Wikipedia counts the emergence of ‘latter day saints’ as tracing to Joseph Smith in the 1820’s. Certainly the Mormons consider that time as the beginning of their group’s history. While Republicans backed a Mormon candidate in the last presidential election, there are many Republicans that are not that comfortable with Mormonism. The phenomenon of latter day saintliness, however? I think that is a different story.
More below! But, first, a word from our sponsor ...
Top Comments recognizes the previous day's Top Mojo and strives to promote each day's outstanding comments through nominations made by Kossacks like you. Please send comments (before 9:30pm ET) by email to topcomments@gmail.com or by our KosMail message board. Just click on the Spinning Top to make a submission. Look for the Spinning Top to pop up in diaries around Daily Kos.
Make sure that you include the direct link to the comment (the URL), which is available by clicking on that comment's date/time. Please let us know your Daily Kos user name if you use email so we can credit you properly. If you send a writeup with the link, we can include that as well. The diarist reserves the right to edit all content.
Please come in. You're invited to make yourself at home! Join us beneath the fleur de kos...
|
I have been thinking about conservatives and their penchant for blaming victims, for interpreting bad things happening to them as being something they deserve, a negative fate they have earned and merited. I think of their tendency to interpret everything with political or economic significance through a moral lens. If their candidate wins, it is a clear reflection of ‘God’s will.’ If something bad happens to an enemy or an adversary, that is ‘God’s will.’ But if Obama wins, that is clearly NOT a reflection of God’s will. If something bad happens to THEM, then THAT is not a reflection of God’s will, of God’s disfavor raining down upon them.
God behaves consistent with the image they hold in their minds. The image is reinforced when what they want to happen happens. Yet. that image is NOT contradicted (and is often even reinforced MORE) when what they want to happen does not happen, when, in fact, something far worse happens. If what they want to have happen does happen, it is a crystal clear sign from God. When what they want to happen doesn’t happen, it certainly does not mean that God wants them to reevaluate their opinions and world view. Instead it is as often punishment for their adversaries not following the word of God.
They have created God in their image, the interpret the world to conform to their image, they even interpret the PAST (yes, even Biblical stories of Jesus!) to conform to and to reinforce their image. What is that, if not the behavior and mindset of latter day saints? Even if they reject Mormonism, they certainly embrace the power (and the pseudo-perfection) of their deluded visions.
But you know what? They hate being referred to as latter day saints even if their behavior states that is what they are, and what they consider themselves to be. If they don’t like it, they should open their minds to a much broader consideration of our world, and everything in it. They would benefit, and so would the world.
On to tonight's comments!
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything
without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do
not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
From kalmoth (and flagged by louisev):
I nominate cskendrick for gently chiding someone riding a very tall horse.
From Lawrence:
I'd like to recommend this comment by teacherken
From blugrlnrdst:
I know it's a first comment after the Tip Jar, but this one by CwV. it's just so true when it comes to all of these fake Obamacare victims that stubbornly persist on insisting they are being harmed.
From blueoregon:
I'd like to nominate a comment from Hunter's diary Virginia state senator explains 'host' status of pregnant women. Vita Brevis beat everyone to the best line.
From recoveringConservative:
Speaking of the risk to South Korea of any warfare to the North, by TheHalfrican.
Also this one by Back In Blue
From brillig:
Two from Arizona diaries today...
First, in Laura Clawson's Republican scramble diary, Inland questions whether Steve Pierce knows his job. Next, in Jen Hayden's Boycotting Arizona diary, AJayne asks if legislators consider effects of bills before voting. CwV explains the process.
Top Mojo for yesterday, February 23rd, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you
mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary
FAQing Top Mojo.
1) When you combine by LaFeminista — 122
2) Dems ousted a twice elected president for less by RFK Lives — 118
3) Third comment from interview transcript by RFK Lives — 88
4) Flake is speaking for the Chamber of Commerce by CwV — 86
5) Oh Hai Whoknu! Sekritarmy Don't Suffer Claims To by leonard145b — 77
6) Nothing shall sway #sekritarmy's resolve. by jwinIL14 — 74
7) Two comments by Liberty Equality Fraternity and Trees — 74
8) sekritarmy will become famous at the 2016 by kerflooey — 73
9) Two comments... by bobswern — 73
10) Big Sister often seems by Old Sailor — 68
11) "An armed society is a polite society." by rudewarrior — 68
12) "The network that provides cover for all by OregonWetDog — 66
13) LOL!!! No Doubt... by leonard145b — 64
14) Chris Wallace > David "Hip Hop" Gregory by RocketJSquirrel — 63
15) And cast an eye toward Walker and Wisconsin too! by elwior — 63
16) Please understand that this bill is targeted by Scottsdalian — 62
17) nice thing about swords by wu ming — 61
18) Justifying racial fear. Yeah disgraceful is apt by MinistryOfTruth — 60
19) That cactus vs cat photo is just awesome! by koosah — 60
20) Yup, Sekritarmy Never Sways From Itz Priorities... by leonard145b — 59
21) I'd Bet the Other 5 Proposals are More Important by Gooserock — 58
22) My snowman sublimated...and not in the good way. by Smoh — 57
23) That is why I try to get progressive to drop the by dopper0189 — 53
24) Fear of Blacks. Fear of Whites. by DisNoir36 — 53
25) Gold metal curling... by auapplemac — 53
26) Today is the birthday of W. E. B. Du Bois by Denise Oliver Velez — 53
27) Prof. Mills descried the architecture of the by bobdevo — 52
28) oops! lol They'll have to prepare for the summer by kerflooey — 52
29) Hai Dante & KittyKitty by Ninepatch — 52
30) Surprising to see Fox News by Puddytat — 51
31) Adolescent Hormones Turnz Errbody 2Monsters... by leonard145b — 51
Top Pictures Cats for yesterday, February 23rd. Click any image to be taken to the full comment. Thank you jotter for the image magic!