Conviction Christians - Dinesh d'Souza

Dinesh D'Souza

Source: Wikipedia

Don't worry if you live outside the USA and have never heard of Dinesh d'Souza. His brand of fanatical right-wing extremist Christianity, obsessive opposition to Barack Obama and hysterical criticism and loathing of 'New Atheism' is completely irrelevant over here and readily recognised as the mark of a swivel-eyed loon with an agenda. In the USA, however, d'Souza has been an influential figure in increasingly right-wing, fundamentalist Christian, Republican politics.

He was a one-time adviser to Ronald Reagan, and is an influential political commentator, filmmaker, author and Christian apologist, and is affiliated to various right-wing and fundamentalist Christian organisations such as the American Enterprise Institute, the Heritage Foundation, the Hoover Institution, and the right-wing political journal, Policy Review. He was president of The King's College, a New York Christian School from 2010-2012, and has also written two Christian apologetics - What's So Great About Christianity (2002) and Life After Death: The Evidence (2007).

In 2007, d'Souza excelled himself with a book entitled The Enemy at Home: The Cultural Left and its Responsibility for 9/11 in which he attempted to blame the 'American Left' (i.e., anyone who isn't on the extreme right) for 9/11, arguing that Muslims don't hate America (i.e. the real, right-wing, America) but instead hate the 'moral licentiousness' (i.e., sexual freedom and women's rights) of the American liberal left. In effect, he was arguing that those who attacked America on 9/11 were on the same side of the political fence as d'Souza and his conservative allies and the best way to deter similar attacks in the future is for Americans to become more like the Muslim fundamentalists of Al Qaeda.

But now, d'Souza also has a criminal record, having been convicted of organizing illegal donations to the unsuccessful election campaign of a long-time Republican friend, Wendy Long, through a couple of bogus 'straw' accounts he created for the purpose. As Judge Richard Berman observed, “I’m not sure Mr. d'Souza gets it and it’s hard for me to discern any personal acceptance of responsibility in this case.” D'Souza had consistently and characteristically sought to put the blame for the prosecution on Barack Obama personally, arguing that it was politically motivated and mendacious, claims which Judge Berman dismissed with, "That's nonsense. Spin is what that is."

Judge Berman sentenced d'Souza, who pleaded guilty to the charge, to a $30,000 fine, five years probation, 8 months of which is to be spent in a community confinement center, and one day a week in community service during the probation period. During the trial the court was read a letter from d'Souza's estranged wife, whom he is in the process of divorcing, alleging that she had been the subject of physical abuse from him, that he had encouraged their daughter to lie in her submission to the court and that d'Souza had been having an adulterous relationship with another woman.

So here we see yet another example of how the fundamentalist Christian right selectively cherry-picks from the Bible to support their denial of rights to others while demanding privilege and power for the rich and powerful, and conveniently over-looking about the only passage in their Bible which spells out the relationship between a citizen and the government, in St Paul's instruction to the Romans:

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.

Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.

Romans 13:1-7

One wonders whether we will see new books from Dinesh d'Souza entitled Life After Crime: The Evidence, or What's So Great About Hypocrisy in a few years time.

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