In the late ‘40s, a movie called “The Red Shoes” – which has since become a classic – detailed the way in which said shoes developed a life of their own, causing the death of the beautiful ballerina who could not arrest their movements. It is a complex film; an exploration of obsessive devotion to one’s art.
The Pope’s predilection for wearing red shoes brought the movie to mind, and his comments at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. evoked the obsessive compulsion of the Pontiff to turn the Catholic Church’s shame into a lecture on the evils of secularism.
We all know why the head of the Church avoided Boston during his trip: scene of the most horrific sexual abuse by members of his flock on the youth of the city’s parishes. In his papal way, the Pope managed to tie such abuse – and countless others – to the general lowering of values caused by “the subtle influence of secularism.” As a proud non-believer, this seems to stretch the truth into the arena of – horrors! – mortal sin. One warranting confession and absolution for even the Pope.
I admit to stretching, too. To the confluence of Hillary – and we all know she is a bastion of truth and integrity – pointing manicured fingers at every sentence coming out of the mouth of her splendid opponent for the presidency, Barack Obama. Attempting to divert attention from one’s own malfeasance in office to the supposed defects in another, is an approach favored by those who tout sanctity in both the religious and political arenas.
To quote Obama, “for shame” on both their houses – the Pope’s and Hillary’s.
Comments? Rebuttals? All are welcome…
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About Me
- Barbara Rich
- I have been a writer for most of my adult life, and a passionate liberal from the womb. I love words, kids, politics, activism, theater on stage and in life, being verbally outrageous. Justifiable outrage – and if not today, then when? – is just that: justifiable. I am a non-believer who marvels at the devout, “everything in black or white” evangelicals who equate the horror of Katrina with God’s punishment of New Orleans’ lifestyle. No, I do not put my hand on the TV to be cured of ailments, both physical and of the spirit. I’m a Luddite, and a grateful one: a friend has set up this blog for me. I love Barack Obama, and wish Hillary and Bill would find an isolated island where they could decide who would be forced to leave. Used to respect Bill Clinton; Hillary scares the hell out of me. Write to me. Visit me. Question and challenge me. If you'd like to correspond with me, feel free to write me at my snail mail address (since I don't use email): 767 Madison Avenue Charlottesville, VA 22903
3 comments:
Occasionally, someone will toil so long, and with such fervor, to convince others they are right, that they begin to believe it themselves.
It's like taking a little sip of "their" Kool-Aid to make sure it's work. . .
"GOING to work" is what I meant, obviously. . .
ksd is right, it's like the whole bullets over Bosnia issue. I think she really started to believe her own propaganda. Now she's pulling out the Rove fear card, that we as Americans can't afford to second guess the leadership skills of someone who hasn't had the up close and personal dealings with Washington that she's had. I think that most of her support is coming from people who are hoping that Bill will really be the one pulling the strings. What I see is a power hungry career politician that will buckle like a belt at the first hint of pressure from the Republicans just to keep the status quo. There's a huge difference between rebuilding a wall that's broken and merely patching it.
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