Congratulations to the new American Messiah!

May 4, 2004 8:00 PM

"They have declared to all Heaven and Earth that Reverend Sun Myung Moon is none other than humanity's Savior, Messiah, Returning Lord and True Parent. This resolution has been announced on every corner of the globe." That includes the corner housed by the Dirksen Senate Office Building, where your tax dollars kept the lights on for Moon's coronation as King of Peace. Bow to your new leader, Americans! (via two doors down)
posted by PrinceValium (50 comments total)

It doesn't get much creepier than this.
posted by blucevalo at 8:06 PM on May 4, 2004

[more inside] from my 6 minute late FPP:

The Reverend Sun Myung Moon is a mysterious character. Despite referring to gays as "dirty dung eating dogs," he managed to attract Senator Mark Dayton, noted supporter of gay rights, to one of his events. Despite his extremist views and bizarre statements regarding the problem of Satan "clinging to our sexual organs," he has managed to receive bipartisan praise on the floor of Congress.

Why? Are our leaders so desperate for power that they're willing to compromise their views to gain support from Moon's Unification Church's Washington Times newspaper and UPI news agency? Have they been misled about Rev. Moon and his objectives? Or will they just show up anywhere they get an invitation to appear?
posted by punishinglemur at 8:10 PM on May 4, 2004

By the way, I know a very similar headline was posted to Metafilter last month, but this material is completely new.
posted by inksyndicate at 8:11 PM on May 4, 2004

Or will they just show up anywhere they get an invitation to appear?

Maybe they thought the invitation to "meet The King" meant somebody finally pulled Elvis out from Area 51.
posted by mr.marx at 8:14 PM on May 4, 2004

I was wondering when he'd come back. Did I miss the Rapture?
posted by mr_crash_davis at 8:23 PM on May 4, 2004

Perhaps as owner of the Washington Times and UPI (not what it was) combined with a history of anti-communism is what attracts the politicians? Perhaps it is his money? Maybe it is his political actions of the past?

Whatever it is, it is no wonder that politicians show up at such things. They are always attracted to influence and power.
posted by infowar at 8:25 PM on May 4, 2004

Unfortunately, as I hinted in the AskMe post, it's unlikely that this or any other blatant Establishment Clause violation within the federal government will ever be litigated. Michael Newdow, of Pledge of Allegiance fame, suffered a dismissal of his suit that sought an injunction against prayer at the next presidential inauguration. As a mere taxpayer unhappy with federal policy, his injury wasn't specific enough to make him a proper plantiff in federal court. His Pledge of Allegiance claim may also be dimissed by the Supreme Court for the same reason, since he does not have controlling custody over his daughter whose injury he raises on her behalf.

I attended Bush's inauguration - thanks to a well-connected friend working for a senator - and stood through Franklin Graham's prayer as well as the Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell's benediction:

We respectfully submit this humble prayer in the name that's above all other names, Jesus, the Christ. Let all who agree say, "Amen."

Everyone around me said "Amen" and I said nothing. It was my initiation into second-class citizenship.

The Congressmen who organized the Moon event could have easily booked a ballroom at the Washington Marriott. The fact that it was held in the Capitol complex is not only symbolic; it is a slap in the face to first amendment principles and a snide laugh at those of us who are basically powerless to do anything about it.
posted by PrinceValium at 8:33 PM on May 4, 2004

See, if Moon had thrown this party at a ballroom (he typically uses the Sheraton), he wouldn't have been able to recruit people by claiming that the U.S. Congress named him the Messiah.
posted by inksyndicate at 8:38 PM on May 4, 2004

Holy shit, that's the scariest thing I've read in a while.
posted by Hall at 8:48 PM on May 4, 2004

Most of the time I really respect American government, political traditions and society. Sometimes I have no idea what to say about what's going on down there.
posted by loquax at 8:57 PM on May 4, 2004

This is just begging for an 'overlord' comment, but I can't stop shuddering enough to do it.
posted by snarfodox at 9:06 PM on May 4, 2004

punishinglemur - So, doesn't Satan cling to your genitals?

Do male angels have balls?

Does Moon have a disgusting amount of influence in US government?

Are US gov. officials clinging to his genitals?
posted by troutfishing at 9:32 PM on May 4, 2004

PrinceValium - Great catch.

Pop a few for me.
posted by troutfishing at 9:33 PM on May 4, 2004

Oh, and.......WTF ?

Why is some guy blowing a shofar in the Moon coronation pics?
posted by troutfishing at 9:36 PM on May 4, 2004

I know, I think the shofar is only to be used on the High Holy Days. But Moon has a posse of Jews, Muslims and Christians who follow him around and say he's the Messiah. It's all very sentimental and has to do with people of different religions hugging each other.
posted by inksyndicate at 9:40 PM on May 4, 2004

What are you people doing down there?

First you dump tea in a harbour to rid yourselves of monarchy, and now you're crowning new ones.

And this is a very inefficient use of public funds. Why didn't you just ask the Windsors back? They already have their own crowns and everything, and the Queen heads her own church as well. But noOOoOoO, you have to be so difficult about it all.
posted by Salmonberry at 9:42 PM on May 4, 2004

Moon isnt that myserious, he believes he's the messiah and the end-times are coming. He also is fucking wealthy and a lot of politicians are on his payroll. A lot of conservatives share his end-times philosophy and anti-gay bigotry.

The media elites do a good job covering for them, but sometimes stuff like this gets loose and you get to see how easily bought our elected officials are.

I wonder how the Xtian base is going to handle this. That is if they ever get to hear about it.

Moon also owns the highly conservative pro-bush Washington Times.

Moon is also in bed with Falwell.

