing at this point in time. I would have no serious problem with another religion. But Islam is bad news these days. They hate Americans (white people in general) and want us all dead. This is why it would be bad if Obama was Muslim. Does that make sense?
Have you read the Koran? Are you aware that the bulk of Muslims are not Arabs and live peacefully with other faiths in many parts of the world? That is like denying that Hitler and many of his higher ups attended church and claimed to be Christians. The jails are full of Christians. Professing belief does not always make one morally superior and is used as a cover. You really have to look at deeds not words. Denying help to Katrina victim while professing faith is hypocritical.
Obama did attend a Madrass, which is the word for a school. He did attend one as a small child but it was coed! No radical Muslim schools allow the mixing of the sexes at any age. His original father was an atheist and not a practicing reactionary Muslim. One was radical, but his atheist mother raised him along with her parents. He basically was secular, other than some schooling in a Catholic school, until an adult, when he and his wife decided to join a church along with their two small children. That church, although I do not like its philosophy, was and remains Christian. He claims to be Christian and there is zero evidence that he has ever practiced the Muslim faith. That faith is also a 24 hour a day guide to behavior that Muslims must follow. He obviously doesn’t follow it. He eats pork, which is an easy one to avoid if he believed. It is a very strong taboo. He doesn’t pray five times a day, which is also a requirement. None of his activities indicate that he is a Muslim. One doesn’t inherit it with your DNA, One either is a believer or is not.
People claim to be Christian but which one of the over 2000 Protestant denominations is the right one? Which form of Catholicism is the right one? Which of the five Jewish denominations is the right one? How many Christians turn the other cheek? How many love their neighbor, give false testimony, pray in private as Jesus did? Which are real and which are phonies? How often do we read of a prominent preacher that commits all sorts of violation of piety and morality. You can only judge by deeds and actions. A bunch of
There is a respected Congressman from Minnesota that is a Muslim and did swear in on a Koran. There are few Muslims in his district which is strongly Christian. Apparently he serves them well and was elected and serves now in the Congress.
A bunch of research is only valid if you have read all sides and vetted the authors as to their ability to research rather than voice opinions or do a hatchet job on an opponent. Do you really believe you know Obama? How well did we know Bush, Clinton, Nixon, Reagan, Carter, etc? (The list is endless) Our opinion is formed by what they did, bad and good. All professed to be people of faith. Judge for yourself based on their actions.
Bob Poris
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