But compulsory religiosity is only part of what made that original diary so offensive. I also object to the compulsory sentimentality, the idea that anyone (American) who suffers is ipso facto deserving of affection and "good vibes." Tony Snow is certainly not the most evil man in Washington, but he has also never done anything to warrant my affection, let alone my heartfelt (agnostic) prayers.
Here's what troubles me: A few angry posts on dKos make you "sorry to be American" and lead you to decry "the lack of compassion." Meanwhile an unknown number of non-Americans are being tortured and driven mad in prisons all over the world, and Americans have known all about that for three long years. Yet not only do they have no "compassion" for these wretches, they -- or at least some of them, including Mr. Snow -- continue to go to work in support of the sadistic perverts who are keeping the American Gulag running.
As Elizabeth Edwards said recently, "We all die eventually." And most of us die pretty miserable deaths. Sadly, a horrible death is no distinction, and there's very little we can do about it. But we do have the capacity to lessen suffering for the living, and if Americans ever committed themselves to that, I would be very proud indeed.
country is that it's the only place in the U.S. where religion doesn't intrude on absolutely every aspect of life.
left coast is fine too.
you are the media you consume.
You find less overt religiosity away from the South and the "heartland". I think most of the "heart"land is closer to the colon myself.
Your dig on the midwest is uncalled for, by the way. I've lived most of my life in Minneapolis and spent four years in Boston. I found Boston to be significantly more racist, politically corrupt, and conservative (in the resistant to change and backward looking senses) than Minneapolis. For base simplifications of American political views, the urban / rural comparison is infinitely better than the coast / interior state comparison. In fact the latter is just 100% wrong. There are plenty of religious wingnuts here in the Bay Area just like anywhere else.
though I was thinking of Kansas, OK, GA not the upper midwest where education has been valued more.
In all places it's really just a matter of percentages and whether secular sorts have had the nerve to make the religious keep to their churches where they should be free to worship as they please. My electricity board actually SUNG the doxology to open their meeting this week. Couldn't believe it. Has me a little freaked to be honest.
