Wednesday
Sep302009
Media End-Times: Glenn Beck Decides to Interpret Iran
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at 15:34
The Latest from Iran (30 September): Confusion
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Words cannot describe the experience of watching Fox's man-over-the-edge and an "expert" with a large tie explain how Shi'a Islam, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the 12th Imam add up to genocide and nuclear annihiliation. However, I await Beck's next tin-hat analysis: "Why Pre-Milliennialist Christians Are Waving Hello to the Apocalypse".
(Did the Expert with a Tie really say, "Jesus forces people to convert [to Islam] or die"? And has he coined the term for the next social movement: "Secret Closet Twelver"?)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEBQto4wpJk[/youtube]
Receive our latest updates by email or RSS SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FEED
Buy Us A Cup of Coffee? Help Enduring America Expand Its Coverage and Analysis
Words cannot describe the experience of watching Fox's man-over-the-edge and an "expert" with a large tie explain how Shi'a Islam, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the 12th Imam add up to genocide and nuclear annihiliation. However, I await Beck's next tin-hat analysis: "Why Pre-Milliennialist Christians Are Waving Hello to the Apocalypse".
(Did the Expert with a Tie really say, "Jesus forces people to convert [to Islam] or die"? And has he coined the term for the next social movement: "Secret Closet Twelver"?)
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEBQto4wpJk[/youtube]
Reader Comments (21)
U gotta love Fox news.... I specially enjoy the chalkboard with all the scientific Formulas on it...... I mean with a Chalkboard like that u gotta be right, right ?
On a seriuos note, it is a mystery to me that this sorta garbage is viewed in a country like the US. It does say something about the level of education of the average Joe. I can not imagine this being aired anywhere in main land Europe or being viewed by alot of people unless they consider it a hillariously funny sketch.
Where to begin? This is simply ridiculous and people wonder why this is so much animosity against Iranians and Muslims in America. When prime time news airs these type of "analysis" by "experts" what do you expect citizens to believe that don't have knowledge of Islam. The comparisons with Christianity are off basis and the discussions comparing the views of the apocalypse seem to have logic gaps. And I agree with Afshin..a person in any other country besides here is laughing out loud at the ridiculousness of American "media". As a person who grew up here it is embarrasing to me that these things are aired on TV. As an Iranian it frightens me and as the son of a Shia Muslim it REALLY frightens me that this is what is being fed to the American people. Good news is that many dismiss Beck as being a bit fanatical and hopefully the audience to this was small.
Read this forum thread to learn more about Twelvers (i.e. Hojjatieh) : http://iran.whyweprotest.net/news-current-events/34255-hojjatieh-here-yet.html
One point that I know this expert is wrong about, is regarding Khamenei (current supreme leader) support for Hojjatieh. Esfandiar Rahim Mashaie is an outspoken Hojjatieh and was appointed by Ahmadinejad to be the vice president. The supreme leader objected to that appointment, and the reason given publicly is not a solid/real one. So Khamenei is fighting the Hojjatieh penetration in to the system, but he does not have the power to stop it.
Ah, Mr Beck, the lunatic of the Faux News crowd. Him and Mr Limbaugh would be good entertainment if it they're weren't so many people who unquestionably allow their heads to be filled with their manure and then attempt to fertilize the US with their twisted brand of reality. But, as scary as they may appear, most Americans see them for what they are, fear & hate mongers. Mr Limbaugh, for example has an unfavorable rating around 50% with a favorable rating of just 20% with 30% don't know/don't care et al. Couldn't get elected to shovel your own manure with numbers like that.
Another point worth mentioning is Beck and his "expert" make it sound like Twelver Shiites are a minority and this is not the case. Twelvers are the majority within Shia Islam and the vast majority in Iran.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelvers
Assuming that the Obama administration isn't aware of this is ridiculous.
Trust me they have annualized all aspects of the regime in Iran.
Beck and his guest understand this but it does more fear mongering to suggest that the Whitehouse is ignorant and that we are lost without Glenn Beck's take on the current situation.
All,
A portion in this country (1/5 probably) take it very seriously. The Book of Revalations is their guide to foreign policy. The support for Israel is about the second coming nothing more, nothing less.
Someone posted on a thread the other day with this view quoting Daniel and Numbers to show we are not yet at Armageddon.
Fox is about political points for Republicans and money for Murdoch.
Also, when Bush used the word "crusade" way back when, it was no innocent mistake.
Beck is a partisan hack who peddles fear to keep his ratings. And Thomas is absolutely right about the fifth of the public that takes Beck's chicken little rants about how the sky is falling seriously. The "prophetic" evangelicals who have hijacked the leadership of the christian conservative movement believe the world will end during our lifetime, that the final battle of armageddon which will occur in Israel is only a few years away, and that to be right with God the US needs to unconditionally support his "chosen people", ie. Israel. Since God has finally seen fit to give the nation of Israel its land back as per a biblical prophecy which they believe to be a sign of the last days, the continuing settlements are God's will and to pressure Israel to give any of that land up would be tantamount to opposing God's will. Noted evangelical leader Pat Roberston is known to have said that Ariel Sharon's stroke was divine punishment for having given away the Gaza strip. Forget the fact that the people the land is being given to have been living there for hundreds of years, forget the Gospels of their own evangelical christian faith, forget that Christ himself said "Blessed are the peacemakers", they're so obsessed with their crazy interpretation of some extremely obscure passages in the Book of Revelations, (and a handful of passages from the old testament that they've pulled out of context to tie together) that they've convinced themselves the world will end in the next decade or so.
