Christopher Hitchens on Glenn Beck's Rally

White Fright: Glenn Beck's rally was large, vague, moist, and undirected—the Waterworld of white self-pity.

by Christopher Hitchens

This summer, then, has been the perfect register of the new anxiety, beginning with the fracas over Arizona's immigration law, gaining in intensity with the proposal by some Republicans to amend the 14th Amendment so as to de-naturalize "anchor babies," cresting with the continuing row over the so-called "Ground Zero" mosque, and culminating, at least symbolically, with a quasi-educated Mormon broadcaster calling for a Christian religious revival from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.
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In a rather curious and confused way, some white people are starting almost to think like a minority, even like a persecuted one. What does it take to believe that Christianity is an endangered religion in America or that the name of Jesus is insufficiently spoken or appreciated? Who wakes up believing that there is no appreciation for our veterans and our armed forces and that without a noisy speech from Sarah Palin, their sacrifice would be scorned? It's not unfair to say that such grievances are purely and simply imaginary, which in turn leads one to ask what the real ones can be. The clue, surely, is furnished by the remainder of the speeches, which deny racial feeling so monotonously and vehemently as to draw attention.

As usual, he says it best. Whether you agree with Hitchens or not, he would most likely DESTROY you in a debate.

Thanks for the article. I just have to say I had deja vu again! This is the fourth time this month.

Just another reaching article from the esoteric academic elite. Desperate times...

Note the description/veiled insult of Beck as being "Quasi Educated"

Well, that should automatically disqualify anyone who is not part of the progressive liberal movement that has turned caustic in an effort to preserve themselves.

God forbid people in this nation actually experience a much needed religious awakening during a moment in history when our "culture" is forever sliding down a slippery slope.

Oh yeah and Hitchens is a leading proponent of the "new atheism" movement and he is trying to polish the image by pushing this as "antitheism" rather than atheism. Typical.



So, he also has an agenda eh??

I would LOOOOVE if us people could pitch those guys against eachother. Have Hitchens/Stewart/Colbert take on Beck/Palin/Huckabee. It would be entertaining, that's for sure.

Totally agree with Hitchens on all points. The sad part is, tabbing into the patriotism and belief of people is the easiest way to control and steer them...not everyone gets that though, definitely none of the few 100k people who attended Beck's televangelist rally.

reply to post by mothershipzeta


Speaking of "Beck"....I hope this adds to your thread, since it involves him, at least tangentially.

That other "brainiac", who was invited to speak at Beck's "Rally", Sarah palin stepped in a goober....apparently, someone on her staff allowed her to use Twitter all by herself, and....

Poor confused former half-term governor Sarah Palin, when she isn’t slaughtering her native language to broadcast her nasty bigoted nonsense, she apparently can’t tell the difference between cool alt-rocker Beck and deranged Fox News personality and self-described rodeo clown, Glenn Beck. Palin took to her Twitter machine to slam the “silly media” for not buying into the right-wing’s inflated attendance numbers for Beck’s 700 Club-esqu “Restoring Honor” rally. And in doing so, she mistakenly referred her Team Sarah zombie army to musician Beck’s Twitter page, instead of the Beck who called our first black president a “racist.”

The example of Sarah Palin "Which magazines to I read? ALL of them, Katie!" and her 'fastest thumbs in Wasilla' Twitter fiasco, in this link.

Originally posted by weedwhacker

she mistakenly referred her Team Sarah zombie army to musician Beck’s Twitter page, instead of the Beck who called our first black president a “racist.”

This just adds to why I don't like Glenn Beck. I already have to call him "Glenn Beck" because I'm a huge fan of the musician Beck.

I also like some of the band Rush...but guess what? Yeah.

So, I can't say I'm a Beck or Rush fan, because people will think I'm talking about either the stage-crying fraud or the pompous gasbag.

reply to post by mothershipzeta

...the pompous gasbag.

Which opens the door for my favorite "Rush" joke (no, not the talented ones, the singular poor excuse for a human being one...).

(This is probably better in a verbal delivery, but...):

What's the difference between the Hindenburg, and Rush Limbaugh?

One's a flaming bag of hot air........






........ and the other's a dirigible.

Originally posted by jibeho

God forbid people in this nation actually experience a much needed religious awakening during a moment in history when our "culture" is forever sliding down a slippery slope.

I disagree! We don't need some pseudo-televangelists! What we need are people who are RATIONAL, LOGICAL, and willing to accept reality and then work to fix things...rather than people who use faith to control the masses and use their illogical and irrational faith to justify whatever agenda they're pursuing.

If you want to believe in whatever, you have the RIGHT to do so. But when it comes to reality and real life, I want a realist, rationalist, and logical person who approach as problem scientifically rather than emotionally and based on faith.

If you want religion, go to church! This isn't a theocracy and faith and politics are an evil combination. Makes it waaaaaaay to easy to control the masses simply by tapping into their faith.

Originally posted by jibeho
Just another reaching article from the esoteric academic elite. Desperate times...

