Persecution complex

An important tool in controlling witless masses is fear, and the Oklahoman excels at pushing fear to keep its theocratic base in line. As an example, we only need to read a letter by Larry Phillips of Walters that the paper ran today. It reads:

I've heard it said that the Obama administration is the most anti-religious of any administration ever. I beg to differ. It's the most anti-Christian administration ever. It doesn't seem to be concerned with Islam, Hinduism or any other religion except Christianity.

You have to love that intro, using one of the cheapest rhetorical tricks in the book. Who, exactly, says that this administration is "the most anti-religious" ever? Mr Phillips doesn't tell us, but that's OK because Mr Phillips is here to set the record straight. Or at least, he's here to make a blanket assertion with no evidence whatsoever to back up his claim. Instead, he launches into fear-mongering:

It won't be long before a minister won't be able to preach the word of God from the pulpit without fear of prosecution. It's already happened in Canada; we won't be far behind. Political correctness will be the downfall of America. Stating God's commands will soon be labeled as hate speech, punishable under the law. We're losing our right to free speech in the name of political correctness and our fear of offending someone.

Ok, wait. How is he jumping to these conclusions? He's heard of the First Amendment, no? Because what he's essentially saying is that the First Amendment will soon be repealed-- all based on nothing but one nebulous reference to something that happened in, of all places, Canada. Which, last time I checked, wasn't a part of the United States.

Look, it's easy to find some stupid aspect of the "political correctness" movement and then blame whatever societal ills you like on that. But that's just throwing out the baby with the bathwater. The reality is that it's probably a good thing that our society as a whole frowns upon the use of certain words and phrases that only serve to demean a certain segment of the population. To cry that "political correctness" somehow hampers Christianity because of "our fear of offending someone" only suggests that the main goal of the religion is, in fact, to offend people who are different.

And let's be clear: there is no anti-Christian zealotry in this country. Christianity is and has always been the dominant religion and social force in this country. Of course, when you're at the top of the mountain and everyone else has just started climbing, it's hard to be motivated to do anything. Thus, right-wing leadership and its media outlets have to drum up a fake sense of urgency to make sure the base is properly energized to support the unholy theocrat-plutocrat agenda. This persecution complex is seen in things like Fox News' hilarious "war on Christmas" meme.

Indeed, only through scare tactics like that (atheists are going to take away Christmas!!) can you make sure that easily-duped thralls will continue to watch your shows and, more importantly, donate to your causes. It's a brilliant tactic, and one that the Oklahoman uses time and again.