Their growing influence within the Republican base is having a profound and unhealthy effect on Republican foreign policy.
Peter, well said.
Peter,
And they don't even recognize Sarah Palin as the Queen of Babble-On.
Extra grotesque ! Hallucinating ! and awing in intentions...
Ok, so, this is NOT a 'hilariously funny' sketch in the end ! (caricaturing a
'coach' in body language at a Vacuum-Cleaner Salesmen Training Course for
example, or the like, just cut out the sound) This is quite unsettling in itself
(though ok, America always had this kind of crazy pseudo-religious goons-
preachers in store, native land of televangelism, Scientology and the whole
shebang, and of course, a country where freedom of speech is a must as well ...)
-What's even more disturbing is the idea that Obama's admin. teams do know
about Fox & c° garbage-racist-fanatic programs (and their audience polls, their political-ideological influence tending towards extremism) and do nothing (on the cultural /educational level) to counter balance the awing effects on public
opinion of this kind of propaganda. With all the fine minds available in this 'land
of the free', how come ?
Such a gross ignorance/lack of investment of the so-called political elites
regarding middle east, Islam -and the rest of the non western world at large- is
plain amazing, creates much problems everywhere (e.g.Iraq). Someone should
send the clip to Obama (or 'cultural advisor', must have that in his staff) on his
trendy i-phone and ask him 'where is my vote going Mr President, didn't you say
that yes we could (do better than that) ?"
Peter, didn't see your last post before sending mine, wow, am
dumb struck ! Even weirder than what i thought (am european)
Do you know any site or data where to get info on this 'prophetic
evangelism' permeating GOP ? Thanks
@Thomas
The evangelical movement disliked McCain but they adore Palin. They feel that she is one of them. She on the other hand seems to be milking her popularity with them to make as much money giving speeches as she possibly can.
@Yseut
There is no national Republican leader who has come straight out and said that the world is about to end. They're not that dumb. But the political support of those evangelical leaders who spout this stuff is extremely important to Republicans seeking election. One site that has a nice concise summary of biblical prophecies signifying to evangelicals that the world will soon end is http://contenderministries.org/prophecy/endtimes.php. You will no doubt get a kick out of the role they perceive Europe will play in the final days. Evangelical leaders & television personalities who espouse these views and dabble in politics like Pat Robertson and John Hagee wield significant influence. Hagee even set up his own grass roots lobbying group (http://www.cufi.org) whose primary purpose is to prevent US pressure on Israel by "educating" and mobilizing conservative christians, although now it is also lobbying for sanctions against Iran.
Peter, much thanks to you, very interesting ! (and so edifying, especially
cufi.org !) I remember well Mr Robertson rantings more than ten years ago !
my american friends at the time loved to make fun out of him, and nobody
seemed to take him seriously then, so extreme and outrageous
were his speeches. I see now that he advanced his 'cause' (and his
mental case i'd say) quite a lot! Amazing is the world... Thanks again.
Most Americans thankfully do not take Robertson's views seriously. Nevertheless there is a slice of America that trusts and relies on his slanted news broadcasts over more secular news channels simply because he's a conservative Christian like they are. That's why he's managed to gain some influence.
Bijan said, "Good news is that many dismiss Beck as being a bit fanatical..." Personally I'd go with gonzo bat-sh#t crazy.
Basically he's a national embarrassment. Unfortunately he has a sliver of true believers and a larger slice of people who aren't ardent followers but who let his drivel into their brains on a regular basis. The sorriest part is that he doesn't necessarily believe what he says. A lot of it is showmanship & a way to rake in big bucks. For more info, see:
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1924348,00.html" rel="nofollow">Mad Man: Is Glenn Beck Bad for America?
Hey anybody were you one of those lunatics that voted for Obama? How many promises did he break from the campaign? Why wont he be interviewed by Fox? Why did he say in his memoir that it "remained necessary to prove what side you were on. To show your loyalty to the black masses"? Why did he call his own Mother a typical white person? Why was Frank Davis a member of the communist party in the USA his mentor for about 5 years? Why does he have such a sketchy past with socialist, marxist, racist, and many others yet to be found out. I didnt like George Bush at all. However whats different about Obama and Bush honestly.
@JOE2
What's with the name calling?
I used to be like you defending my candidate as if he were my own and railing against the guy I didn't want to win.
They all drink from the same trough. They pretend to be enemies on TV and have dinner together that same night.
Rail against the banks, commodity traders and insurance companies.
Those are the masters you should fear.
They already rule, they are already here.
http://www.truth-it.net/the_federal_reserve_banking_system.html
@ JOE2
The best thing about your post is that u say SOCIALISM like its a bad word.. hahahaha...
Joe2
The use of rhetorical questions is an age-old device to set forth a pack of lies when there is no source or substance to the claims, because neither exists. I won't be checking back for the canned tripe you'll use to respond with
Afshin
Folk on the right call President Obama socialist and fascist interchangeably, often in the same sentence. I'm interested to see what happens if he actually does something like they claim... For example, what if he appointed a card-carrying communist to the Supreme Court. They have used up all the superlatives. They'll scream that the person is a card-carrying communist, & people will shrug them off because it's the same sort of thing they've been saying since before the election. How will they warn us??? I lay awake worrying about it...