Towards the end of the last millenium, "What Would Jesus Do?" bracelets were popualr with the brainwashed Christian right. They must have fallen out of favor when they realized that a lot of their political and "spiritual" leaders were doing things that not only would Jesus not do, he might get upset about invoking zHis name while they did it.
Nowhere is tha6t more evident than in the minisitry of Dr. Marion "Pat" Robertson, founder of the Christian Broadcasting Network and host of it's daily propagand show, The 700 Club. yesterday on the show, Dr. Robertson suggested the US government should assassinate Venezuelan Presidnet Hugo Chavez. I've never read the Bible, but I'm fairly sure that there is no Book of Assassins.
As one more clue that the right wing really oppose democracy,President Chavez is the popular democratically elected Socialist leader of Venezuela. He has nationalized the oil industry (10% of the US supply) and used the profits to help the poor. (Sounds like something Jesus would do). The poor, who used to live in cardboard huts, were land and bricks to build new homes, as well as milk for their families.
Of course, he has done other things too, like aligning himself with Fidel Castro' Communist regime in Cuba and vowed to help the Cuban leader's failing country, he has built up his nation's military, and he has aligned himself with Iran in OPEC. he has also vowed to aid any Latin American country threatened by the US.
In Venezuela, there are two class of people. The minority of the citizens are of Spanish descent, wealthy white landowners and businessmen who despise Chavez's socialist reforms. The majority of the people are descendants of those whom were there when the Spaniards landed, are brown and dirt poor. And they love Chavez, as evidenced in his majority victory in two national elections, including a recall effort backed by the Bush regime.
Also, when a coup took place (reported in the New York Times as a resignation) these people took to the streets after a sympathetic soldier gave him a cell phone so he could let the people know he was still in charge. Chavez alleges the US was behind the coup, a charge the Bush regime denies then went on to help the opposition in a failed recall attempt.
"Reverend" Pat(he gave up his ordination preceding a failed presidential bid in 1988) seems intent on using his followers to enrich himself, ofetn under the guise of helpingm the poor. His foray into African diamond mining was funded in part by donations made to Operation Blessing, which was designed to help fly medical supplies to help refugees in the Congo. Apparently, the planes were ill-equipped to fly medical supples, but just right for flying mining supplies, the good doctor having just bought into a diamond mining company. During the flights, Pat never cracked a Bible, being too busy reading the Wall Street Journal and Investor's Daily, and the only prayer on the flight was a "prayer for diamonds". It's easy to see what God Marion worships. While trying to set up an internet banking deal in China he met with Zhu Rhongji, the communist dictator who has jailed Christian ministers. An associate said, "Pat would meet with the Devil if that is the only way to help suffering people." Which makes his attack on Chavez, who actually has helped suffering people, so, so so, hypocritical.
Some of the information on Dr. Robertson comes from "The Best Democracy Money Can Buy" by Greg Palast, Chapter 6. Published by Plume Books.
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2 comments:
The reason Chavez is made to be a bad guy by many is that he dislikes the strong arm policy of the United States, and he is trying successfully to recharge the failed communist movement. If I were President, I would treat him well, give him the most white house access of any developing/poor country, offer US owned factories to be built in his country, back him whatever he says or does, and build a true friendship beetween our nation and his.
Once a true friend of the US I would then see to it that he dies in a boating accident in the waters of Maine, perhaps with a kennedy.
Just kidding, but I would bet that some ones plan might sound similar.
Perhaps if Dr. Robertson read his bible as much he did the Wall Street Journal he might come across a passage called the Ten Commandments, one of which is "Thou Shall Not Kill'.
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