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Hall of Famer [22335]
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the more things change.....
Dec 28, 2020, 11:27 AM
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Been a long time since I read any Sinclair Lewis, but may need to dust off some of his books. Just read this synopsis of "It Can't Happen Here"...
"The premise of It Can't Happen Here, published at a time (1935) when authoritarian regimes were flexing their muscles all across Europe and Americans had great difficulty imagining a Hitler or Mussolini coming to power in the land of the free, was that it can happen here. Lewis painted a vivid counterfactual portrait of a United States of America sliding into dictatorship, one that is still cited as a cautionary tale to this day. The main character, Buzz Windrip, appeals to voters with a mix of crass language and nativist ideology. Once elected, he solidifies his power by energizing his base against immigrants, people on welfare, and the liberal press."
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Hall of Famer [22335]
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not that it matters, but I'll add the back story to this...
Dec 28, 2020, 12:31 PM
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Spending the weekend at my GF's house a couple weeks ago, she's taking care of her 90 year old mom. I'm always the 1st one up and make coffee. Her mom gets up and puts the TV on 700 Club & Pat Robertson. He's talking about election fraud & how the forces of evil are taking over America, please pray for Trump and this country, blah blah. It made me think of the quote that is sometimes credited to Sinclair Lewis... "when fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a Bible" or whatever. So that's how I ended up googling Sinclair Lewis.
As an aside, I'm standing there listening to this old fool and I'm thinking - Patriotism? Check. God? Check. C'mon, don't let me down, I want the trifecta. Wait for it... wait for it... YES!! Right at the very end of the show he begs for money to continue his glorious crusade against Satan and the Democrats. Perfect. Now I can step outside and smoke a cigarette, he didn't let me down.
As I've said before, I think God has a special #### for charlatans like this. Grandma is living in an unheated apartment and eating cat food out of a can, but she'll send her last $10 to Jim & Tammy or Joel Osteen or whoever... so they can upgrade their Lear jet... uh, I mean... glorify God. Yeah, that's it.
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All-TigerNet [13605]
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Re: not that it matters, but I'll add the back story to this...
Dec 28, 2020, 12:36 PM
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Why is grandma living in an unheated apartment and eating cat food?
Move her in with y'all.
??
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Hall of Famer [22335]
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LOL... not my grandma... she was born in 1880, been dead a
Dec 28, 2020, 7:48 PM
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long time. I guess I should have said "lots of little old ladies" and kept it generic. But the point stands. Sad how many poor and yes, easily misled folks send their last dime to these moneygrubbers who cry and plead on TV. I hate em all. Always have and always will. Nobody will ever change my mind about that. And I am a spiritual person, believe it or not. Just not a fan of organized religion and megachurches run by rock stars and multi-millionaires. Damm near cultish.
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All-TigerNet [13605]
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Re: LOL... not my grandma... she was born in 1880, been dead a
Dec 29, 2020, 8:16 AM
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I'm agnostic myself, I also despise the megachurches.
I will attend a smaller church though, one in which I could have a personal relationship with the Pastor.
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Oculus Spirit [93682]
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I won't sit in a church which doesn't have a man...
Dec 29, 2020, 9:49 AM
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with The Preacher inside. Those megachurches have pastors who are no more or less than teachers who have capitalized on their gift to teach. Most TV evangelist are the same.
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All-TigerNet [13605]
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Re: I won't sit in a church which doesn't have a man...
Dec 29, 2020, 10:05 AM
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I know of some megachurches who watch their pastor on a TV screen. It isn't my cup of tea.
If I'm there, I want the man to be there in person, preaching. I want to be able to personally speak with him, etc.
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Oculus Spirit [93682]
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Those TV evangelist never get a penny of God's money.
Dec 28, 2020, 1:05 PM
[ in reply to not that it matters, but I'll add the back story to this... ] |
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If you know some old woman living in an unheated apt and eating cat food you ought to do something about it more than ridiculing her for how she spends her money.
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Orange Blooded [4679]
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Re: Those TV evangelist never get a penny of God's money.
Dec 28, 2020, 1:35 PM
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Oh but democrats “give to the poor” by the way they vote. Remember?
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Orange Blooded [2203]
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Re: Those TV evangelist never get a penny of God's money.
Dec 28, 2020, 8:00 PM
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$600 that goes a long way. You might could buy a set of tires for you 20 yr old car.
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Oculus Spirit [93682]
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My car turned 36 this fall and that's a good idea.
Dec 29, 2020, 9:51 AM
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I have a bud who offered to get me a set of Michelin tires at employee discount. 600 might buy the tires and get the front end aligned. Thanks.
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Lot o points [155974]
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Oculus Spirit [93682]
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I've heard 'He owns cattle on a thousand hills.'
Dec 29, 2020, 9:46 AM
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I think J. Harold Smith told one his listeners that if they'd sent him any money without God's directions let him know and he'd send it back to them. It might have been Oliver B Green. Long time past now.
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Hall of Famer [22335]
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All-In [42197]
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We definitely flirted with it
Dec 29, 2020, 10:43 AM
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Thankfully, democracy and our institution stood strong to defeat it. And enough Americans recognized what it was.
The most disturbing part was learning how many Americans crave what Lewis described, which taps into some unfortunate human nature: many people want to be controlled by an authoritarian for the sake of security and if they believe said authoritarian will force their view of the world on everyone else.
Hemingway called it in For Whom the Bell Tolls with this quote about Americans: "There are many who do not know they are fascists but will find it out when the times comes."
But hey. They lost.
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Lot o points [155974]
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Ahem...cough, cough
Dec 29, 2020, 10:47 AM
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#toldyaso.com
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50
