LA Times

This cartoon may likely have been drawn in opposition to the US support of Israel. Throughout the Israel/Palestinian conflict, the US has provided significant military aid, economic incentives, and aid packages, in support of its political ally, Israel. This image seems to criticize the US for what may have been perceived as a blatant show of  support and favor for a country involved in an extremely divisive international conflict.

Image Source: Google Search

Pro Israel Lobby Video

The link above features Christiane Amanpour at CNN holding a discussion with a pro-Israeli lobby in the U.S. David Harris from the Jewish American Committee discusses the shifting momentum of American policy in the Mideast during the past couple of years. The pro Israel lobby group discusses their perspective on the necessity of having pro-Israeli lobby groups in America. They argue that such efforts would help protect Israel’s democratic system. J View is Americ’as new Jewish Lobby group.

The two executives from J View explain that one of their lobby group’s objectives is to solidify a relationship between Israel and Palestine, to help protect Israel’s democracy.

One of the questions raised in this video is what involvement the US should play in this international conflict. The J View representatives expressed hope that Obama will consider the protection of Israel a matter of top priority in terms of US national interest.

UN abstintion

Palestinian supporters are questioning how far US ties to Israel will go. Some Palestini supporters ask whether the Gaza has become the Israel US – Hotline, which is made into the clever title of this Times article. To put it frankly, one commentator asked if Israel controls America.

These concerns are raised in the face of certain political decisions made in favor of Israel.  This article follows the  UN Security Council session incident when Secretary of State Condelezza Rice was asked by President Bush not to vote in favor of a resolution she had helped co write. Bush’s phone call to Rice came after his conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Olbert urging him to abstine on the US vote. The vote would allow a ceasefire in the Gaza strip and mandate a Israeli troop withdraw in the region. The article argues that US abstintion on this resolution was a political decision showing rather blatant favor towards Israel.

Continuing with week eight’s discussion on televangelists, here is a cartoon reflecting the all-too eager techniques that some organizations may use to obtain profits in the name of  ”non-profit.” In class, we had listened to discussions of incidents where televangelists had reportedly gone after innocent bystanders using charisma and charm as a way to deceive their malicious greed oriented intentions. In this cartoon, the people ducking away inside are intimidated by the massive crowd of seemingly benevolent pioneers outside. The sun in the background is satirical. It’s as if the non-profiteerers are “coming from the sun”, which in a way, is what some televangelists would have wanted their innocent viewers to believe.

Kenneth Copeland

Who is Kenneth Copeland? At one time, this angelic televangelist had millions of devoted followers when he gave radical sermons on live TV. The clip from CBS above however, exposes him as an outright fraud.  News anchor Katie Couric takes an inside look into the activities that Kenneth Copeland’s gospel had perpetuated to be charity, but were in fact profit related. These included “gospel” work for businesses such as gas and oil companies. The Copeland gospel would hire individuals to use donated funds in the investment of outside (and completely unrelated) businesses. One scene showing the ridiculousness of their extravagance was Kenneth Copeland telling his audience that the luxurious private jet he bought for himself is apparently to be used for “works of God.” The truth was it served as transportation to family reunions.

more sleaze on televangelism

Televangelism experienced a surge in popularity during the 1980s. At the forefront of this spike was Oral Roberts, a television preacher known for his emotional antics and dramatic sermons. The emotional appeal was part of an attempt to earn Roberts huge profits, not necessarily for the Church, but for remodeling his home 14 times, sending his daughter on a $29,000 vacation to the Bahamas, and for other greedy personal expenses. He extorted money from viewers through manipulation. For example, during one sermon he urged his viewers to donate $8 million or otherwise he said God would “call him home.” Surprisingly, his strategies worked and Roberts received $9 million.

The Times article covers these allegations in the  lawsuit filed by Oral Roberts University. At the age of 89 on Larry King Live, Roberts continues to deny his actions and use God in an attempt to divert the attention away from his crimes. What’s worse is how vulnerable audiences were to televangelism. When Roberts declared “The devil is not going to steal O.R.U,” he received a standing ovation and was renamed O.R.U.’s co-president at Roberts university.

virtuous figures caught \”pants down\”

It seems that  religious figures, particularly televangelists, have been known to commit actions that deviate from the moral standards they preach. This cnn article discusses scandals involving five “virtuous” figures. Televangelists seek in enormous profits for using the media to their advantage. Aimee Semple McPherson was a popular televangelist from the 1920s. Then she disappeared unexpectantly in the engagement of a sexual affair. Her return was confusing to many and the story she gave even more puzzling-an abduction to Mexico.

Jim Baker was another popular televangelist from the early 1970s caught in a sexual scandal. He and Tammy bought in milions to PTL (Praise the Lord) ministry but corrupt financial dealings and news of an illegitimate affair eventually made their way to the media. The television muppet based religion industry, was at one time, a $12-million-a-year, 10,000-employee run enterprise.

video

This video ties into week seven’s discussion on the religion fueled culture wars. The video offers insight into the political differences between young and old evangelicans in the US. Though the fundamentals of their relgion remain the same, the political ideologies of these two different age groups are quite different. This could help explain why there is a culture war, per say, between members of the same religion within different age groups. Younger evangelics are more prone to advocate for an exit strategy on Iraq, claim human activity as the cause for global warming, and generally be more liberal. Older evangelics tend to have more conservative views.

The key point this video makes is that ideological differences, religious or other, will lead to cultural clashes as well. Older and younger evangelics may remain separated in politics despite following the same religion.

The figure is depicted as a militia man, perhaps a terrorist. His partner in the background asks why he shot a nun and he responds by blaming his action on the pope. The irony is that while the Pope expressed anti-Islamic views condemning violence, his words seemed to have been the key to initiating violence as well.