Terror, Perpetual War, and the Holy Empire in Bush’s Second Inaugural Speech
The Pharisee’s Fire Sermon: Terror, Perpetual War, and the Holy Empire in Bush’s Second Inaugural Speech
by Lila Rajiva
Not having had a chance to listen to the inaugural speech, I read it in transcript and was struck like everyone else by those ominous, symmetrical allusions to fire in it. . . . In Bush’s religio-political theater, fire isn’t a damp metaphoric squib but a powerful symbol, the leitmotif of the soaring neo-conservative soundtrack -- fire consuming the twin towers, fire as inspiration, and then fire as “freedom” crackling over the globe, warming its friends and incinerating its enemies. This isn’t vague bombast. The meanings are precise and meant to resonate with deep-rooted themes in American culture....
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Jan05/Rajiva0126.htm
by Lila Rajiva
Not having had a chance to listen to the inaugural speech, I read it in transcript and was struck like everyone else by those ominous, symmetrical allusions to fire in it. . . . In Bush’s religio-political theater, fire isn’t a damp metaphoric squib but a powerful symbol, the leitmotif of the soaring neo-conservative soundtrack -- fire consuming the twin towers, fire as inspiration, and then fire as “freedom” crackling over the globe, warming its friends and incinerating its enemies. This isn’t vague bombast. The meanings are precise and meant to resonate with deep-rooted themes in American culture....
http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Jan05/Rajiva0126.htm
Starmail - 26. Jan, 15:34
