In the midst of a war against extremist followers of Islam the rhetoric of Rod Parsley is both particulary disturbing and dangerous (my thanks to Roxpert for the link). If you watch the video, you will note how Parsley quite inaccurately mischaracterizes the history of US policy towards Islam. One wonders how this kind of footage will play in the capitals of some of our potential allies in the "war on terror" such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and even with Al Maliki.
More below
For anyone who reads Juan Cole's blog what Parsley says is obviously steeped in ignorance of the complexity and variation of Islam and anyone who ever had a basic course in US Foreign Policy, Constitutional History or took the time to read The Federalist Papers would quickly recognize the absurdity of Parsley's rantings.
In other words, Parsley is not only spreading ignorance hatred, but he is spreading a meme that is destructive to US foreign policy efforts. US foreign policy (at least ostensibly) at present is predicated on the view that the followers of violent, Salafist revivalists such as Osama Bin Laden or of extremist Shi'ites such as the Pro-Iranian (and apparently pro-Al Maliki)Islamic Supreme Council in Iraq (formerly Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution in Iraq) Badr Corps and the Shi'ite anti Al Maliki Mahdi Army (follows of Muqtada Al Sadr)are not representative of Islam. In other words, leaving aside the incompetence and all the other critiques that can be made of current US policy, the US needs moderate to conservative Muslims such as the Sunni Awakening groups in Iraq, the government of Saudi Arabia and others. What Parsley does by posing this as a civilizational war is reinforce violent, extremist, anti-Western rhetoric and actions in the Middle East.
OK-I have just given you my best, professorial, elitist, birkenstock wearing, prius driving, arugula eatin', latte sippin', elitist egghead rationale for why Parsley is really dangerous. And yet, how many of us think that this rationale I have provided can be packaged, soundbited and made to stick into the American psyche (if strategists have a way-then great).
The problem is, as I realized when reading exams, is that I can say this stuff till I am blue in the face and many of my students simply don't believe it. And why not? Because many of my students, like many people in rural and southern Ohio are steeped in a sub-culture of which the religion and rhetoric of Rod Parsley is a significant component.
To sum up-Parsley is "normal". He is "Christian" and he is "white" (even though Parsley officially disavows racism). Wright is African American and representative of some portion of the African American Community and of some portion of African American ministers and churches(how much and to what extent is not clear). Let's say (to pick a number out of my butt)that about 25% of African Americans identify with Reverend Wright's views on essentialized white-black differences and his liberation theology. If Arican Americans are roughly 11% of the US population, then about 2.8% of the population agrees with his views and a small proportion of prius drivin'...egg head elitist college professors disagree, but understand and are willing to put his views in context and balance, and thus fail to find him offensive.
In contrast, the theology of Hagee/Parsley is widespread. Some oft cited Gallup polls suggest that approximately 40% of Americans are self identified evangelicals, a number that I think is too high. But among conservative Protestants who regularly attend church (of which there are probably close to 40% of Americans)this particular type of pre-millenial theology though not really entirely shared, is widespread.
In addition, the West in general has a deep and abiding fear of Islam, that goes back at least to the 7th century and was reinforced in the Crusades (there are strong Crusader echoes in Parsley's remarks), the Reconquista and later, the struggle with the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans.
In other words, Parsley taps into the deep rooted fear of Americans of the generalized other. Americans do not hate Islam primarily because you cannot really hate what you do not know or understand at all. What Americans hate and fear is "Islam", a mythical entity, identified with violence, extremism, terrorism, high gas prices, attacks on Israel, hostage taking in the US embassy in Iran and many other similar features.
To sum: what Parsley is saying (which incidentally is quite legitimized in mainstream discourse by people such as Glenn Beck) is considered "normal" opinion, while Wright is considered radical.
And it is this cultural difference which Dr. Strange Clinton has played to and which Democrats must somehow find a way to confront. And I can guarantee you it won't be us egghead elitists who convince people on the campaign trail.