Glenn Beck's "Common Sense": The Blood Libel Rebellion

The Blood Libel Rebellion/Public Domain montage
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In case the Grand Old Party of America does not realize it, Thomas Paine would consider Glenn Beck to be a "Christian Mythologist" - a Christian Mythologist who was lacking in rational, and reasoned thinking skills. Sorry GOP, that's just the honest to nature's god's truth. When Paine used that term, "Christian Mythologists", dozens of times throughout his brilliant book, The Age of Reason, he was describing the Glenn Becks of this world. Isn't it weird that Beck would now, in modern times, attempt to make a hero out of Paine? Sorry again GOP, Thomas Paine was the consummate liberal, and if he were alive, today, he would think that Beck is an idiot.

In the wake of the recent Tucson tragedy, Sarah Palin has cried "blood libel" in defense of the criticism of her "crosshairs" posters. I'd like to suggest that, if Sarah would like to see one of the best examples of a modern day misuse of the "blood libel" charge, she should read Glenn Beck's version of "Common Sense".

Blood libel (or blood accusation): false accusation or claim.

Is "Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine" the ultimate example of "blood libel"? Let's take a look, shall we?

The accusatory tone, begins right there on the front cover, with "The Case Against". Glenn Beck is, obviously, conducting a trial. Who's on trial? An "Out-of-Control Government" (read that Liberalism/Progressivism). Where did Glenn get the idea to revise history? Well, according to the cover, his inspiration, to revise Paine's political and religious ideologies, came from Thomas Paine himself - "Inspired by Thomas Paine". Glenn Beck would like America to know that he has a great American, conservative hero, from America's past, that is right there in line with him on his new, modern plan for a well armed, peaceful militia, for Christian America.

Are these assertions based in truth? Is America's government truthfully "out-of-control"? Would Thomas Paine really agree with Beck's version of "Common Sense"? The answers to these questions are "No", "Yes", and "No".

Let's look at some of the accusatory language that Beck's version of Common Sense, uses. Do the majority of Americans really feel like they wouldn't want the President and his family over for dinner? Would the majority of Americans really not trust their children in the care of Barack or Michelle? From Chapter 1, right out of the gate.

We have so little trust in the character of the people we elected [President Obama] that most of us wouldn't invite them into our homes for dinner, let alone leave our children alone in their care. Yet we leave our country and our children's financial future in their care, Why?

Sounds a bit 'pre' Rosa Parks, doesn't it? Beck continues:

Common Sense tells us that this is national suicide.

Open your eyes! These people are robbing us blind while turning our children against the principles and values we cherish through indoctrination masked as education.

Beck has cleverly made America's children the "victims" that must be saved from the oppressive, evil, current President's administration. Now, watch Beck work his apocalyptic magic. He continues:

They have set our house on fire and blocked the exits, all the while convincing us that there is nothing to fear because they are the fire department. When will someone cry out with the truth? They're not our saviors; they're the arsonists. They're not rescuing our country; they're destroying it.

Sounds a bit analogous to the Hell, with a capital "H", that the Judeo-Christian Bible describes, doesn't it? Beck continues:

To save us from political and economic slavery, we must first admit what we already know: America has serious problems that transcend this economic crisis. We must also recognize and admit our critical role in helping create these problems. Finally, we must chose to live by our founding principles and rid ourselves of the poison of those who are proven to have broken the law- no one is above it.

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