[lbo-talk] Modernity, and its many, many enemies

[Carl Remick]

>From: Dwayne Monroe <idoru345 at yahoo.com>
>
>When I was a kid and imagined the 2000s, a specific vision entered my head: 
>glittering tech, rational, you might even say technocratic government, and 
>a whole new set of interesting, uniquely modern problems.  Science fiction 
>novels taught me to expect problems - I didn't imagine a perfect world - 
>but the problems would be of a very new sort.
>
>I didn't imagine anyone would be arguing over "moral values".  I didn't 
>imagine anyone would be arguing about Gay rights.  I didn't imagine...well, 
>let's just say I didn't imagine a man would be able to get away with all 
>Dubya has been able to get away with by waving the twin magic wands of 
>"resoluteness in the face of terror" in one hand and "my faith guides me" 
>in the other...

Yes, when I was kid and imagined the 21st century, I certainly didn't expect 
the Spanish Inquisition.

[Take it away, Cardinal Ximinez (Michael Palin)]  "NOBODY expects the 
Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear 
and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless 
efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless 
efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our 
*four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such 
elements as fear, surprise.... I'll come in again."

The Monty Python version is more entertaining than Bush's.

Carl