Anglican Mainstream

There are many and deeply worrying issues now facing the US – and indirectly, the world - and each person must before God decide how to respond.  

One of my primary concerns over the years has been the massaging of language which gradually modifies our very perceptions of things and conditions what we consider morally and socially acceptable. That is coupled with an at-times blatant censorship keeps presenting only one side of the matter, and a skewed, prejudiced one at that. And now that the state is involved in a truly Orwellian fashion, people are scared of they-know-not-what.  What they do consciously realise is that they are far more ‘careful’ in what they chat about with their friends and neighbours.  And what they can discuss at their work place is even more of a minefield:  circumspection is the name of the game!  For the most part, they simply do not ‘go there’ anymore.  Stay safe, stay happy:  keep to the cricket, the gardening or the children instead.     

One of the most significant outcomes from the whole explosive pre-election ordeal (and ordeal it really is, and that across the political spectrum), is the demonstration of this reality.  Regardless of who wins in November, Sarah Palin has somehow  managed to break out of the PC cage and carve out a public space where some (to me, at any rate) critically important issues and values can begin to be aired. 

I am not saying here that Sarah’s views are necessarily correct. I am saying that she has been crucified for, in large part, holding and affirming morally and socially conservative and Christian views.  Disagree with her — fine. But notice how she is treated by those who fear, hate and despise these views (I read the blogs, and this is the psychological dynamic present in almost all of them). Do you want to endorse their views instead? 

It is very complex, no doubt.  But that Sarah has been damned for her beliefs along the ’Have you stopped beating your husband yet?’ line is obvious. It is a set-up and most would simply concede the game and head home, which, of course, is what the opposition hoped they would do all along.  I have recently had personal experience of this, and was seriously tempted to pack my toys and wave goodbye.  

Melanie is one of the few reporters who is not afraid to say politically unpopular things, and explore where others dare not go. Perhaps it is the old poacher-turned-gamekeeper phenomenon. Regardless, she really pushes the envelope but deserves a hearing, at any rate.  

With all eyes glued to the collapse of global capitalism as we know it, attention has been somewhat distracted from the race to lead what still remains the most powerful nation on earth — the United States. We ignore it at our peril.

From the shockingly partisan presentation by the pro-Obama media on both sides of the Atlantic, you’d think this was a contest between twin pillars of rectitude and inspirational high seriousness on the Democratic side, and a joke Republican ticket consisting of an erratic old man and a brainless, wacko, gun-toting beauty queen, who in a fit of madness John McCain picked as his vice-presidential candidate.

http://www.melaniephillips.com/articles-new/?p=618

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