Tag: Alfred E. Newman

Christian America Is an Invention

Another thing that came out of the 1950s
Another thing that came out of the 1950s

Here’s a little reminder from One Nation Under God: How Corporate America Invented Christian America by Kevin Kruse. Kruse has a lot to say in his book but the bottom line, as this excerpt presents, is that the United States was not founded on Christian values and the religious movement was created by commercialism and business during the 1950s. We should credit the United States Chamber of Commerce more for the inclusion of any mention of God in our rituals or on our currency than any mythological adherence to ancient rituals and fictional writings.

Bottom Line: the fundamental tenants of right-wing fundamentalists are fictions … lies, even.

You can read a longer excerpt at Salon.

Christian America is an invention: Big business, right-wing politics and the religious lie that still divides us

The idea of “one nation under God” is a modern one — and does not date back to the Founding Fathers

Continue reading “Christian America Is an Invention” →

Who said that?

Romney: 1,2,4,6,7,9,10,12,13 Burns: 3,5,8,11,14It’s going around. It’s funny. It’s sad. But I can’t help repeating it so I too can sound redundant. This was a quiz published in the venerable Mad Magazine (which used to be one of those ten-cent comics down at the newsstand). I apologize for not knowing who Mr. Burns is (I’ve never seen The Simpsons) but from the graphic, he must be the Mr. Potter of Simpsonville. Try your hand at the quiz but don’t look at the answers hidden behind the poster:

  1. “It’s time for another old-fashioned tax revolt.”
  2. “I’ve always been a rodent and rabbit hunter. Small varmints, if you will.”
  3. “So, what shall we do tomorrow? Go grousing?”
  4. “I’m not concerned about the very poor.”
  5. “Why do I need another penny? I have billions.”
  6. “Corporations are people, my friend!”
  7. “I like being able to fire people who provide services to me.”
  8. “I’m really enjoying this so-called ‘ice cream.'”
  9. “I tasted a beer and tried a cigarette once, as a wayward teenager, and never did it again.”
  10. “I grew up drinking Vernors and watching ballgames at Michigan & Trumbull.”
  11. “A blue-collard bar! Let’s go slumming!”
  12. “I have some great friends that are NASCAR team owners.”
  13. “I’m running for office, for Pete’s sake—I can’t have illegals!”
  14. “This anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes has cost me the election.”