- 30 September 2009
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- 14 Comments
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- US-Iran War
Open Thread: What the heck is Glenn Beck talking about?
30 September 2009 Posted By Patrick Disney
Glenn Beck and his guest make some pretty outlandish claims about Iran in this video, including:
- Ayatollah Khomeini banned Twelver Shiism in post-revolution Iran;
- Jesus is a “deputy” of the Hidden Imam who will force people to convert to Islam at the end of days;
- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is hastening the apocalypse by planning a genocidal war against the Judeo-Christian world; and
- Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is a “secret, closet Twelver Shiite.”
We’d like to hear your thoughts. Comments are welcome in the section below (h/t EA).
[youtube=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEBQto4wpJk”]
14 Responses to “Open Thread: What the heck is Glenn Beck talking about?”
And I thought italian television was the worst ever…
Mr Beck is a lunatic of the highest order.
That’s exactly what’s going on in a theology regime of Iran. And the
American adminstration is trying to connect with these medieval people
who are representing the Iranian people in the world. I am sure there is
some truth into that faction of shite Islam who are awaiting the resurrection
of Imam Mehdi.
For a man without a college education, for a man who falsely claims his mother committed suicide (when she really drowned) for the sake of pity, for a man who made his way up through shock-jock radio, I can’t say that I’m surprised Beck has his facts wrong on the intricacies of Iranian politics and Shiia Islam.
Read Salon’s excellent expose on the man:
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2009/09/21/glenn_beck/index.html
God… save us from ALL religions.
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A fine example of rich and educational program offered on TV in this great nation, the USA.
Mehrdad
I think he’s talking about the Hojjatiyeh, but even the theological position of the Hojjatiyeh is misunderstood by the general public.
And Ahmadinejad and his clique of the IRGC follow Ayatollah Mesbah-Yazdi, but their position is significantly different than what’s attributed to them.
And when has Glenn Beck ever been a credible source of news? Still, this kind of misinformation is dangerous given the reach FOX has.
Someone get the scissors, the ‘wingers need clipping.
On theology… In my opinion, religion is a crutch, a goad, and a lure.
Perhaps it began as a way to explain the world, or to establish a reason for methods of behavior. It frequently asks for blind belief, for things that have no proof beyond words on a page. The proper term is “propaganda”.
Why do we need a heaven? A hell? Call them carrot and stick, it means the same thing. In some ways, priests and clerics are the most powerful people in the world, because simple sense and religion seldom dwell together.
Be they many or be they few, be good to those whose life you touch. No one can tell all that they will do after.
Beck is a nothing but a goon.
Truth and integrity mean nothing to people of his ilk, it’s about making outrageous statements and smears, and raking in the dollars – last year it was $23 million.
His style of politics was pioneered by Karl Rove who used fringe groups as political hit men to scare the crap out of the general public with crazy statements, all the while the Rove politicians would be speaking more moderately but the net effect is to hijack discourse to the right.
See most recently: the birthers, the kill grandma/death panels discussion in health-care, the indignation over corruption at ACORN (meanwhile billions of dollars wasted by no-bid-contract Halliburton etc. over the years doesn’t rate a mention).
The nonsense Back spouts in this clip is typical, Repubs in general will be on the invade-evil-Iran warpath for a few months now I think, even if they don’t believe it’s the right thing to do. It hijacks debate and undermines Obama, and that’s how they roll.
Obviously I think Glenn Beck was totally off in his attempt at exploring Shii political theory. He really is way over his head and there are many complicated theological matters he should study more before pretending to talk with any authority. Maybe he should try reaching out to Shii intellectuals in American such as Mohsen Kadivar or Abdolkarim Soroush, but I don’t think he will.
Yet perhaps just as sad is the fact that this is the closest the mainstream media has gotten to looking deeper into Shii Islamic theology. The result is a testament not only to Beck, but also the entire media. The blogosphere is the only legitimate source of new anymore and the media outlets are all jokes.
What Beck reported is true to a great deal – sadly and unfortunately. Ahamadinejad and his associates (i.e. Mesbah Yazdi) do believe in the kind of outrageous ideology rooted in a historical make belief, mostly strengthened in the last 500 years but generally since early days of Islam. It is so sad that all this is constantly said in the name of Iran, and not as much in the name of Islamic Fundamentalism, Shia Islam, fanaticism or middle age lunaticism.
Twelver Shiism is the most common Shii’ism in the world. Just like in Christianity there is the belief that a Messiah will come at the end of days, so there is in Shiism.
Beck and his guest were confusing Twelvers with the Hojjatiyeh. The Hojattiyeh, of which Ahmadinejad is likely a part, feel like they have a closer relationship with the Mahdi. Personally, from what I’ve heard of the Hojjatiye, I find their beliefs a little off the wall–just like many evangelicals in this country.
Bottom line is, regardless of what Ahmadinejad’s religious beliefs are, Khamenei still calls the shots on foreign policy (even after the post-election crisis).
I go to your website on occasion and I must say that I like your template!