Thursday, April 16, 2009
Covering up Jesus
Political stage management is a touchy thing. CNS is reporting that the White House asked Georgetown University to cover up a Christian symbol on the stage where the president spoke on Tuesday. I suspect that some righty bloggers are not going to like this. A sop to secularism, or something, from the president who has not found a minister he liked since he ran away from Jeremiah Wright. (Well, until this week.) But then, righty bloggers might not have delighted in Barack Obama wrapping himself in Christian imagery, either.
Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't, it seems to me.
The better question is this: Why would a Jesuit university agree to cover up Christian symbolism at the request of a politician, even the president? That's more than a little evidence of self-hating, or at least unseemly self-degradation. Are the Jesuits getting wimpy? We Protestants need to know these things.
20 Comments:
By 
Christopher Chambers, at
Thu Apr 16, 11:32:00 AM:
Oops...here it is. Bullsh*t made up issue No. 134. Still reeling from the fellow traveler with the wingnut/gun nut group memo from Homeland Security, eh? (well, at least the abortion clinics will be safe now that they have a black president to kill with all them stockpiled machine guns bought at gun shows!) lol
Actually, whenever a national politician comes to speak on matters of policy, all kinds of bunting and backdrops and flags are used. But yes, I suspect the Evil One was behind the draping of Our Lord in shame.
Hmmm...not.
Have ever been in Gaston Hall? Just to get up there you have to pass cross and stained glass allegories that would scare away any liberal demon (N.B. in the first and third "Exorcist" films William Friedkin depicted the horror of demon-possessed minions desicrating the statues, glass, etc. in those portions of Healy hall leading to the main Gaston Hall entries.
Inside the place where O man spoke, the crown moldings are festooned with religious symbolism, as are is the additional stained glass, and indeed so are the sconces, stuff carved into the stairwells. The evil secularist White House drones didn't seem to get to those. Indeed a lot of other stuff gets covered up too by various partitions (even blue screens so the painted walls don;t reflect back flash photos and TV camera glare): the frescoes of the female figures of Logic, Arts, Literature, Science and their retainers. Therefore this President is clearly anti-intellectual (or anti-Liberal Arts). now ROTFLMAO...
You also have to understand the speical place the university occupies in the public policy life of the capital--through many administrations. It isn't just a religious-affiliated school. It is an intellectual center, think thank, mini convention spot, international legal-cultural-political conclave. What--did you think it's a madrassas for young Mel Gibson wingnut Catholics? (oops...poor Mel). Nope. Never has been. And the Jesuits want to keep it that way. Powerhouse which overshadows AU, GWU, its sister school Catholic U. and even that black school most of your TH audience has never heard of: Howard U. Irony is that occupied place of power was promulgated after the Civil War by a man who's background is similar to Obama's, and who had to keep it a secret till his death, or it would have been his death: Jesuit Fr. Patrick Healy.
Perhaps the Jesuits should have pulled an Arizona State U? --a move ASU is backpedaling on comically (I almost feel sorry for them). Actually here at Hoyaville they are all about open ideas, robust deabte. Not shrill dogma. The School of Foreign Service, the Medical School and the Law School (helmed by one T. Alexander Alienikoff who, admitted, looks like the President of Iran but hey!) sit in top ten lists consistently b/c they do not ascribe to dogma.
But getting back to "CNS" reports, again the "news" is amusing and typical, but of zero importance.
Here's a better issue: I have it on good account that Michelle Obama is planning to plait/braid/cornrow Sasha and Malia's hair--and BO the dog's--supposedly in preparation for another hot humid DC summer. That's the pretext. The real reason: a direct affront to straight Caucasian--AMERICAN--hairstyles!!!
By Eric, at
Thu Apr 16, 11:36:00 AM:
Your troll-fu is weak, grasshopper.
By Viking Kaj, at
Thu Apr 16, 11:37:00 AM:
Hows about we put Barack in a saffron robe with a yarmulke? That would balance out any Christian symbol.
Next thing you know we will have treasury recalling the coinage to remove "In god we trust"...
By 
, at
Thu Apr 16, 11:39:00 AM:
Wow, its like Chris did a huge copy and paste from journolist.
The few Jesuits at these institutions are usually very liberal, or uninformed by their leftist staff of the various going on. My own experience has been that there are too few priests to make much of a dent in the rampant leftism you see on all campuses.
By Viking Kaj, at
Thu Apr 16, 11:46:00 AM:
Looks like Chris' journolist couldn't spell either.
By , at
Thu Apr 16, 11:57:00 AM:
The Jesuits (The Society of Jesus) ask themsleves, 'What have I done for Christ?', What am I doing for Christ?', What will I do for Christ?'. Well we now know they will hide Jesus in the face of non-believers. And by hiding him is this not the same as denying they know Him? Who else denied knowing Jesus? Judas perhaps? I believe it is time for some deep introspection on the part of the Jesuits.
By Christopher Chambers, at
Thu Apr 16, 11:58:00 AM:
Actually it's not a troll fu. Just a plain ole f.u. (smile)
And no cutting and pasting, Anon. I actually work there. Sorry for the inconvenience...
