"Ammendment" and "The Passion": my colleague's joy

[wellstone_democrat]

Interesting note: One colleague who is *very* religious (large non-denominational congregation with a decidedly S.Baptist flavor) and very politically conservative was getting angry at Bush* (his darlin') for the economy, failure to condemn outsourcing, and various other thing that seemed "extreme" lately.

But, I just found out about the support of the amendment from this same fellow who dashed into my office and said something that made me pause: His "joy" he said came from the "divine scheduling" of two events---tonight his congregation is going en masse to a special showing of "The Passion of the Christ" and Bush made his announcement about supporting an anti-gay amendment.

Under things that make you go hmmmm....his church, like others of his variety of evangelical Protestantism meets normally on Wednesday night which is (apparently) when this movie debuts. So...imagine his delight at the movie tonight, the "discussion" tomorrow on the film and now, the extra "bonus" (his term) of Bush*'s "support for the decent people of America"

Yep....in his defense, I must say that his particular congregation thought that from the reports of the film, THEIR group would not encourage children under 13 from viewing it.

on edit: I meant to add, for those of us living in areas where "Wednesday night church" means few if any scheduled general activities, I find the timing very interesting. Surely meant to do maximum impact on that wedge of his vaunted "base."

[Bertha Venation]

1. These people are cowards.

People who support the FMA are cowards. Why? Because they won't talk to me. I want to engage two people on my floor whom I know support that POS legislation and they will not talk to me about it.

COWARDS!

[stopthegop]

5. maybe they're not cowards...

maybe they just see no point in a discussion that <might> get emotional and/or ugly, without changing any minds...

just a thought

[Bertha Venation]

7. hmm.

Could be you're right. Could also be that they could try to meet my eye and say what they think. They'd learn that, at least from my end, it wouldn't turn ugly. As for emotion: I can handle it if they can. After all, they're talking about taking away my rights. I think I'm entitled to some emotion.

I do know for certain that one person who refuses to discuss this with me is a coward: my father.

[Skittles]

10. naw

they are cowards

[Norquist Nemesis]

2. Next time you see him

ask him about the devine timing of appointing Pryor.

I have to go turn off the TV now. If I see Bush's mug and hear his little sound byte about the amendment one more time, I'm going to hurl.

[chookie]

3. The message of sin

This does not surprise me. I suspect that The Passion will be used to fuel the agenda of the Religious Right.

The message of the film is -- look how poor Jesus suffered for sin! I guess they mean "sins" like sodomy and abortion -- not greed or deception.

The last time "sin" was highlighted so dramatically was in the aftermath of Sept 11, 2001 -- when Falwell and Robertson expressed the view that gays, lesbians, "baby-killers" and the ACLU had so offended God that He withdrew his Shield of ProtectionTM from America.

The energy which the emotions stirred up by this film will be used to confront "sin" in America. These same people see George W as an exceptional man, a Man of God, with a Godly agenda, confronting Evil in The End Times.

Yes -- this film will be used by the Religious Right to advance their cause.

What will be interesting is if they are able to persuade more moderate Christians to their view, much in the way that many people who had previously opposed Bush got behind him in the aftermath of Sept 11, 2001. Getting peopleworked up emotionally is NOT to get them to think -- it is used to get people to ACT, unthinkingly -- and in an election year during a controversial war, which they frame as a religious cause -- you better believe that this movie is going to be used to persuade people to step over to the Right.

[formernaderite]

11. The movie is bringing out disturbing reactions from people...

...I listened to the radio earlier, and the comments from people who saw it were way over the top. Local ABC radio interviewed people from obvious different racial backgrounds..but the remarks were all similar. Maybe it's because I'm an atheist, and I'm not at all desiring censorship...but the fervor with which these people spoke, made me really nervous.

GOP plot? Let's just say, I think "morality" will again become a huge concern.

[burrowowl]

4. Wednesday is Ash Wednesday

the beginning of Lent which ends in the Passion, then the Resurrection.

[wellstone_democrat]

6. Ah, good point and

it certainly points more to a masterful timing issue:

For those of us who are Catholic or "orthodox" Protestant like Lutherans and Episcopalians its the beginning of the season of considering the "passion" itself and, for some, increased attention to religious matters---but, the "passion of Christ" is more in tune with religions that emphasize martyrdom

For those whose Protestantism is of a variety where the "Passion of Christ" does not normally assume a central place in theology, we have the movie which, I notice among my neighbors who generally talk only of the Resurrection, is suddenly a major topic of discussion.

For those who are bigots in either camp, providing Bush*'s base, this is a win-win-win scheduling combo! Make the announcement today (Tuesday) and get the benefit of the begining of Lent for some and the Wednesday night adult Bible class for others.

Hey, if I were after this base, I'd be delighted with the ability to schedule my political announcements like this myself.! You have to give credit to the puppetmaster on this one.

[Bridget Burke]

8. Another reason for the Wednesday opening.....

Generally, movie critics in each city see previews during the week so they can write their reviews for the Friday paper--published the same day the films open. Therefore, the public can check out the reviews as they decide what film to catch that weekend.

Those films opening midweek--without previews--are often dogs. Turkeys. Stinkers. "Gigli"! By premiering on an odd day, the critics can be avoided. It's one step ahead of "direct-to-video".

The Wednesday opening of Mel's movie definitely has meaning for those who observe Ash Wednesday. But it might be good for Mel's fiscal welfare that so many tickets are being pre-sold.

[prodigal_green]

9. Also counted in w/e box office

Wednesday releases are counted with the weekend box office receipts, so they can claim a higher turnout.

Pure marketing.

Of course Mel wouldn't show anything actually leading up to the resurrection--that would mean showing the life of a progressive.