Moral Values-Authoritarian Code Words: Rev. William Alberts

[teryang]

On "Moral Values"
Code Words for Emerging Authoritarian Tendencies in Americans
By Rev. WILLIAM E. ALBERTS

http://www.counterpunch.org/alberts01012005.html

<Dr. Richard Lerner, professor of Applied Developmental Science at Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts writes of the "peril" represented by the emerging state-legitimized authoritarianism masked as "moral values": "I believe we are entering into an era of state-based definition of 'true' religion and of patriotism, one that admits of no legitimate dissension and that promises to be the only perspective framing public and political discourse." He continues, "Conformity, rigidity of thinking, intolerance, prejudice and ethnocentrism-the elements that Adorno, et al identified more than a half century ago as the defining features of the 'authoritarian personality'-are being embraced as the only truly American approach to our nation and the world. . . <snip>.

<The apparently growing authoritarian tendencies in Americans are seen in a recently published nationwide poll of attitudes toward Muslim Americans. The study revealed that "nearly half of all Americans surveyed said they think the US government should restrict the civil liberties of Muslim Americans." Conducted by Cornell University, the survey "also found that Republicans and people who describe themselves as highly religious were more apt to support curtailing liberties than Democrats or people who are less religious -a finding similar to that reported by the social scientists in their major study of prejudice and "the authoritarian personality" over 50 years ago. <snip>

Worthwhile article about the confluence of "Christocentric" intolerance and authoritarian traits. The pivotal role of gay bashing and freedom of religion (for christian fundamentalists only) evaluated for the political ugliness it is.

[Malva Zebrina]

1. Could not read the entire article

because the link did not allow it.

From the few paragraphs in your intro, I would say:

So, what's for lunch?

It is one thing for these types of papers, although seemingly erudite and rational,( and this one, indeed seems to be) to be published where few will read and take note, and quite another to take some action which is, at this time, imo, sorely needed.

[teryang]

2. Publication is action.

Words are acts. If one can dissect the dialectic, then one can delegitimize it. If one can delegitimize a perspective, one can defeat it.

This is what the right wing "think tanks" are all about.

Your critique is somewhat nihilistic.

[PowerToThePeople]

3. on-the-spot

Long piece, still reading it. But I have to say that it seems to be right "on-the-spot."