American Sleeping Giant Awakes – But is too Heavy to walk on Islamic Jihadist Eggshells
By Michael Bresciani (08/28/06)
Shortly after the attack of the World Trade Towers on September 11, 2001
President George Bush said that whoever was responsible for the attack had
awakened a sleeping giant. Between the liberal left and a citizenry busy
with a million distractions and a Old Roman Empire like preoccupation with
opulence, indulgence, concupiscence and vulgarity...did America hit the
snooze button and go back to sleep?
One of America’s largest Christian broadcasters, Trinity Broadcasting
Network has decided to drop one of its shows because it does not want to
agitate Muslim Jihadist. Of course they say it is because they don’t want
to offend Muslims in general and that because they are beginning to
broadcast into Arab countries. Nevertheless the dye is cast and with a
brand of political correctness of their own making they plan to bounce the
long running show created by the late Zola Levitt. The last show is set to
air on August 28, 2006. Zola Levitt’s ministry will be carried on by his
son Mark on the internet according to the ministry’s newsletter.
Prior to dumping Levitt TBN also planned to dump Hal Lindsey’s program,
“The International Intelligence Briefing.” After some in house wrangling
the program was to remain on air but then Lindsey himself pulled the plug
because he could not express the true nature of Islamic radicalism without
the pressure of an ongoing scrutiny.
These are just two examples of the absurdity of the notion of “political
correctness.” Until political correctness becomes part of the constitution
it would seem that we are still covered by the first amendment when it
comes to calling a spade a spade…or are we?
Of the hundreds of articles I’ve written only a few have ever been
declined. Some were said to be placed in the wrong category and a few
because I submitted them twice (unwittingly) to the same database. Only
one was ever rejected because it was thought to be “politically
incorrect.” I must admit I was shocked but after musing over it for a
while I realized that to those who espouse this fantasmical notion I was
making waves but I also know I was making inroads in a very important way.
I was satisfied with that and I have been glad ever since that there are
others out there like Lindsey and Levitt who are also.
Who decides what the parameters are in this business of being politically
correct. If Hillary and an army of liberals take the presidency and most
of the congressional seats in 2008 will that define my politics until the
next election. Must I then become a progressive, anti war, tree hugging,
happy little democratic puppy for at least the next four years? The answer
is of course understood. I cringe at the ideas and positions of the left
in this country but I am completely satisfied that because this is
America, they are always within their rights to hold and voice their views
in any way they see fit. I am told by the constitution itself that I
cannot hinder the free expression of their views. I only wish someone
would tell them that they can’t hinder mine either. Until the idea of
“political correctness” becomes part of the constitution it should be
denied and actively resisted not to mention labeled for exactly what it
is, “censorship by assent.”
The real victim of political correctness is the “truth.” Common sense is
often accosted as well. Can Americans only bark about our own political
goofery but must stop short of speaking about something abroad or
connected to “Religion?” Maybe we should posthumously apologize to Jim
Jones for the negative remarks that were made after he lead over nine
hundred people to their deaths in Guyana. After all it happened in a
foreign country and it was a religious thing.
Jesus Christ spoke of loving one another as being the most important of
all his commands to his followers. He gave them examples of that kind of
love daily by healing the sick, saving the lost and raising the dead. Yet
for all that showing of love he never bent to the will of the
constabulary. He saw the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. He saw the
ever burgeoning traditional encumberments that they laid on the average
citizen. He didn’t hold back one bit when he addressed them just because
they were Jewish like him. He did not let the fact that they were revered
leaders of the much touted Levitical priesthood make him cringe in fear.
In fact he spoke against them in such a way that by today’s standards of
“political correctness” he would be barred, banned, censured and who knows
maybe even tarred and feathered.
Here are some of the things he said to the Pharisees in his day. Keep in
mind that the Pharisees were not the leaders of some new movement out of
nowhere. They were the keepers of the Mosaic laws and traditions. They
were also the ones who laid a construct or web of rules, liturgies,
interpretations, traditions and opinions over the pure simple word of the
prophets and patriarchs until that word was so buried by the construct
that it was all but lost. They hated Christ’s speaking of simple things
like love, kindness, life and using analogies with birds, flowers and
children. They after all had all the right religious words and phrases and
were sure this country bumpkin of a Jew was talking into his hat.
Politically correct? Look at this rebuke.
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism,
he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee
from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for
I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto
Abraham. And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore
every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into
the fire. Matthew 3: 7-10
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the
kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither
suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and
Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence
make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Woe
unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land
to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the
child of hell than yourselves. Matthew 23: 13-15
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint
and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law,
judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave
the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a
camel. Matthew 23: 23-24
By the standards of political correctness Jesus might have been
resurrected not to save the world from sin and give a promise that death
has been conquered but rather to make an apology to the religious leaders
that he so furiously lambasted, and in public.
No one should have to apologize for telling the truth. If discretion and
respect are employed and we conduct ourselves with any kind of dignity as
we address those we speak to, the truth should be all that is needed. When
we wash our words with fear, hope of gain, or deference to people in
position or power we hold ourselves responsible for those words. If as
gentlemen we speak the truth in a respectful and deliberate manner then
those words are responsible for themselves.
Rev Bresciani
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