Part II: Fear and Loathing at Philadelphia's BattleCry
By Sunsara Taylor
Truthdig.com
It began with fireworks so loud and startling I screamed. Lights and smoke followed and a few kids were pulled up on stage from the crowd. One was asked to read a letter.
This was the letter that opened the event. Its author was George Bush. Yes, the president of the United States sent a letter of support, greeting, prayer, and encouragement to the BattleCry event held at Wachovia Spectrum Stadium in Philadelphia on May 12. Immediately afterwards, a preacher took the mic and led the crowd to pray. Among other things, he asked them to "Thank god for giving us George Bush."
On his cue, about 17,000 youths from upwards of 2,000 churches across America and Canada directed their thanks heavenward in unison.
Throughout the three-and-a-half hours of BattleCry's first session, there was only one analogy that fit the experience: This must have been what it felt like to watch the Hitler Youth, filled with self-righteous pride, proclaim the supremacy of their beliefs and their willingness to shed blood for them.
And lest you think this is idle paranoia, BattleCry founder Ron Luce told the crowds the next morning (May 13) that he plans to launch a "blitzkrieg" in the communities, schools, malls, etc. against those who don't share his theocratic vision of society.
Blitzkrieg
Nothing like a little Nazi imagery to whip up the masses. (Editor's note: Commenter Vira (#9278) makes a valid point. "Blitzkrieg" is a German word-not Nazi, per se. And though the term is almost indelibly linked in the popular imagination to Nazi tactics, Wikipedia.org notes that the term "is used in many other non-military contexts.")
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/051406G.shtml#1