tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008342146882521107.post3213213196457974399..comments2008-02-29T06:49:14.311-08:00Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01351891177619986073noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008342146882521107.post-43946663302845504712008-02-29T06:49:00.000-08:002008-02-29T06:49:00.000-08:00Oops. I see one of my links was truncated in my earlier post. Try<BR/><BR/>http://tinyurl.com/2gwejx<BR/><BR/>instead of the "onegoodmove" link above.Dead Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236155642225874490noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008342146882521107.post-60134962611627938802008-02-28T15:37:00.000-08:002008-02-28T15:37:00.000-08:00I've never been a Baptist or fundamentalist, but I think the comparison of Baptists to the Muslims in Iraq is an unfair one. It may be due to the more open and pluralistic American society, but the dialog of the fundamentalists, although fiery, rarely reaches the heights (or depths if you will) of their fundamentalist Muslim counterparts in the Middle East. And certainly, there's no comparison in the amount of religious violence going on here or there.Danthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10337551231302509162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7008342146882521107.post-43994786126009617312008-02-28T11:19:00.000-08:002008-02-28T11:19:00.000-08:00"I believe that the dark and divisive days of the past 25 years are in their death spiral...i believe we are beginning to get tired of divisiveness..."<BR/><BR/>You are far more optimistic than I. I feel the American news media is driven by money and the news media thrives on conflict. A perfect example of media hyped conflict can be seen in the election today. I think the Daily Show hit it on the head in January with this particular storyline:<BR/><BR/>http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2008/01/media_madness.html<BR/><BR/>The same is true of religion. The news media relies heavily on religious conflict. That appears to have fostered a general distaste for religion amongst the American public as seen in recent poll results.<BR/><BR/>http://religions.pewforum.org/reports<BR/><BR/>At the same time, extremists in organizations on both sides gain more control as moderates distance themselves from the organizations. This leads to even more open conflict and general apathy by the moderates in the middle. A vicious feedback is created that the news media continues to encourage.<BR/><BR/>The only way out of the cycle is to have a large, educated, informed, moderate populace who is willing to make their voices heard over the ever increasing din caused by the news media.<BR/><BR/>I, unfortunately, do not see that day coming anytime soon.Dead Fredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15236155642225874490noreply@blogger.com