Random political analysis and metaphors
So I had this complicated explanation of why Glenn Beck calling himself a rodeo clown was way, way more accurate than us liberal types really know (because, let's be honest, how many of us have ever set foot at a rodeo?) , but I did some Googling and it turns out that someone beat me to it.
Louis Hale, on opednews.com, writes:
"In March of 2009, Glenn Beck described himself to a New York Times interviewer as a "rodeo clown." To my mind, this was a Freudian slip on Beck's part which encapsulates with pinpoint accuracy the function, within the larger scheme, of this radio host/provocateur for the Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox Network.
A rodeo clown's job is to distract. Once the cowboy--who spurs the bull as he rides--is bucked off, the clown--engaging in various antics, including waving red flags--must distract the bull from the cowboy in order to prevent the bull--enraged not only by the being with spurs recently having perched atop its back but also by the strap tightly attached around its flanks--from attacking the cowboy.
Glenn Beck does his job well. He distracts his listeners from seeking solutions that would advance their real interests by waving the red flags of racism and religious bigotry in place of constructive discussion of the real issues, waving the red flag of head-fake patriotism instead of encouraging critical thinking and looking past surface appearances, and waving the red flag of self-destructive military-enforced imperialism disguised as "support for our troops" who are providing for our "national security" against a manufactured "terrorist threat." "
He goes on to talk a lot about bankers, but...you get the idea.
I'll be attending the Rally to Restore Sanity in Washington at the end of the month. The world needs a few less rodeo clowns and a few more court jesters.
Louis Hale, on opednews.com, writes:
"In March of 2009, Glenn Beck described himself to a New York Times interviewer as a "rodeo clown." To my mind, this was a Freudian slip on Beck's part which encapsulates with pinpoint accuracy the function, within the larger scheme, of this radio host/provocateur for the Rupert Murdoch-owned Fox Network.
A rodeo clown's job is to distract. Once the cowboy--who spurs the bull as he rides--is bucked off, the clown--engaging in various antics, including waving red flags--must distract the bull from the cowboy in order to prevent the bull--enraged not only by the being with spurs recently having perched atop its back but also by the strap tightly attached around its flanks--from attacking the cowboy.
Glenn Beck does his job well. He distracts his listeners from seeking solutions that would advance their real interests by waving the red flags of racism and religious bigotry in place of constructive discussion of the real issues, waving the red flag of head-fake patriotism instead of encouraging critical thinking and looking past surface appearances, and waving the red flag of self-destructive military-enforced imperialism disguised as "support for our troops" who are providing for our "national security" against a manufactured "terrorist threat." "
He goes on to talk a lot about bankers, but...you get the idea.
I'll be attending the Rally to Restore Sanity in Washington at the end of the month. The world needs a few less rodeo clowns and a few more court jesters.