I did. The drive was too long. But, fortunately, here in California we’re having an even bigger freak show in our capital city of Sacramento this weekend. If you can’t make it, you can get a taste of what you’re missing here:
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If you can make it, but need some coaxing to justify the time, effort and expense, here’s 2012 GOP presumed presidential hopeful, Mike Huckabee:
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Organizer, Lou Engle is “summoning”
consecrated, intercessory representatives from, and on behalf of, California and every state to “altar” their lives, “altar” their states, and “altar” the nation.
Please reassure me that the majority of Americans don’t follow every word Beck spews? Because it’s very unnerving, if they do.
It’s almost 9 AM EST on Sunday and I still haven’t seen a single second of coverage of the idiot-a-thon on the mall.
About 100,000 people made it to the stupid-a-thon — not a majority. :)
Chris,
It’s 12:26 PM PST on Sunday and I haven’t either. :)
I’ve only read the 2 short articles from our (politically conservative) Sunday paper. One, “Scores Heed Call,” notes that “almost all” of the attendees were white – and that Beck “put a heavy religious cast on nearly all his remarks, sounding at times like an evangelical preacher.” In other words, Beck (and the Tea Party generally) speaks for white evangelical Christians, not a “diverse” movement, as claimed. So, yeah, probably not a majority; but a highly-motivated, well -organized and -funded minority?
…although top 2012 presidential contenders (Palin, Huckabee, Gingrich) are actually scarier than Beck, imho…
Beck is a failed disc jockey. Limbaugh was a failed sportscaster. Apparently, no matter how much you suck at your job, you can always make it has a conservative radio host.
When I see preachers/people screaming/witnessing/praying at these events I always wonder why they take everything from the bible literally except this:
Matthew 6:5-7
5″And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 6But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Have you seen the pictures?
Some of their signs are funny (in a sick sort of way)
Chris,
Hmm. Wasn’t Hitler a failed artist? I think you’re on to something. It sounds like we have to use our nanny state to provide people like Beck, Limbaugh and Hitler lotsa positive reinforcement and feelings of success so they don’t become frustrated and become tyrants. We could even hire a czar to head up the whole thing.
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Michelle,
Me too. :)
I actually use Matthew 6:5-7 in conversations with people who think prayer belongs in schools. I agree that the verse is pretty doggone straightforward. Of course, the real answer to “why pray in public?” is “to send an unambiguous message to non-Christians that they are second-class citizens.” I haven’t been able to get anybody to admit it though. :)
Meg,
I’ve only seen a few so far and I can’t believe that nobody has told these people about spell-checking their stupid signs. They should logic-check them, too. I’m serious.
At six tonight I watched the whole one-on-one interview Beck did on FOX with Chris Wallace. Interesting that several questions sounded straightforward, even tough, although coming from a friendly, of course. Lynn is right that it was all religious, heavily. I listened carefully.
One tough question was why he called the president a racist who hated white people. Beck’s elaborate explanation was that he hadn’t realized the president believed in the “liberation theology” so easily mistaken for Marxism (he quoted Pope Benedict to prove this point.)
So I poked around tonight and found a Jesuit priest and culture editor of something called America magazine, to enlighten me: Glenn Beck and Liberation Theology.
That’s an interesting article; I’ve never heard of Liberation Theology before. As I was read I was reminded of the battle over health care reform and opponents’ callous disregard, even sneering contempt for the suffering of others.
It’s (still) late. I think I’ll sleep on these ideas (rather than the milk cow’s 310 million tits). :)