For those of you who haven't heard of Leo Strauss

[pauliedangerously]

Many neoconservatives like Paul Wolfowitz are disciples of a philosopher who believed that the elite should use deception, religious fervor and perpetual war to control the ignorant masses.


http://www.alternet.org/story/15935


Share with your Freeper aquaintances!!! Why bother, they wouldn't believe it anyway...BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

[bobbieinok]

1. scary excerpt

....

"Secular society in their view is the worst possible thing,'' Drury says, because it leads to individualism, liberalism, and relativism, precisely those traits that may promote dissent that in turn could dangerously weaken society's ability to cope with external threats.

Bailey argues that it is this firm belief in the political utility of religion as an "opiate of the masses" that helps explain why secular Jews like Kristol in 'Commentary' magazine and other neoconservative journals have allied themselves with the Christian Right and even taken on Darwin's theory of evolution.

....

( I broke the paragraph)

[pauliedangerously]

5. EXACTLY......

I mean no affront to religious people. Don't let my avatar confuse you; EVERYONE has beliefs and most of us have an inner relationship with our conscience. I think it is an absolute abomination to manipulate people with religion and it just rips my heart into shreds to see people using "God's" word to do the "Devil's" deeds.

I may not believe in God in a tradidtional sense, but I certainly understand the theme of the New Testament, and I see the irony taking place that liberal Christians see. Let me tell you now my dear Christian compatriots, my heart weeps with yours; and though I do laugh on the outside often, I'm crying on the inside.

[Swamp Rat]

2. What most don't realize is that they are alien lizards.

[The Night Owl]

4. Scary image!

Who is the guy with the crown? Reverend Moon?

[Swamp Rat]

10. Yep. That's Moon.

[pauliedangerously]

6. Thanks Swamprat!!!!

I really needed the humor. Do you use the Gimp?

[Swamp Rat]

9. Gimp

Not yet, but I got it on a CD ready to try out (Apple UNIX). I had been using an ancient photoshop and a couple shareware/freeware apps, but I just got Photoshop Elements and will be getting the Creative Suite sometime soon. If I weren't being supplied with the Adobe apps, I'd definately use Gimp. Maybe I'll fool with it one of these days.

[jdots]

3. Leo's ideas are like a bad sci plot that came true

The shit wad that is really into Puss Boil Strauss's nightmare
vision of devolution is Rupert Murdock.

[pauliedangerously]

7. I wouldn't doubt it.

Murdoch is a very clever bastard, isn't he? I've mentioned this in quite a few posts, but I cancelled my cable and gave away my tv right after the election...I am so fed up with mass media. Actually, I'm fed up with mass everything at this point...except MASSive quantities of beer and tobacco.

Doesn't it boggle the mind, though, that this guy puts out a really idealistic sci-fi series like Star Trek TNG in the '80s, and a pretty cool show like 21 Jumpstreet that sympathizes with problems of urban youth, and, and, and.....?????? WTF. He's a knuckleballer.

[BrotherBuzz]

8. I'm kinda up to speed with the Straussians...

but I will freely admit I can't read Leo Strauss' works to save my life. Nevertheless, I read an interesting article about him and how he controlled his students by tailoring his evolving philosophy to match the needs of the students in their particular field. Economy students heard different ideas from, say, history students. He was able to maintain control and power because nobody had the grasp of the entire picture of his bizarre ideas on life. Wish I could find the article because it painted him for what he was, a classic cult leader.