"Maybe they'll respect us if..."

[Lateralus112]

Part of my job involves riding around with people who tune into right-wing radio and listen nonstop. This occured to me a few weeks ago, but I've really thought about it a lot today and wanted to put some thoughts out there.

On Rush Limbaugh, some caller came on the air and talked about how Liberals, the most homogenous group on the planet according to right-wing radio, do not insult Islam with the same fervor that they insult Christianity. According to this caller, it is because Liberals are more afraid of Islamic people because terrorists and such. Yes, this is very much in the realm of utter bullshit, but it's the next part that actually sent a chill up my spine. This caller basically comments that maybe Christians should start treating their faith the same way to gain more 'respect' from people. Rush fully agrees with the guy, and the many people listening in that day just received some rather dangerous influence from their preferred radio host. I realized I had actually heard this theme presented several times throughout many workdays on both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and such. On multiple occasions, radio hosts with very large audiences have basically advocated for Christian Al-Qaeda.

I realize there has been no spike in stories about religiously-motivated murders in America, so I'm at least comforted that their audience has not yet taken these disgusting views to action yet, but this is quite a low for political dissent. Pretty much every show on these awful broadcasts makes me feel like we're heading towards another civil war. Much of it is probably just the nature of the entertainment business, but what scares is that somewhere, there are people listening to every word these people say, accepting it without thought. Is anyone else concerned?

[Insult to Rocks]

Yeah, I've seen multiple quotes like this on FSTDT, but I'm not really concerned. Most fundie Christians hold this delusion that the U.S. is a Christian nation, so they're no likely going to blow up what they view as "their nation".
Besides, knowing these idiots(Rush Limbaugh once said that the pilgrims were failed socialists), they'd probably blow themselves up in a suicide bombing at a pro-Christian rally.

[mykcob4]

Part of my job involves riding around with people who tune into right-wing radio and listen nonstop. This occured to me a few weeks ago, but I've really thought about it a lot today and wanted to put some thoughts out there.

On Rush Limbaugh, some caller came on the air and talked about how Liberals, the most homogenous group on the planet according to right-wing radio, do not insult Islam with the same fervor that they insult Christianity. According to this caller, it is because Liberals are more afraid of Islamic people because terrorists and such. Yes, this is very much in the realm of utter bullshit, but it's the next part that actually sent a chill up my spine. This caller basically comments that maybe Christians should start treating their faith the same way to gain more 'respect' from people. Rush fully agrees with the guy, and the many people listening in that day just received some rather dangerous influence from their preferred radio host. I realized I had actually heard this theme presented several times throughout many workdays on both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and such. On multiple occasions, radio hosts with very large audiences have basically advocated for Christian Al-Qaeda.

I realize there has been no spike in stories about religiously-motivated murders in America, so I'm at least comforted that their audience has not yet taken these disgusting views to action yet, but this is quite a low for political dissent. Pretty much every show on these awful broadcasts makes me feel like we're heading towards another civil war. Much of it is probably just the nature of the entertainment business, but what scares is that somewhere, there are people listening to every word these people say, accepting it without thought. Is anyone else concerned?

the fact is that this HAS been happening for years now. The Abortion Clinic bombings and Planned Parenthood doctor murders were all inspired not only by evangelical churches but by books written by rightwing radio host.
http://academic.udayton.edu/race/06hrig ... cial03.htm

[The Skeletal Atheist]

There are a few Christian terrorists but I imagine this is mainly jack off material for them. Yes, there are dangerous Christian militia movements out there, but the majority of right wing morons don't have the balls to carry out any of their violent ideas.

[AllPurposeAtheist]

Part of my job involves riding around with people who tune into right-wing radio and listen nonstop. This occured to me a few weeks ago, but I've really thought about it a lot today and wanted to put some thoughts out there.

