In a prayer delivered by US Defense Secretary Hegseth during a Pentagon worship service yesterday, he read the fake Ezekiel 25:17 verse from “Pulp Fiction" that Samuel L. Jackson’s character recited just before he shoots a man to death.
-
I think one problem we have with communicating why this administration is so horrible is that we'll do this thing where we simply describe the nonsensical, disrespectful or absurdly ignorant thing that happened and then say no more. Because it's so bad that we think just describing what happened should shock people enough that they will be disgusted and disappointed.
I'm starting to wonder if this isn't sufficient.
Pete Hegseth is the Secretary of Defense appointed by president Trump to run the US military. He is the highest ranked civilian in charge of military policy and planning.
He chose to give a religious sermon, which isn't typical to begin with. Mentioning God or even Christ happens from time to time but his speech was mostly religious in nature. Nonetheless he made a category error by using a more violent, fake and surreal version of a "Bible Verse."
1/
-
Pete Hegseth is the Secretary of Defense appointed by president Trump to run the US military. He is the highest ranked civilian in charge of military policy and planning.
He chose to give a religious sermon, which isn't typical to begin with. Mentioning God or even Christ happens from time to time but his speech was mostly religious in nature. Nonetheless he made a category error by using a more violent, fake and surreal version of a "Bible Verse."
1/
Pulp Fiction is a movie famous for its violence and sexual content. It was nonetheless critically well received. It's a film popular with young men, the scene with Samuel L. Jackson is a parody of extreme "fire and brimstone" religious fervor. A power fantasy for boys. This is why Tarantino altered the Bible verse to make it more extreme and absurd.
Hegseth using this quote suggests he cannot tell the difference between a parody of toughness and the real thing.
2/
-
Pulp Fiction is a movie famous for its violence and sexual content. It was nonetheless critically well received. It's a film popular with young men, the scene with Samuel L. Jackson is a parody of extreme "fire and brimstone" religious fervor. A power fantasy for boys. This is why Tarantino altered the Bible verse to make it more extreme and absurd.
Hegseth using this quote suggests he cannot tell the difference between a parody of toughness and the real thing.
2/
It comes off as childish and desperate. Like a child bragging "my dad is a US marine!" it's insecure braggadocio and shows a carless disregard for the serious nature of the occasion, for the Bible, for religion in general (and for Christianity in particular) and for the US Military, the organization Mr. Hegseth presumably wants to represent. It was a clownish and shameful moment for the whole nation.
We are owed an apology.
3/3
-
I think one problem we have with communicating why this administration is so horrible is that we'll do this thing where we simply describe the nonsensical, disrespectful or absurdly ignorant thing that happened and then say no more. Because it's so bad that we think just describing what happened should shock people enough that they will be disgusted and disappointed.
I'm starting to wonder if this isn't sufficient.
i'm shocked and disgusted that so few people are shocked and disgusted.
-
Pete Hegseth is the Secretary of Defense appointed by president Trump to run the US military. He is the highest ranked civilian in charge of military policy and planning.
He chose to give a religious sermon, which isn't typical to begin with. Mentioning God or even Christ happens from time to time but his speech was mostly religious in nature. Nonetheless he made a category error by using a more violent, fake and surreal version of a "Bible Verse."
1/
@futurebird @newsguyusa The man is an over the top parody of the alpha male ethos. His Bible removed all the weak stuff and replaced it with warrior mentality masculinity from the Book of Sparta.
-
It comes off as childish and desperate. Like a child bragging "my dad is a US marine!" it's insecure braggadocio and shows a carless disregard for the serious nature of the occasion, for the Bible, for religion in general (and for Christianity in particular) and for the US Military, the organization Mr. Hegseth presumably wants to represent. It was a clownish and shameful moment for the whole nation.
We are owed an apology.
3/3
I sort of agree, but as an ethnic Jew I have to say that Christians have this idea of what real Christianity is that does not match the general history of Christianity. Hegseth's movie quote isn't textual or canonical, but it's about belief and action which is just as much a part of how other people have experienced Christianity.
-
I sort of agree, but as an ethnic Jew I have to say that Christians have this idea of what real Christianity is that does not match the general history of Christianity. Hegseth's movie quote isn't textual or canonical, but it's about belief and action which is just as much a part of how other people have experienced Christianity.
That is what Tarantino was doing. And that's fine, it's a part of how Christianity has impacted the world (but not the whole story, obviously)
Hegseth doesn't even know that. It's an embarrassment that he should ever get to speak into a microphone.
-
I sort of agree, but as an ethnic Jew I have to say that Christians have this idea of what real Christianity is that does not match the general history of Christianity. Hegseth's movie quote isn't textual or canonical, but it's about belief and action which is just as much a part of how other people have experienced Christianity.
This is why I'm not as bothered as some people are by all of the tacky things Trump has been doing to the Whitehouse I guess?
I just don't really care about "The Whitehouse" in that way. And Trump is only making it look like what it really is.
It's still vulgar, though.
-
That is what Tarantino was doing. And that's fine, it's a part of how Christianity has impacted the world (but not the whole story, obviously)
Hegseth doesn't even know that. It's an embarrassment that he should ever get to speak into a microphone.
Again I sort of agree. Tarantino was going for an artistic effect that involves parody to illustrate a truth, and Hegseth didn't get it and just illustrates the truth. Right wingers in the US often do this, such as how they used "Born in the USA" as an anthem while refusing to ever listen to what the lyrics actually said.
But it's not an embarrassment really, except that he's uncultured. He's illustrating a truth about American Christianity.
-
I think one problem we have with communicating why this administration is so horrible is that we'll do this thing where we simply describe the nonsensical, disrespectful or absurdly ignorant thing that happened and then say no more. Because it's so bad that we think just describing what happened should shock people enough that they will be disgusted and disappointed.
I'm starting to wonder if this isn't sufficient.
@futurebird YES!!
Again I'm reminded of Presidential debates wherein the Democrat builds a fine case showing that the Republican is a fool, but then just expects the audience to understand.
The Democrat fails to hammer home the conclusion and "loses" the debate. -
Again I sort of agree. Tarantino was going for an artistic effect that involves parody to illustrate a truth, and Hegseth didn't get it and just illustrates the truth. Right wingers in the US often do this, such as how they used "Born in the USA" as an anthem while refusing to ever listen to what the lyrics actually said.
But it's not an embarrassment really, except that he's uncultured. He's illustrating a truth about American Christianity.
American Christianity also played a role in creating the entire US civil rights movement. It has multiple dimensions. And I won't let go of that because that's part of what makes it significant.
