Trump's Response to COVID-19

Sure I do. My life is lame and boring without Hip Forums. Without you folks all I have left is sex and drinking.

 

Sorry... I don't recall.

 

FYI, as of yesterday, the US death rate from the virus was ~ 2%.
Just a little perspective.

 

BINGO!

 

Coronavirus is very contagious and we have no vaccine or anti-viral medicine for it at this time. We only have remedy treatment for the high fever and ventilators for pneumonia. In 48 months this virus could cut the human population on planet Earth by a considerable amount. Fauci is correct. Pelosi is correct. Trump is inept.

 

So post the text and byline.

 

That would be close to 7 million people.

 

Think he means of those infected, hoss.

 

Yea, but lately what someone means is to be ignored in favor of examining only their exact words.

 

Correct

 

can't find it, but there is this one.

NY Times Column Blames Evangelicals for 'Coronavirus Hell'

 

Being the spiritual person that I am, I believe Mother Nature is applying karma to humans. You know humans, the ones who have fucked up the planet. The world is overpopulated.
Hoka hey.

 

Stewart, a journalist and the author of "The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism," noted "Trump rose to power with the determined assistance of a movement that denies science, bashes government, and prioritized loyalty over professional expertise. In the current crisis, we are all reaping what that movement has sown."

She adds the "denial of science and critical thinking among religious ultraconservatives now haunts the American response to the coronavirus crisis."

Stewart cites statements from several evangelical leaders who are close with Trump, such as Guillermo Maldonado, who said "Do you believe God would bring his people to his house to be contagious with the virus? Of course not."

She also quotes Rodney Howard-Browne of The River at Tampa Bay Church in Florida, who called people worried about the disease "pansies," and Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr., who said the response to the coronavirus was "overreacting," and said it was an "attempt to get Trump."

Stewart notes, "By all accounts, President Trump's tendency to trust his gut over the experts on issues like vaccines and climate change does not come from any deep-seated religious conviction. But he is perfectly in tune with the religious nationalists who form the core of his base. In his daily briefings from the White House, Mr. Trump actively disdains and contradicts the messages coming from his own experts and touts as yet unproven cures."

The article is full of the stuff I'd expect. One is the claim of "denial of science" which so many leftists use as "proof" of the backwardness of "evangelicals" (which I assume is meant to portray ALL Christians; a stupid and bigoted perspective). She also attacks their "critical thinking" skills, since they are so different from her own (textbook prejudice).

I was amused she used a Florida church as a corner post of her claim. I've seen some really weird shit in Florida churches. The very best was a pastor who recited scripture, while wrestling an alligator. Then she quotes Fallwell's brat, a guy who doesn't come close to filling his father's shoes. Both are a tad obscure (other than name recognition).

What she doesn't speculate on is why this went so far out of whack in Spain, Italy and Iran (a very religious fundamental nation). I'm fairly sure all 3 are way too arrogant to listen to Trump's advice even if it's actually good.

I realize with Pence in tow, Trump is obviously aligning with religious interests. But I see it more as a balancing act on his part. Trump is probably more apt to think of himself as a God than to embrace a church and he knows it. So pulling in Pence was just a tactic for winning a massive segment of the population that continues to be ridiculed and alienated by the left, to their detriment. Trump is using them and they're practically tithing to buy his act.

To be honest, this "article" seems more like a way to plug her book, published earlier this month. Religious people are easy targets since so few will actually defend themselves and their faith (like Muslins for example). Does anyone remember how "evangelicals" worshiped Carter?

Nice catch by the way.

 

I don't think that you can deny that evangelicals are afraid of science because science might prove that "god" does not exist.
I am still waiting for an evangelical to tell me what "god" looks like. Black, and white evangelicals believe that "god" looks like them. What if it doesn't?
I can get into a long dissertation on religion.

 

Opinion | The Religious Right’s Hostility to Science Is Crippling Our Coronavirus Response
“The Road to Coronavirus Hell Was Paved by Evangelicals.” Katherine Stewart, the author of the article, says; “Trump’s response to the pandemic has been haunted by the science denialism of his ultraconservative religious allies.”
She claims: “Donald Trump rose to power with the determined assistance of a movement that denies science, bashes government and prioritized loyalty over professional expertise. In the current crisis, we are all reaping what that movement has sown.” During times of crisis, it's unfortunately been SOP to scapegoat this or that group for blame: Nero blaming Christians for the fire in Rome, Christians blaming Jews for the Black Plague, etc. True to form, Evangelical preacher Ralph Dollinger, founder of CapitoI Ministries, says COVID-19 is God's punishment for LGBTQs. Ms Stewart thinks it's the fault of Evangelicals.

I think Ms. Stewart has gone off the deep end, although I think it's clear that Trump's earlier call to pack the churches for Easter cuz it's such a special day (subsequently explained away as merely "aspirational") was a shameless play to his Evangelical base. It is true that some prominent Evangelical preachers like Trumpsters Howard-Browne and Jerry Falwell, Jr. have been outspoken Covid-19 skeptics and minimizers(some students at Fallwell's Liberty University have been less than enthusiastic about returning to satisfy his stubborn virus denial.) It is also true that certain pockets of evangelical Christians trust in faith healing and eschew doctors--e.g., the Church of the First Born, not to mention Christian Scientists. It is also true that a recent Pew Research poll found that "Most white evangelicals don’t think COVID-19 poses a major threat to Americans’ health."Most white evangelicals satisfied with Trump’s initial response to the COVID-19 outbreak The problem is overgeneralizing from the beliefs of some to all, and holding Evangelicals responsible for what Trump thinks they believe. In cases involving racial and religious discrimination, the Supreme Court applies "strict scrutiny". We should do the same when it comes to blanket statements concerning religious groups. Jimmy Carter is an Evangelical Christian, too!

 

No actually, I don't buy this argument at all. After all, evolution is clearly a gift from God!

 

Shaman goes on and on about disease(s) emanating from homeless camps. While that is true, I can stay in a cabin in the wilderness, pick up a case of hantavirus, and die.

 

Hahahaha

 

An astute point. For centuries God has been presented as the image we are created from. This was likely to simplify the concept for the less-enlightened. Same as angels and demons. Most religions apply a human model to their God(s) in some manner.

I personally think the creation of hell has been the single most detrimental aspect of religion overall (and NO, I'm not saying hell exists in all faiths). But hell is a great way for a church, which has to rely on communities to exist, to manipulate both ignorant peasants and kings alike. People were made to climb mountains and towers to buy an "indulgence" from the church to avoid going to hell since there was no way they were ever going to completely give up sin (human nature steps in).

But think about this; to a non-corporeal being, where we are now is exactly hell!

My favorite flick on the subject is Dogma, a must see.

 

Is it only offered by the case? Not a 6-pack?