Popped Culture

Grreaattt commentary on Oprah and her typically self-indulgent "Big Adventure" with her friend Gail. I know that authenticity didn't become a commodity in American life just with Barbara Walters, Katie C, and Ms. Winfrey. Will Rogers and Disneyland certainly cha-chinged off it well before them. But "authenticity" for sale has done so much, by definition, to make our culture and world so superficial and shallow, and right now Oprah is the Queen of S & S, as this article demonstrates. As I've repeated repeatedly here, these are serious times, and democracy requires serious people. We are no longer serious people. We are diverted and self-absorbed. Can you say "Oprah"? The article is very funny and hangs her out to dry. Sweeeet. . . . Really mixed emotions about this review of former senator/current minister John Danforth's latest book calling for less overt involvement of religion in politics. If there is a Hell, Mr. Danforth has a reserved suite for his role in putting theocrat-to-be Clarence Thomas on the Supreme Court. But as a Repub with an audience that needs to listen to the well-known but too-forgotten history and future of a politics infused with on-your-sleeve, in-your-face religion, Danforth might be able to pull a "Nixon Goes to China" thing on some at least. I have spent the last decade or two wanting to punch out the Stephen Carters, Amy Sullivans, Barack Obamas who, despite their impressive degrees, have failed to learn the fundamentals about the combustion that occurs when religion and politics get mixed. Their "moderate," "tolerant" kumbaya world of religions respecting each other is and always has been a demonstrable hallucination. The Founders knew that democracy can't prosper where theocracy is a credible, possible goal, and our separation of church and state has promoted the greatest religious freedom in human history. Let people practice their faiths through their behaviors and interactions (uh, like Jesus said), but never let religious agendas contest in a political arena. It has never resulted in MisterRogers Neighborhood, and it won't now. Put salt in water or water in salt, you get salt water. Put religion in government or government in religion, you get Iran. And please don't cite Dr. King at me. Dr. King motivated his followers through religion, but his public agenda was founded on secular political principles in the Declaration and the Constitution. He never advocated replacing either with the Bible. Danforth maybe should have thought of all that when he was in a real position to do something about it, and could have kept his ayatollah protege off the court. . . . Finally, Eric Loomis at AlterDestiny says what should be said every time a Chambliss or Allen or Lott waxes nostalgic for the Confederacy. Folks, the South committed treason. Its flag symbolizes treason committed to protect slavery. Germany faced up to its past, took the blame, and now has a cleaner future. We apparently never will, and, as Jefferson feared, must hope God is not truly just.