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2011-12-14 Home Front: Culture Wars
Hysteria: A Tebow Super Bowl Win Could Lead to Mosque Burnings, Gay Bashing
From jammie wearing fool.
Hmm, let's see. None if this happened after 9/11, but what the heck, with Tebow-mania sweeping the nation, who knows how rowdy those Broncos fans could become?

I admit I've been tempted to bust some things up when my New York Giants lose tough games, and I was perilously close to calling for mass deportation after that DeSean Jackson fiasco last December. But really, is a man who causes such inspiration capable of unknowingly inciting mass violence?

For all the Tebow analysis from non-football types, this may be the dumbest.

People are always looking for signs of God's beneficence, and a victory by the Orange Crush over the blue-clad Patriots, from the bluest of blue states, will give fodder to a Christian revivalism that has already turned the Republican presidential race into a pander-thon to social conservatives, rekindling memories of those cultural icons of the '80s, the Moral Majority and "Hee Haw." The culture wars are alive and well, and, if the current climate in Washington is any indicator, the motors are being revved up for what will undoubtedly be the most cantankerous Presidential campaign ever. When supposedly well-educated candidates publicly question overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change and evolution and then gain electoral traction by fabricating conspiracies about a war on Christmas, these are not rational times.

Into the middle of it all rides Tebow. Absolutely confident that God is on his side, he comes across as a humbler version of the biblical Joseph, who, in this week's Torah portion, audaciously lays claim to being the Chosen One, and then goes out and proves it. Tebow's sanctimonious God-talk has led even pious peers like Kurt Warner to suggest that he cool it. Joseph could have used the same coaching.

If Tebow wins the Super Bowl, against all odds, it will buoy his faithful, and emboldened faithful can do insane things, like burning mosques, bashing gays and indiscriminately banishing immigrants. While America has become more inclusive since Jerry Falwell's first political forays, a Tebow triumph could set those efforts back considerably.

Little of this insanity, mind you, has to do with Tebow himself. I admire much of what he stands for. His mom's decision to risk her own life rather than abort her fetus flies against my own -- and Judaism's -- values, but neither am I pro-choice in all cases. His story is so improbable that if he were to win it all, a part of me would be wondering whether there is a Purpose behind it, just as I saw a divine hand in the equally unbelievable Red Sox victory of 2004. And it makes me wonder whether other Jews, the ones who don't happen to have advanced degrees in religion and a few decades of rabbinic experience, might be even more seduced by this unfolding drama. Will legions of Southern Baptist missionaries hit the college campuses the very next day, spreading this new gospel of Tim? Already there is a "Jews for Tebow" Facebook page.

No, this wasn't some deranged satire from a Daily Kos post, but it's execrable nonetheless. Sad to see it's authored by a rabbi, who should know better. Such ugliness and bigotry should not be coming from such quarters. Sadly, this jerk seems to be infected with the disease known as liberalism.

Shameful.
People like this rabbi need to be openly mocked and ridiculed.
Posted by DarthVader 2011-12-14 10:46|| || Front Page|| [11143 views ]  Top

#1 With an 8-5 record, the Broncos have now taken the lead in the AFC West. Dunno about the the Moral Majority but, as a Raider fan, I'm already upset. Can somebody please stop this guy?
Posted by Ebbang Uluque6305 2011-12-14 11:49||   2011-12-14 11:49|| Front Page Top

#2 the Bronco's rate 31st in passing yardage in the NFL

its the defense that is keeping it in the game
Posted by Lord Garth 2011-12-14 12:30||   2011-12-14 12:30|| Front Page Top

#3 
Posted by DarthVader 2011-12-14 14:16||   2011-12-14 14:16|| Front Page Top

#4 Any rabbi who sees God's hand in some baseball victory (the Red Sox are a baseball team, yes? And not some other sport I also don't follow?) is a few candles short of a menorah.

And it makes me wonder whether other Jews, the ones who don’t happen to have advanced degrees in religion and a few decades of rabbinic experience

You know what they call the rabbinic student who graduated dead last in his class? "Rabbi", just like the one's who did well and got jobs with high-paying congregations.
Posted by trailing wife 2011-12-14 14:41||   2011-12-14 14:41|| Front Page Top

#5 LOL.

Angels or Guardian Angels are for Baseball - wid Football, ITS GOD HIMSELF OR NOTHIN.
Posted by JosephMendiola 2011-12-14 18:53||   2011-12-14 18:53|| Front Page Top

#6 From Rabbi Hammerman's personal blog:

The piece has been taken down and I apologize to all those whom it has offended. Some additional reflections will be forthcoming. Thank you.

Posted by Joshua Hammerman 1 comments


It wasn't my comment he published, oddly enough, which suggests he got plenty of food for thought today -- a hopeful sign that he was able to learn that much.
Posted by trailing wife 2011-12-14 22:24||   2011-12-14 22:24|| Front Page Top

#7 He's just FUN to watch. You can't predict him at the end of the game. And he's motivated the entire team. Remember Kurt Warner? He was a great player, but he caused everyone to BELIEVE. Tebow might not be ready, or ever be great. But he makes people BELIEVE.
Posted by Charles 2011-12-14 22:31||   2011-12-14 22:31|| Front Page Top

#8 Darth, thats great.

People offended? You showed yourself to be a lunatic, the most offended are likely your family and congregation. Leagues of degrees and years experience, fat lot of good it did ya you twit.

Really, all that brain power and don't you know who I am enthusiasm channeled into a piece like this; Hee-Haw is as accurate portrayal of rural life as your ideas on, well, real life.

C'mon, man!
Posted by swksvolFF 2011-12-14 22:44||   2011-12-14 22:44|| Front Page Top

#9 EU6305, as a Chiefs fan I too have called the Broncos many names...never the bane-hammer of civilization though.

Looking at Denver's remaining schedule, your Raiders are going to have to win out.
Posted by swksvolFF 2011-12-14 23:26||   2011-12-14 23:26|| Front Page Top

14:34 Frank G
14:28 Melancholic
14:27 NoMoreBS
14:14 swksvolFF
14:12 swksvolFF
13:54 mossomo
13:51 mossomo
13:50 NoMoreBS
13:50 Abu Uluque
13:44 Abu Uluque
13:41 NoMoreBS
13:39 Abu Uluque
13:36 mossomo
13:36 swksvolFF
13:32 mossomo
13:26 Frank G
13:12 Regular joe
13:12 mossomo
13:11 swksvolFF
13:08 Abu Uluque
13:00 swksvolFF
12:59 Regular joe
12:55 Skidmark
12:53 Skidmark









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