Comments on: Party Politics

By: TRUTHMISSILE

TRUTHMISSILE — Thu, 20 Oct 2005 16:41:17 +0000

There's some interesting political analysis out there by Mark Crispin Miller that says Bush and his team like to denounce the EXACT same thing they're all about with no hint of irony.

It's like someone who points out faults in everyone around them, but has very little insight into oneself.

The other side of that is that Bush is VERY aware of using religion to sell politics - and feels he needs to denounce it to throw the scent off himself.

I can't wait for the tell-all on this Administration - it could be written by Karl Rove from federal prison.

By: gatamala

gatamala — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 22:14:54 +0000

In a parallel universe Dubya said: “I believe the time has come for all responsible Christian leaders to denounce an ideology that exploits Christianity for political ends and defiles your noble faith” – as he expressed his gratitude towards followers of the word of Jesus ben Joseph who have assisted in the WoPCN (war on pseudo-christian nationalism).

By: Alex

Alex — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 20:48:13 +0000

Hmmm. I wonder when he’ll “express his gratitude” to the Muslim civilians whose homes have been destroyed by his Christian crusade.

By: badmash

badmash — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 14:57:23 +0000

Anyone pick up on the eagle pun? Don’t know if it’s intentional or not. Eagle = America but it also symbolizes the apostle John when present on a Church lectern. A bit ironic for an Iftaar speech

By: Lurker

Lurker — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 10:55:44 +0000

waits for Vikram

By: Umair Muhajir

Umair Muhajir — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 07:09:40 +0000

The quotes around "Eelam" were there because: (i) that's not a concept the Tamil-speaking Muslims appear to be buying, and they were the subject of discussion here; and more importantly (ii) "Eelam" is not a geo-political fact (although the LTTE movement obviously is) in the way that nation-states are; hence in my book "Khalistan", as a no-state, gets quotes, whereas Pakistan does not; (iii) I'm generally liberal with the quotes!!! (e.g. other comments I've posted on Sepia, most recently on "liminal" communities).

No offense was intended.

By: Ananthan

Ananthan — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 07:00:23 +0000

anna's wiki link says sl muslims are mostly of arab/malay descent

also umair, were the quotes around Eelam really necessary?

By: razib_the_atheist

razib_the_atheist — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 06:49:58 +0000

PS-- according to a Sri Lankan acquaintance, it'd be more accurate to characterize the Tamil Muslims as Tamil-speaking, as apparently most are not ethnically Tamil...

my parents had some good muslim friends from sri lanka. they were thoroughly confused as to the couple's ethnic identity, as both were tamil speakers, ergo, to my parents they were tamil, but both of them asserted that they weren't "really tamil" when my parents would make a comment which implied that they were. this couple in fact spoke english with their children, who didn't know any brown language. and to be clear, i didn't get the impression that either was insulted by the contention that they were tamil, they simply were trying to communicate a distinction which my parents had a difficult time comprehending, as for them language defines their ethnicity....

By: Umair Muhajir

Umair Muhajir — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 06:40:56 +0000

No I agree– I thought this gentleman was absconding with a weird little cushion…

By: Saheli

Saheli — Wed, 19 Oct 2005 06:39:19 +0000

Does anyone else think the angle of the photo is a bit unfortunate, with regards to the gentleman in the hat? I seriously had to blink twice to make sure it wasn’t a Santa Claus cap. I mean, that’s ludicrous, but still.