On Rush Limbaugh, some caller came on the air and talked about how Liberals, the most homogenous group on the planet according to right-wing radio, do not insult Islam with the same fervor that they insult Christianity. According to this caller, it is because Liberals are more afraid of Islamic people because terrorists and such. Yes, this is very much in the realm of utter bullshit, but it's the next part that actually sent a chill up my spine. This caller basically comments that maybe Christians should start treating their faith the same way to gain more 'respect' from people. Rush fully agrees with the guy, and the many people listening in that day just received some rather dangerous influence from their preferred radio host. I realized I had actually heard this theme presented several times throughout many workdays on both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and such. On multiple occasions, radio hosts with very large audiences have basically advocated for Christian Al-Qaeda.

I realize there has been no spike in stories about religiously-motivated murders in America, so I'm at least comforted that their audience has not yet taken these disgusting views to action yet, but this is quite a low for political dissent. Pretty much every show on these awful broadcasts makes me feel like we're heading towards another civil war. Much of it is probably just the nature of the entertainment business, but what scares is that somewhere, there are people listening to every word these people say, accepting it without thought. Is anyone else concerned?

the fact is that this HAS been happening for years now. The Abortion Clinic bombings and Planned Parenthood doctor murders were all inspired not only by evangelical churches but by books written by rightwing radio host.
http://academic.udayton.edu/race/06hrig ... cial03.htm

Oh those damned liberals in Dayton.. [-X  Actually udayton is run by an order of Jesuits..or was.. It's much more well known for its engineering school though.  I'm from Dayton. That's the first quote I've seen from Dayton..

[Lateralus112]

There are a few Christian terrorists but I imagine this is mainly jack off material for them. Yes, there are dangerous Christian militia movements out there, but the majority of right wing morons don't have the balls to carry out any of their violent ideas.

This is true. I suppose I'm primarily bothered by the fact that one can have such a large and economically successful show while spewing this bile. It's even more depressing when they have little kids joining the political circle jerk on the air. After the 11-year-old went ranting about "this entitlement generation," I started bringing my iPod to work.

[Johan]

but what scares is that somewhere, there are people listening to every word these people say, accepting it without thought. Is anyone else concerned?

That's the same as it ever was. Why be concerned about it? They're listeners, not doers. Tim McVie was a doer and he didn't need any Rush Limbaugh to get him to go rent a truck and buy some diesel and fertilizer. OTOH every hard core Rush listener I've ever known couldn't be motivated to get off their ass and actually do something if their lives depended on it. They sure like to complain a lot. But they're not so hot on actually doing anything to change whatever it is they're complaining about.

[StupidWiz]

Yeah, I've been wondering as well, why don't Christians apply the same tactics aka threats like Muslims do? Muslims even get to have the infamous word "Islamophobia". Why don't the Christians use "Christianophobia" to shun the critics too? Not even  the Christians minority in my country here use "Christianophobia" as tool to get the critics feel ashamed. It's baffling for me, something definitely has happened to Christianity a long time ago cause what I've heard is that Christianity used to be as ruthless and intolerant as Islam is right now (if not more?). :-k

[mykcob4]

but what scares is that somewhere, there are people listening to every word these people say, accepting it without thought. Is anyone else concerned?

That's the same as it ever was. Why be concerned about it? They're listeners, not doers. Tim McVie was a doer and he didn't need any Rush Limbaugh to get him to go rent a truck and buy some diesel and fertilizer. OTOH every hard core Rush listener I've ever known couldn't be motivated to get off their ass and actually do something if their lives depended on it. They sure like to complain a lot. But they're not so hot on actually doing anything to change whatever it is they're complaining about.

I have to disagree with you. McVeigh was motivated by the "Turner Diaries". Almost every rightwing nut I have ever met has a copy of that book.

[Hydra009]

Yeah, I've been wondering as well, why don't Christians apply the same tactics aka threats like Muslims do? Muslims even get to have the infamous word "Islamophobia". Why don't the Christians use "Christianophobia" to shun the critics too?

