Apocalypse Watch: Is it just US TV news, or the entire country?

[muriel_volestrangler]

I'd seen the odd thread title in GD over the past week or two about CNN having a piece or two on "Is the Fighting in the Middle East the End of the World?", and several threads taking the piss out of the Rapture Ready website (which, let's face it, is fun, and easy, at any time). But now I've just seen last night's (for the US) edition of The Daily Show, and it's apparent that all of the US TV news shows have stooped this low - demanding dates for the end of the world from a Catholic priest, talking about the four horsemen as if they've entered the Kentucky Derby, and so on.

So is just the news producers who have gone insane, and think they can pass off made-up bullshit as if it's news, or is this really a topic of conversation in the USA? Either way, it's a sign of a country badly out of kilter; but at least if it's just the TV, they can blame it on the real news people all going off on vacation at once, and some interns being left to make the shows. If it's happening in real life, the country is screwed. That would be far worse than thinking evolution isn't real; the USA has always had optimism going for it. If a significant part of the population really thinks they'll get divine intervention any day now, then you're stuffed. You can't be a superpower when half the inhabitants are members of a Heaven's Gate cult. It would be the Taiping Rebellion all over again; probably the most deadly fall of an empire there's ever been. Please tell me there's hope for the USA yet.

[eleny]

1. Last night The Daily show dealt with this issue

Stewart took us down memory lane and showed several clips on how the news was acting about Y2K - Starting with Jane Pauley doing her darndest to be serious.

But this apocalypse business is the worst as those people are war mongering for the sake of their religious beliefs. I'd like not to have to die for those idiots, thank you very much.

[chill_wind]

2. It's the latest media tool of the RNC. Bankrupt bastards.

Whatever they want pushed, they get. And it's understandably all they can think up for their base. Swiftboat Vet campaigns won't work a second time around for 06 and 08.


Just posted this. See what I mean.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2758018

[ovidsen]

3. Chalk it up to voyeurism

That, and a lust for ratings on the part of MSM-TV....

I'm in the core of a solid red-state, and I'd say that even the chronic church-goers here are looking at the "rapture" crap on the tube with amusement.. and slight embarassment. That's not to say there aren't a few folks here who are ready to fly up to heaven, but they're pretty rare. And there are NO churches here in the Low Country trumpeting any "Rapture Ready" campaigns.

Jon Stewart and his Daily Show co-conspirators are just playing it up for laughs.

I hope!

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Thanks - I'll hope your experience is typical

and I'll gloss over the weird LTTE linked below. At least that way, I'll get to sleep tonight.

[corkhead]

4. maybe this will give you an idea

this was a ltte in my local paper yesterday...

The right to bear arms

"In the Joe Schwarz/Tim Walberg for Congress race, the one issue I am concerned about the most is getting the least attention. It is the individuals' right to bear arms. In these last years before Armageddon, terrorists are trying to attack America. Joe Schwarz is naive in his belief that government can protect its citizens and does not think individuals should have this right, but Tim Walberg believes, as I do, that this is a right guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and is necessary.

I would think the right to defend ourselves in this third world war would get a little more attention, but we are not told the whole truth by the media. Do we live with a sense of false security, not knowing about attacks such as the 21-year-old attempted suicide-bomber who blew himself up at Oklahoma University after trying to enter the football game (and others). The Second Amendment is clear and reads: "A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/base/news-2/1154599516218480.xml?jacitpat?NEVOP&coll=3

in other words, Armageddon is coming, we better vote for the candidate who is more in favor of us having guns.

does this help you decide where we are?

[NMMNG]

11. What a loon

Yeah, thugs running around with semi-automatics is a great idea, and will be very helpful in the event of whackjobs with bombs strapped to their chests. :eyes:

[mike_c]

5. Americans are barking insane when it comes to religion....

Utterly crazy. Not all of us, but the extremists more than make up for the level headed, IMO. I've seen it first hand-- half my family are fundamentalist christians. Even most "moderate" americans likely would not vote for an openly athiest political candidate above the local level, if there.

[HockeyMom]

7. Don't ask, don't tell

should be the policy regarding a candidate's religion. I must be getting very old since I can remember a time when it was not considered "proper" to ask anybody what their religion was, let alone who would be the best candidate based on how "christian" they were.

For all I care, they can worship a kitchen sink. Religion belongs in the heart, not on the campaign trail.

[chill_wind]

9. I like that, HockeyMom.

"Religion belongs in the heart, not on the campaign trail."

But the GOP feels no need to respect or obey that notion. I fear they will be using it more virulently than ever in history to mobilize their base in these next two elections. They are already fortifying their battle stations with lots of media message and cash.

[kimmerspixelated]

8. I recently finished DaVinci Code

and it really made an impression on me in a lot of ways. There are too many things to discuss here, but the main thing for this post is that basically most of the bible is fictional.Course, I knew that, but it really means more now than ever. Jesus was a great man whose viewpoints we should all try to live by, however, he certainly didn't write the bible, and anything that came out of the book of folklore is up to individual interpretation. Mankind (wherever you come from) shouldn't believe that some supernatural thing is going to happen, it's just not logical. It is so scary to think our leaders are in the mindset of the END of DAYS thing. Truthfully, I think we are killing the environment, so therefore there will be the End of Days, just not like Bushco hopes/thinks. As far as Americans mostly believing in the Apoco.-well, when you think about how many folks bought the book, and hopefully were somewhat enlightened by it, it would be curious to conduct a poll.

[cosmik debris]

10. A lighter take on the subject by a former Python

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/terry_jones/2006/08/armageddonists_of_the_world_un.html

"Those of us who have long been supporters of Armageddon have naturally been greatly cheered by way the president of the United States has been embracing our cause. Our desire to bring chaos, death and destruction to a greater swathe of humanity has, in the past, often been frustrated by peacemakers and do-gooders of all shades of the political spectrum."

[Vidar]

12. This comes up every time the Middle East gets too hot.