God forbid we should pay some attention to the educated rather than the professionally ignorant.

Well, that should automatically disqualify anyone who is not part of the progressive liberal movement that has turned caustic in an effort to preserve themselves.

As opposed to the people who have ALWAYS been caustic - the people who think this is "their" country and they have to "take it back;" the people who want to deny non-Christians the right to worship as guaranteed by the Constitution; the people who claim to be full of Christian faith but would deny basic human rights to illegal immigrants.

Guess what? It's not THEIR country. It's OURS. As in EVERYONE. And I'll be damned if I'll sit back and let their vague, confused ideas go unchallenged.

God forbid people in this nation actually experience a much needed religious awakening during a moment in history when our "culture" is forever sliding down a slippery slope.

He billed this as an 'apolitical' rally, but said nothing about it being religious. When it was shown ON THIS SITE that he was claiming that God was guiding him, that was rejected as taking him out of context. But NOW you're saying that this is indeed a religious revival. I have an idea - go buy a big tent and do it the old fashioned way. But don't hijack our national symbols and monuments and act like you have the ONE TRUE WAY.

But you're right - accidentally. Our culture is FOREVER sliding down a slippery slope. That's what people like you ALWAYS say. And somehow, you never make it right, even when we have the religious leaders you want and elect the people you support.

Oh yeah and Hitchens is a leading proponent of the "new atheism" movement and he is trying to polish the image by pushing this as "antitheism" rather than atheism. Typical.

So, he also has an agenda eh??

So, only Glenn Beck and his ilk are allowed to have agendas, then? EVERYONE has an agenda. I do, and so do you. Throwing that word out just makes you look intellectually unprepared to refute someone's argument.

Originally posted by weedwhacker
reply to post by mothershipzeta

 

...the pompous gasbag.

Which opens the door for my favorite "Rush" joke (no, not the talented ones, the singular poor excuse for a human being one...).

(This is probably better in a verbal delivery, but...):

What's the difference between the Hindenburg, and Rush Limbaugh?

One's a flaming bag of hot air........

....... and the other's a dirigible.

I think the original joke was "a flaming Nazi gasbag."

To keep from straying too far off topic, a few on Glenn Beck:

"James Cameron, who directed 'Avatar,' is in a feud with Glenn Beck, because Cameron called him a mad man. The two are very different. One makes millions creating fictional stories, and the other is James Cameron." –Craig Ferguson

"Our good friend, Sarah Palin, former governor of Alaska, is a contributor to Fox News. Only been there a couple days. Already making friends. Today, she loaned Glenn Beck some mascara that does not run when you cry." –David Letterman

"Some critics are saying that Palin won't last on Fox because she's an over-emotional woman who gets the facts wrong. But I disagree. It's working great for Glenn Beck, so she'll be fine." –Craig Ferguson

"Yesterday on Fox News, commentator Glenn Beck said that he believes President Obama is a racist. Well, to be fair, every time you watch Glenn Beck, it does get a little easier to hate white people." --Conan O'Brien

"And as you know, Santa Claus is working very hard with his elves to make sure every child gets at least one toy this Christmas, or as Glenn Beck calls that, 'socialism.'" –Jay Leno

"During the middle of his show, Fox News commentator Glenn Beck was rushed to the hospital for an attack of appendicitis. Yeah. Apparently, Beck was crying and screaming incoherently, so his audience assumed everything was normal." –Conan O'Brien

On Glenn Beck's complaints that critics of Arizona's immigration are making Nazi comparisons: "Glenn Beck is offended! Glenn Beck thinks playing the Nazi card is going too far. Glenn Beck — this is a guy who uses more Swastika props and video of the Nuremberg rallies than the History Channel." —Lewis Black

"A new survey found that the average man cries about six times a year. That number would be a lot lower if it weren’t for Glenn Beck." --Jimmy Fallon

This is just one monkey throwing feces at another monkey.

I still think Matt Damon summarized my feelings about Palin best

Not new, but still kinda valid...



"Like a really bad Disney movie..."

Originally posted by jibeho
Just another reaching article from the esoteric academic elite. Desperate times...

Note the description/veiled insult of Beck as being "Quasi Educated"

Well, that should automatically disqualify anyone who is not part of the progressive liberal movement that has turned caustic in an effort to preserve themselves.

God forbid people in this nation actually experience a much needed religious awakening during a moment in history when our "culture" is forever sliding down a slippery slope.

Oh yeah and Hitchens is a leading proponent of the "new atheism" movement and he is trying to polish the image by pushing this as "antitheism" rather than atheism. Typical.



So, he also has an agenda eh??

A real religious awakening would teach the people of this country to stop supporting meddlesome foreign policy which directly contributes to the misery and suffering of untold thousands abroad and would also teach them the values of Christian humility and to "judge not, lest ye be judged".

Although I identify myself as a Christian, I see much of America as largely apostate, as they have taken the fundamental teachings of a religion and placed them in a box whose contents are only opened every Sunday and never in the week in between.

