tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215077578479252542.post6799470847409246026..comments2024-03-15T17:06:31.642-05:00Comments on The Piety That Lies Between: A Progressive Christian Perspective: News Flash! Obama NOT plotting to trigger martial law and set himself up as American FuhrerEric Reitanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06135739290199272992noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215077578479252542.post-85183727243516378472012-05-15T16:04:26.036-05:002012-05-15T16:04:26.036-05:00A little off-topic, but perhaps you might be inter...A little off-topic, but perhaps you might be interested in commenting about whether carrying guns around is a civilian <a href="http://www.captainsjournal.com/2012/05/15/civil-rights-update-open-carry-in-oklahoma/" rel="nofollow">civil right</a>.Burkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11158223475895530397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215077578479252542.post-63757509503902277572012-05-15T12:39:42.412-05:002012-05-15T12:39:42.412-05:00I know! People on both extremes lack basic critica...I know! People on both extremes lack basic critical thinking skills, or they willfully refuse to apply those skills to their own side. I know a lot of people on the left who are totally sure that 9-11 was an inside job because the collapse of the WTC buildings supposedly looked exactly like a controlled demolition, as if a the evil cabal that really controls Anmerica wouldn't be able to blow up a couple of buildings WITHOUT making it "obvious" that the official explanation was wrong. As if this vast conspiracy of evil could remain totally secret until it got discovered by a couple of college kids on the internet! There are enough real issues to debate, painting your opponents as comic book villians doesn't help. In fact, if some kind of radical restructuring of our system is really needed, these kind of crazy conspiracy theories FAIL to really challenge the system. They take it as a given that the SYSTEM is fine, it's just the demonic evildoers who are running things that are the problem, and all we need to do is change the players and freedom and justice will come pouring down like honey.keith johnsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215077578479252542.post-91503301096323200722012-05-14T19:02:31.720-05:002012-05-14T19:02:31.720-05:00I remember something along those lines, and I reme...I remember something along those lines, and I remember rolling my eyes in astonishment. I mean, I wasn't a fan of Bush's policies, but he was an earnest believer in the American political system. He wasn't about to overthrow it.Eric Reitanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135739290199272992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215077578479252542.post-5860277675735027172012-05-14T18:49:49.122-05:002012-05-14T18:49:49.122-05:00It's just as bad on the left-wing end of the b...It's just as bad on the left-wing end of the blogosphere, unfortunately-- I seem to recall that I stopped looking at some of my favorite political blogs when they started claiming that George W. Bush was going to refuse to accept the result of the 2008 election if his party lost and set himself up as dictator...Evanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04785536166985273625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215077578479252542.post-19970792341839272492012-05-14T17:15:51.683-05:002012-05-14T17:15:51.683-05:00And here's what I want to say in more sober te...And here's what I want to say in more sober terms: <br /><br />Political extremists say some crazy things; and while few take their extreme claims seriously, they can have the effect of making less extreme forms of fear-mongering seem normal and moderated by comparison--thus polarizing the public discourse even if the specific claims are seen for what they are and so largely dismissed.<br /><br />This is an effect we should guard against.Eric Reitanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06135739290199272992noreply@blogger.com