10 Things Traditional Christians Got Terribly Wrong

The Article: 10 Things Traditional Christians Got Terribly Wrong by Amanda Marcotte in Alternet.

The Text: When Christians get political, they often do so because they believe that they have God on their side. This is true whether they are progressive or conservative, and throughout most of American history there have been both. (You’d think that the conflicting claims about what God wants would lead to more doubting, but here we are.) Looking over the long history of people claiming to be speaking for God’s wishes, it quickly becomes evident that Christians are frequently on the wrong side of history. Here are 10 things that American Christians of the conservative stripe got completely wrong when they were so sure they were speaking on God’s behalf.

1) Slavery. Both sides of the American slavery debate claimed to be speaking from profound Christian conviction. The Bible clearly has a positive view of slavery, something pro-slavery Christians routinely pointed out. Abolitionists took a broader, less literal view of the Bible. Unsurprising that this divide led to the South being, to this day, home of the most people who take a literalist, fundamentalist view of Christianity.

Of course, nowadays you can’t find even the most literalist fan of the Bible who is willing to agree with their predecessors in the 19th century who believed the Bible endorsed slavery. Of the many things conservative Christians have gotten wrong over the years, the pro-slavery argument is probably the one that is least likely to be revived by modern fundamentalists.

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Noam Chomsky On The Current Education System

Let’s be honest: it’s cheaper to invest in controlling your thoughts than it is in a continuous supply of critically thinking, engaged citizens. Higher return to the status quo.

The 7 Most Ridiculously Stylish Dictators

So, OK. They’re oppressive despots. Their records on human rights abuses are absolutely atrocious. They’ve led with an iron and unquestionable fist and many have died prematurely because of it. All of that is readily understood. But can we step back from the horrors of authoritarian rule for a minute and assess these dictators’ sartorial swagger? Well, surely.

Muammar Gaddafi

Successfully blending Bono’s penchant for ocular accessories and Elton John’s eye for color, Libya’s own Muammar Gaddafi is not one to shy away from making a bold fashion statement, no matter how humdrum the occasion. Donning the occasional beret or black mesh robe when surrounded by style simpletons like Nicolas Sarkozy and Barack Obama, the late leader’s backwards approach to democracy is balanced by his forward-thinking choice in apparel. Perhaps it was this clothing-based confidence that led Muammar to suggest that the United Nations be moved to Libya in 2009. What a dreamer.

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Social Media, Actually An Instrument To Take On Lobbyists?

The Article: Colorado Rejects Fracking: The Money’s Not Talking; Social Media Is by Richard Levick in Forbes.

The Text: Colorado was ground zero in the hydraulic fracturing debate on Tuesday, as four local municipalities voted on moratoriums or outright bans. In Boulder, 76 percent of voters favored extending a moratorium already in place. In Fort Collins, 55 percent supported a freeze on the practice. In Lafayette, 58 percent voted for a charter amendment that will ban fracking permanently. Only in Broomfield, an area that traditionally trends Republican, did voters reject the environmentalist agenda. It’s five-year fracking ban failed by the slimmest of margins (50.51 to 49.49 – or just 194 votes).

After grinding the Keystone Pipeline to a halt, it’s clear that activists have zeroed in on their next target – and they are influencing the conversation with stunning effect. Ahead of yesterday’s referendums in Colorado, we had already seen fracking moratoriums and bans established in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Wisconsin, Hawaii, and a numerous other states, municipalities, and countries.

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Jim Carrey On Fox News