Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Hollywood's Born-Again Americans

A bunch of celebrities got together to reaffirm their belief in America, and they made a video called "I Pledge." It’s pretty hard to watch without wanting to reach through the screen and slap them for the hollowness of their new-found faith.

The promises they’re making are pretty good. Recycle. Plant trees. Be decent to their neighbors. Walk the walk. Proudly support our country.

The question is: what stopped them from making these promises and taking action before? The evil BushCheney storm troopers? You know, the ones who blacklisted them for having the wrong political beliefs? The ones who called into radio shows to prevent them from having their say?

What brought these well meaning if fatuous fools back to the true faith, to Born-Again Americanism?

None other than the election of Barack Obama.

My disgust with this video robs me of rational thought. During the horrible 8 years of Bush (the concentration camps for the opposition, the mass beatings, the disappearances, the constant drumbeat of pro-President propaganda from the State Media --- oh, wait, none of that happened), people all across America quietly, even reverently went about their lives, fulfilling these kinds of pledges without the need to advertise it on You Tube. Some people even proudly supported our country and didn’t stand on a video soapbox to proclaim their virtuous intent.

It reminds me all too clearly of that line in the New Testament (yes, that oppressive ancient text which strangely does not call for the death of unbelievers, but merely points out a reward for them in the afterlife), when Jesus talks about praying (Matthew, Chapter 6):

"(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; ...When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others...When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them.”


The Hollywood hypocrites were standing on the street corner, making their Pledge.

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