Secularists Against Targeted Take-Outs
Pat Robertson's call for Hugo Chávez's assassination has produced some chatter in Nicaragua in the last few days. Although La Prensa merely ran a wire story, El Nuevo Diario ran a story with interviews of local priests and theologians on Robertson's fundamentalism and what one called his "theology of death." But the question of Chávez provokes a different discussion here than in the U.S. Especially on the left in Nicaragua, Chávez's movement and his challenge to U.S. hegemony stands as a beacon of possibility, and thus of hope. Take, for example, this interpretation of the Robertson/Chávez affair by William Ulises Rodríguez, Director of the School of Humanities of the Universidad Evangélica de Nicaragua:
Rodríguez refers to negotiations currently underway for Venezuela to provide petroleum directly to Nicaragua (and other countries facing petroleum crises), to avoid the costs of transnational middlemen.
Molina's political cartoon (above), equating Robertson and Osama bin Laden takes the analysis in a different direction, suggesting the role of religious fundamentalism in terrorism. While somewhat apt in this case, it does seem to miss the point of the political power that both men aspire to (pace denials to the contrary).
Except that Robertson wields tremendous power among the religious right and has a significant base of financial and political support, his call and his words would be the off-color humorous rantings of crazed street preacher. Harry Shearer posted Robertson's take on people "that Jesus wouldn't mind if they were removed with extreme, but merciful, prejudice," but you really need to hear it from the horse's ass. Take a listen and you can't help but chuckle at Robertson's lunacy. Of course, if god's sending hurricanes to Mexico to punish a gay Vicente Fox, I suppose Florida's being punished for Jeb Bush's consorting with the devil.
As much as I want to laugh, however, I can't help but cry. Pat Robertson can't send American soldiers to kill the infidels, but President Bush has done it for him. Pat Robertson hasn't murdered Americans he disagrees with, but Eric Rudolph has done it for him.
[His statement] is the lashing out of a beast in agony. It's nothing new that neoliberalism is in decadence, and the the dollar is falling in the face of the euro. Chávez's desire to give petroleum to a country like Nicaragua, without going through transnational companies has to provoke a reaction, and there it is. Robertson inquisitorquistor and Chávez the heretic.
Rodríguez refers to negotiations currently underway for Venezuela to provide petroleum directly to Nicaragua (and other countries facing petroleum crises), to avoid the costs of transnational middlemen.
Molina's political cartoon (above), equating Robertson and Osama bin Laden takes the analysis in a different direction, suggesting the role of religious fundamentalism in terrorism. While somewhat apt in this case, it does seem to miss the point of the political power that both men aspire to (pace denials to the contrary).
Except that Robertson wields tremendous power among the religious right and has a significant base of financial and political support, his call and his words would be the off-color humorous rantings of crazed street preacher. Harry Shearer posted Robertson's take on people "that Jesus wouldn't mind if they were removed with extreme, but merciful, prejudice," but you really need to hear it from the horse's ass. Take a listen and you can't help but chuckle at Robertson's lunacy. Of course, if god's sending hurricanes to Mexico to punish a gay Vicente Fox, I suppose Florida's being punished for Jeb Bush's consorting with the devil.
As much as I want to laugh, however, I can't help but cry. Pat Robertson can't send American soldiers to kill the infidels, but President Bush has done it for him. Pat Robertson hasn't murdered Americans he disagrees with, but Eric Rudolph has done it for him.
posted by Justin at 6:43 PM
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