There's certainly no lack to trying there...

I've even seen this sort of bollocks tried here a couple times by one or two of our more infamous knuckleheads - that critics of Christianity are simply hateful of them or hate God or whatever.  Its transparent dishonesty makes it tend to not stick.

[mykcob4]

Yeah, I've been wondering as well, why don't Christians apply the same tactics aka threats like Muslims do? Muslims even get to have the infamous word "Islamophobia". Why don't the Christians use "Christianophobia" to shun the critics too?

There's certainly no lack to trying there...

I've even seen this sort of bollocks tried here a couple times by one or two of our more infamous knuckleheads - that critics of Christianity are simply hateful of them or hate God or whatever.  Its transparent dishonesty makes it tend to not stick.

Good link. Thanx!

[Johan]

but what scares is that somewhere, there are people listening to every word these people say, accepting it without thought. Is anyone else concerned?

That's the same as it ever was. Why be concerned about it? They're listeners, not doers. Tim McVie was a doer and he didn't need any Rush Limbaugh to get him to go rent a truck and buy some diesel and fertilizer. OTOH every hard core Rush listener I've ever known couldn't be motivated to get off their ass and actually do something if their lives depended on it. They sure like to complain a lot. But they're not so hot on actually doing anything to change whatever it is they're complaining about.

I have to disagree with you. McVeigh was motivated by the "Turner Diaries". Almost every rightwing nut I have ever met has a copy of that book.

What does that have to do with Rush Limbaugh?

[Youssuf Ramadan]

On Rush Limbaugh, some caller came on the air and talked about how Liberals, the most homogenous group on the planet according to right-wing radio, do not insult Islam with the same fervor that they insult Christianity. According to this caller, it is because Liberals are more afraid of Islamic people because terrorists and such.

Well like you said, it's bullshit, because Islam isn't that much of a big deal in USA in terms of demographics and influence on the general domestic population.  Christianity is a much more obvious target because it is all around the USA, and it is easier to take pot-shots at something when you're very familiar with the material and how to show it up for what it is.  Plus Christian fundies in USA do tend to wear their ignorance like a badge of honour.

This caller basically comments that maybe Christians should start treating their faith the same way to gain more 'respect' from people. Rush fully agrees with the guy, and the many people listening in that day just received some rather dangerous influence from their preferred radio host. I realized I had actually heard this theme presented several times throughout many workdays on both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck and such. On multiple occasions, radio hosts with very large audiences have basically advocated for Christian Al-Qaeda.

'Respect' from whom?  USA has a mostly Christian population.  Who are they going to target?  Sounds like a case of someone getting tetchy because someone else has an opinion that is different to theirs.  I guess they want freedom of speech to apply solely to their own group.

I don't live in the US so I can't speculate on how the population may feel, other than what has been posted here, but I can't see this getting off the ground unless the US as a country is faced with an external threat which leads to a religious closing of ranks around the Christian flag, so to speak.  I don't see that happening in the near future, unless China converts to Islam  

[Thumpalumpacus]

Listening to Rush Limbaugh is a sure way to lose my respect, for what it's worth.

I did sometimes listen to Limbaugh in the past (old car, AM-only radio, thirty mile commute), amongst other looney tunes.  No shit, I heard him once assert that plankton exhale greenhouse gases. It's a good thing I was driving.  Had I facepalmed myself over that bit of fail, I might well have broken my nose.

[stromboli]

As a person who grew up with well armed fundies, I'm more inclined to think that they tend to close ranks and get defensive rather than strike out as terrorists. There are certainly acts of terrorism including abortion clinics and the bomb at the Atlanta Olympics, but the rank and file of Christianity doesn't seem desirous to support nutcase fringe groups.

Terrorists have to have support to exist, a lot of it. No question Saudi Arabian billions were in some way involved with the Afghanistan based terrorists. I don't see the same connections in Christianity.