This "religious awakening" is frankly a load of complete cack which was devised by Glenn Beck and his cohorts as a means of galvanizing reaction from the Christian Right... honestly. How could one man arrogantly holding a rally in Washington, on the anniversary of an event that is sacrosanct in modern American history, possibly do anything to revitalize the moral fortitude of this nation?

Mr.Beck himself seems to be in bed with quite alot of the people who are poisoning the well of our morality, despite hiding behind their pseudo-morals. People are free to do as they please, I am not castigating politicians and others in the sphere of influence for their actions - merely for their attempts to hide them behind and justify them with the thin veneer of moral superiority.

reply to post by duality90


And hopefully there's more Christians like you standing up against Beck/Palin's pseudo-Christianity!! I'm agnostic, but I have no problem whatsoever with Christians who focus on the real values of compassion and not judging people.

Those evangelists defying all logic and rationality are giving the rest of you a really bad image!

As a longtime follower of Mr. Beck it's obvious how few of the comments are from people that have actually watched him or listened to him for any lenghth of time. This man is not a 'nut'. Do not underestimate him.

Originally posted by dillweed
As a longtime follower of Mr. Beck it's obvious how few of the comments are from people that have actually watched him or listened to him for any lenghth of time. This man is not a 'nut'. Do not underestimate him.

Or alternately, how many people have actually watched him and listened to him for any length of time and hold the opinion that many of his opinions are fundamentally and objectively incorrect.

Although I do appreciate his libertarianism and expressed desire to have as little governmental oversight of the population as is practically and reasonably possible, such arguments are not helped when he pulls out his stupid blackboard and draws some absurd and hyperbolic diagram comparing President Obama to murderous Chairman Mao or Stalin, or saying that Obama is a Trotskyite who would be appalled with the direction Lenin took Marxism in, or that President Obama and the Democrats are Fascists who wish to tag and treat us like cattle and keep us locked in misery.

For the record, I am not a massive fan of Obama or much of the Democratic party, so rest assured, this is not just some left-leaning pundit throwing in his wishy-washy 2 cents. Merely that Mr.Beck and his friend Mr.O'Reilly do nothing but denigrate the principles of the Republican party and "conservative" America with their incessant refusal to even consider the argument or reasoning of an opponent or someone with differing political opinions.

Originally posted by dillweed
As a longtime follower of Mr. Beck

Your judgement is clearly flawed then. You think anyone who followed what's his face at WACO called him a nut? Well not until they realized how BRAINWASHED he had them....the same applies to Glenn Beck. One day people will realize what kind of convoluted path the man led him down....

I think you make the assumption that none of us watch Glenn Beck simply because we don't care for the man.... You'd be mistaken...I make it a habit to flip over to Fox when I see the time and know Beck's show is on.

Surprisingly for the first few minutes of his show I'm usually alright, but once he starts spouting off rhetoric, half-truths, and whining...I just get fed up with him....irregardless I do my best to expose myself to those "other" views so I can see just what drivel people are eating up these days.

[edit on 8/31/10 by ElijahWan]

Originally posted by dillweed
As a longtime follower of Mr. Beck it's obvious how few of the comments are from people that have actually watched him or listened to him for any lenghth of time. This man is not a 'nut'. Do not underestimate him.

He's turning into Jim Jones right before our eyes, so he definitely should not be underestimated.

And nice to know that you label yourself a "follower." I'd advise that you not drink anything Mr. Beck hands you.

I actually watch GB almost daily...mostly because it makes watching the Daily Show or Colbert Report afterwards so much more enjoyable.

It's kinda like not eating for a week, and then getting a nice 5 course gourmet meal...you'll enjoy it so much more

Originally posted by duality90
This "religious awakening" is frankly a load of complete cack which was devised by Glenn Beck and his cohorts as a means of galvanizing reaction from the Christian Right... honestly. How could one man arrogantly holding a rally in Washington, on the anniversary of an event that is sacrosanct in modern American history, possibly do anything to revitalize the moral fortitude of this nation?

However, the idea of conservative and evangelical Christians looking to a Mormon for "religious awakening" is absolutely hilarious.

And the backlash has already begun:

Glenn Beck: the Mormon Wolf Preying on the Evangelical Sheep

Now the real problem comes in when Glenn Beck questions President Obama’s Christianity. As should be obvious from the above, if the Nicene Creed defines Christianity then Beck himself is no Christian, and is far from entitled to question the President’s religious credentials.

But that is exactly what Beck has been doing. Beck says of President Obama’s Christianity that it is a “perversion of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

This from a man who thinks the Holy Spirit had nothing to do with Jesus’ birth, who thinks Jesus was not even divine.

Most mainstream Christian would, I am sure, if aware of this, be aghast at Beck’s words.

I looked it up and saw this: The Mormon church views Jesus and Satan as spirit brothers and sons of God.

Oh, man. Grab your popcorn. This will be AWESOME.