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April 04, 2005
Poping Ain't EZ
The world loves it some John Paul II, huh? The nation hasn't seen this level of posthumous media spectacle since Reagan kicked off last summer. Don't get me wrong: when the spiritual leader of 17% of the world's population dies, it's newsorthy, no questions asked. But you got to love the way the cable networks are fighting to see who can pander, genuflect and grovel more completely. I got CNN (aka PNN) on in the background, and right now they're asking a nun just how often John Paul II prayed. I mean, come the fuck on. All Pope, all the time? What about all the other stuff going on?
Popey did a lot of good stuff - mobilzed Catholic support against the death penalty, constantly advocated for peace and freedom - and that's real. But he was also a real heavy arch-conservative when it came to contraception, a woman's right to choose and gay civil rights. It's important to keep that in mind.
Here's ace Washington Post reporter Dan Froomkin writing about the significance of Bush's reaction - lowering the flags, going to the funeral, etc. It is, how you say... real speak?
Posted by caps at April 4, 2005 01:18 PM