Oh and I forgot--there are many conservatives teaching, speaking at our newly beefed up McDonough School of Business. They don't seem to say/spout the same extreme crap you see on these blogs, on the radio. I guess they're the ones who don't appreciate being hijacked by the right wing. The Jesuits at Georgetown are numerous, are teachers. Always have been. Theire imprint on everything from the MBA program to SFS, to research hell, even to John Thompson III's (Princeton '88) recruiting for the basketball team is one of selfless service, compassion, courage. John says they interfere too much, of course.
I think the most "secularized" wing of the university is the Law School; yet it's a refuge for unemployed Bush admin. attorneys as adjuncts. lol
Again, not that it matters to you morons, but I figure I'd just put it out there in case someone has a moment of clarity. Except for you "Viking Kaj." Why don't you send me your home address, telephone, directions to the place, in case any of your friends do Barack any harm? I just want to make sure your safe...
Next?
By Sluggo, at
Thu Apr 16, 12:15:00 PM:
Some people are waiting for their jetpacks.
Me, I look forward to the Universal Keyboard that sends a bracing electrical shock through the fingers of anyone who types "Oh, and . . ." whatever.
Applied equally to wingnuts and leftards.
By Christopher Chambers, at
Thu Apr 16, 12:16:00 PM:
P.S.
Don't forget the cornrows tip I gave you. It's scandalizing the Sidwell Friends School.
Plus here's a freebie:
"Bo" used to frequent dog pounds. I also think he was a community activist dog. Never been neutered. Better get Instanpundit on it, pronto...
By Escort81, at
Thu Apr 16, 12:23:00 PM:
CC - How is JTIII doing? Any heat on him for having a bit of an "off year?" Wish he had not left PU, although Sidney is doing fine now, and has a good recruiting class coming in.
Re: Bo - I think the people that are most concerned about the First Dog are long-time Portie breeders and lovers, concerned about the enormous popularity increase that will happen. You will not meet more protective, proprietary and neo-fascist control freaks than the breeders of relatively uncommon dog breeds. They want to control the gene pool, and scream concern when "their" breed even appears in a TV ad, thinking everyone will go out and want a pup and then tire of it. Sadly, there is some truth to that.
By Escort81, at
Thu Apr 16, 12:30:00 PM:
PS - Nobody in Philly cares about cornrows either way. We watched Iverson play with them for years, as well as the tats. Somehow I doubt the First Lady will allow tats for Malia and Sasha, however. The kids seem pretty squared away.
By , at
Thu Apr 16, 12:34:00 PM:
But why go to a place if you are going to make the backdrop neutral? Why not just speak from the White House?
By , at
Thu Apr 16, 12:50:00 PM:
"The better question is this: Why would a Jesuit university agree to cover up Christian symbolism at the request of a politician, even the president? That's more than a little evidence of self-hating, or at least unseemly self-degradation. Are the Jesuits getting wimpy? We Protestants need to know these things."
I'm in a position to answer as a Hoya (and a Protestant): Yes, the Jebbies are getting wimpy, at least at GU and BC--two colleges I visited with my young 'uns during school searches. The Jesuit presence was substantially reduced at both schools, and the GU pitch barely mentioned that it was a "Catholic school." No big deal for them to block a cross or two in exchange for the new Savior's presence.
Goody
By , at
Thu Apr 16, 01:18:00 PM:
Perhaps the better question is not why the Jesuits cover up the name when the secular left is paying attention, but why they bother to display it when it isn't. Contra the good perfesser, you're not really that brave if you can't look them in the eye. Useful, maybe, but not brave.
By Greg Toombs, at
Thu Apr 16, 01:54:00 PM:
Ju, I also find it at least a little interesting that Obama referred to "five pillars" in his plan, a term Muslims would instantly recognize.
Now, it may be I'm just another paranoid in the world of internet comment. Would these metaphors serve to cancel each other out?
I guess we'll just have to stay tuned.
By , at
Thu Apr 16, 03:24:00 PM:
Are the Jesuits getting wimpy?
Yes.
Next question?
By , at
Thu Apr 16, 06:06:00 PM:
I doubt the request was even made.
But that can be answered in the realm of fact so we will soon know.
It looks to me as if Obama couldn't win with such a petty request. And he couldn't have hired aides so stupid as to make it for him.
But those questions can also be answered with facts. And betting against stupidity is for the bold.
I think it more probable that someone at the university got the bright idea. There isn't much academics won't do.
If O was really trying to destroy Christianity would he telegraph his punches?
That would turn many totally against him. And those who would welcome that destruction are probably already for him.
K
By , at
Fri Apr 17, 01:19:00 AM:
...The evil secularist White House drones didn't seem to get to those...Apparently, neither did the video cameras. Curious that.
By , at
Fri Apr 17, 08:46:00 AM:
Has anyone else noticed that the "christian" President Obama is thinking, talking, and ACTING exactly like a muslim........?
Is this a coincidence? I think not.
By Georg Felis, at
Fri Apr 17, 09:26:00 AM:
Actually (frightening as it may be) I can see CC’s point on this (look carefully, its buried). If photographers were throwing themselves on the floor in order to get a photo of Ashcroft with that “exposed” statue behind him, imagine how many contortions they would go thru in order to get Obama framed in the picture with some strange-looking religious artwork. He is probably better off getting minor flack for covering up anything that might make a “good” photo than getting caught looking goofy (again).
