Falwell and Robertson?

So, where are Falwell and Robertson when they are needed? You may recall neither of them was in the least bit bashful about speaking out after hurricanes or other natural disasters. Remember how they assured us that the terrible hurricane that devastated New Orleans was obviously God’s punishment for abortionists, feminists, gays and lesbians, the ACLU, pagans, and secularization in general. Steve Lefimine of Columbia Christians for Life, another true believer, assured us it was punishment for shedding innocent blood through abortions, and so on. I think most of the leaders of the various Churches of the Altogether Bonkers agreed that natural disasters were our punishment for such horrible things as homosexuality, abortion, and etc.


So where are they now with hurricane Isaac bearing down on the Republican convention in Tampa? They are remarkably silent. Could it possibly be, perhaps, maybe, fundamentally, justifiably, God’s wrath for the unbelievable Republican greed? For their uncharitable, even mean spirited treatment of the poor? Maybe even punishment for discrimination against Gays and Lesbians, or for the Republican war on women? I suppose it could be for Republican immorality and unethical behavior in general, or perhaps merely for their pathological lying. Maybe it has something to do with the Republican desire for permanent war and increasing the already bloated national defense budget, or even their plan to mistreat the elderly and students. No, I guess it couldn’t be for anything like that, after all, Republicans are God’s chosen children, especially those billionaires at the top using their obscene fortunes to undermine democracy and buy the election. Of course it is possible that God may be angry with them for their obvious willingness to destroy the environment, and even the planet, for more short-term profit. Even more basically, God could be really pissed off because he gave people dominion over all else and we have completely botched the opportunity, a bipartisan failure, but more readily attributable to Republican stupidity and refusal to cooperate. Who knows? Certainly not me, I don’t believe in any of this religious mumbo-jumbo and magical thinking. Even so, I guess I’ll have to go down with the sinking ship like everyone else at the mercy of the billionaires in charge.

The most common of all follies is to believe passionately in the palpably not true. It is the chief occupation of mankind.

H. L. Mencken