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In response to Carol Wolman's Essays

from Eleanor Cooney and Laura Holtan, posted April 30, 2005

Laura, it's fine with me if people have "beliefs." They can worship the monkey god while singing Mary Had A Little Lamb backwards, for all I care. But when a certain line is transgressed, it's no longer an issue of live and let live.

There's a political movement afoot today in this country, and its aim is to gradually replace "democracy" as we know it with "biblical law." It's called "Christian Reconstructionism." It's real, and they are deadly earnest. Don't just take my word for it--do a bit of research and you'll find out how real it is. Unfortunately, the politics of corporate greed, power and plunder overlap conveniently with the grim theology of the Reconstructionists, and an unholy alliance has been formed, each finding advantage in assisting the advancement of the other. In the person of George W. Bush, theology and corporatism have merged and are indistinguishable from one another, producing a truly dangerous hybrid.

Do you want to live in a theocracy? I don't. Do you want to live in a theocracy where the wealthy elite rule, and people are their disposable slaves? I don't. Do you want to live in a world where logic, independent thought and education are slowly eradicated, where people accept the idea that the planet earth is a throwaway chunk of dirt? I don't. Wake up and smell the sulfur: You may find it hard to believe, but there are legions of people who actually hope for Armageddon, because they believe that they'll all be airlifted to heaven. This suits the corporate greedheads just fine--it gives them unbridled license to plunder. Who loses? You and I and every other living thing. This is why Carol's tone is urgent, and yes, sometimes angry. This is an emergency. We don't have the luxury of being nicey-nicey.

Eleanor Cooney

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Laura Holtan wrote:

Thank you for your reply. I think this dialouge is great. I also agree that Carol is writing with positive intentions, but I do feel that sometimes it comes out negatively. Also, while I think it is true that she mainly bashes Bush, she also bashes those who are not similarly minded at times, which makes me uncomfortable. I could send you cited examples if you like, but I think that might perpetuate a "bashing of Carol" which is not my intention at all. Again, I know that Carol is ultimately writing out of love for humanity, I just think that humanity includes Bush, the Rapture followers, and mainstream America.

Thank you,

Laura

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Eleanor Cooney wrote:


Dear Laura--

I implore you to read Carol's words more closely. She never "bashes"anyone but the big bad guys (Bush & Co.) who are manipulating people's fear and faith for truly nefarious purposes.

Best,
E.C.