Frontier India Current Affairs

Written on May 14, 2008 – 7:05 pm | by FICA |

Over a century ago, H.G. Wells issued his warning, “History is a race between education and catastrophe.” According to C.W. Griffin, author of the compelling new book “Ignorance Is Strength: The Fundamentalist Assault On American Freedom”, catastrophe is currently leading the race by miles.

“Ignorance Is Strength” examines what Griffin calls the “unholy alliance between Christian evangelicals and Republican plutocrats.”

“They form the nation’s first religiously based national party,” says Griffin, “dedicated to government by and for the rich, institution of a moral dictatorship of the busybodies and subversion of the founders’
constitutional separation of church and state.”

Its title a reference to one of Big Brother’s slogans in the legendary dystopian novel 1984, “Ignorance Is Strength” shows how the fundamentalist Republican party has deliberately promoted the “dumbing of America.” While waging war in the Middle East, the party is also waging war against science, by discrediting the teaching of evolution and denouncing the use of contraceptives to prevent STDs and unwanted pregnancies. It preaches what Griffin refers to as “a gospel of primitive fear.”

According to Griffin, Republican fundamentalists rely on Looking-Glass logic and political correctness to “intimidate and silence their critics.” He explains; If you dare to criticize a fundamentalist (or other true-believing Christian) for his views on abortion, contraception, stem-cell research, evolution, gay rights, scriptural infallibility, or any other political or religious issue, you are denounced as an anti-religious bigot. Professed religious conviction has always insulated believers from criticism.

“President Bush’s political guru, Karl Rove, and other Vietnam draft dodgers have reversed the concept of patriotism,” says Griffin. “Flag-waving Republican cheerleaders who ducked military service are
patriotic heroes; Democratic military heroes are possible traitors.”

“Ignorance Is Strength” is written for politically involved, intellectually curious people who are appalled at the election of a “simple-minded, born-again president” and who are “determined restore democratic values and to combat the dummies who continue to support the fundamentalist-Republican party.”

C.W. Griffin is a retired consulting engineer and freelance writer published in Harper’s, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, The Nation, The Progressive, Saturday Review of Literature and The Reporter. He is also the author of 10 other books, including “Taming the Last Frontier: A Prescription for the Urban Crisis,” “Cleaning Out Congress: The Case for Term Limits” and “Crucified by Pontius Pilate.”