There's a lot of info here.

Hopefully, these images will help inform people about Moon and the politicians he more or less owns.
posted by skallas at 9:50 PM on May 4, 2004

I think the only thing that would scare me more is if Dark David Miscavige, commandant of the $cientology freaks, were to be made King.
posted by five fresh fish at 9:57 PM on May 4, 2004

I'm just going to have to hold this stinking mass of shit up to my Born-Again brother's nose.
posted by troutfishing at 10:10 PM on May 4, 2004

Ooh, David Mascavige...(shudder)
posted by inksyndicate at 11:13 PM on May 4, 2004

That's harbor to you, redcoat.
posted by dfowler at 8:23 AM on May 5, 2004

It's a sad condemnation of our nation's top journalists that this isn't on front pages everywhere with the headline "YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, ON GOVERNMENT PROPERTY, KISS COMPLETE FREAKING WACKO'S ASS."
posted by soyjoy at 8:52 AM on May 5, 2004

Seriously, people. Everyone should write to their local newspaper demanding coverage of this story. It's so FUCKING CRAZY that someone will bite.

I'm sending notes to the Boston Globe and Boston Phoenix today. Who's with me?

I might also write an Op-Ed about it, too.

And I'm going to send something to Jim Romenesko and the folks at Project Censored.
posted by Sidhedevil at 8:59 AM on May 5, 2004

Sorry, I meant Jim Romenesko.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:00 AM on May 5, 2004

I've written to Romenesko. Got the Memory Hole to run it.
posted by inksyndicate at 9:35 AM on May 5, 2004

One thing to consider, when looking at this as a censored story, is that the only mention of this in a non-Moon publication, in the Washington Post, was scrubbed from their website before the paper hit the streets.

Now that's some serious censorship, when something like this happens and the only mention, in the Post, is suspiciously deleted.
posted by inksyndicate at 9:56 AM on May 5, 2004

It's not that I think someone should assassinate Sun Myung Moon. It's just that I don't understand why no one has.
posted by kindall at 10:04 AM on May 5, 2004

kindall: I don't understand why no one has.

Because its wrong and won't make an ounce of difference. There are thousands of people in the world right now calling themselves messiah and more importantly, millions who are searching for them. If you want Moon to go away you need to confront his followers, discredit religion in general, and develop some burden of proof for ridiculous claims.
posted by skallas at 10:19 AM on May 5, 2004

Nothing wrong with people running around calling themselves the Messiah.

This is a church and state issue, and one of potential hypocrisy on the part of Congressmen claiming to be supporting traditional values, while endorsing an ex-con cult leader who throws "tear down the cross" parties as the Messiah.
posted by inksyndicate at 10:28 AM on May 5, 2004

Bizarre.

This news.google.com search says that the phrase "Reverend Sun Myung Moon is none other than humanity's Savior, Messiah" appears here.

Can you see it?
posted by dash_slot- at 10:44 AM on May 5, 2004

There are some 17000+ MeFi members. The majority of them are, I believe, American.

That's enough people to start making a difference.

MeFi Americans: Take Back Your Country! There's obviously something deeply wrong with your government. This incident is but one example.

Please make a difference. Start informing people. Start pressuring your local media to run stories like this. It can be as simple as a letter to the editor, a printout tossed on the company lunchtable, a notice up on a coffeeshop bulletin board. The first steps need not be onerous.
posted by five fresh fish at 10:45 AM on May 5, 2004

Can you see it?

dash, that's what inksyndicate is talking about, above.
posted by soyjoy at 10:48 AM on May 5, 2004

Testify, FFF!
posted by inksyndicate at 11:19 AM on May 5, 2004

dash_slot-, Google News is only in beta. It's prone to spout off random, menacing phrases, and to attribute them falsely to major news outlets.

Maybe the leader will notice me! I love the leader.
/homer
posted by stonerose at 11:36 AM on May 5, 2004

oh, I know what inky was saying - but I'm saying that google still points there, when the words are absent. stonerose gets it.
posted by dash_slot- at 11:48 AM on May 5, 2004

Right, right...I think Google News recorded the first version of the story. It's also in the first version of the story to hit the "Nexis" news archive.
posted by inksyndicate at 12:15 PM on May 5, 2004

I wrote to Howard Ford who is on the invite list asking him what exactly was going on there. I will go down the invite list and ask everyone else what the hell was going on as well.
posted by jessamyn at 12:26 PM on May 5, 2004

Because its wrong and won't make an ounce of difference.

I know that, and you know that, but I'm just shocked that there isn't at least one person in the world who doesn't know that.
posted by kindall at 12:30 PM on May 5, 2004

If you are a U.S. Congressman, what the hell is going through your head as you present a crown to the world's most notorious living cult leader and then proclaim him to be the King Of Peace? You see the cameras. You know he's going to give a long speech about how he's the second coming of Christ. He's going to talk about how all religious and government officials have bowed down to him.

What the hell are you thinking?

Did I miss a memo? Is it now the responsibility of all elected officials to make this country look dumber than dirt?
posted by y6y6y6 at 3:18 PM on May 5, 2004

"There's obviously something deeply wrong with your government."

The last four years have left me with the feeling that we are indeed living through the End of Days. But rather than Armageddon, it's going to be some sort of hemispheric "Keystone Cops" revival.

Dude........ We *elected* these people.
posted by y6y6y6 at 3:23 PM on May 5, 2004

I really don't understand what is going through their minds -- some slippery slope of self-rationalizations, starting with, "Everyone else does it."

Someone on FreeRepublic claims this has been going on for years.
posted by inksyndicate at 3:41 PM on May 5, 2004

fff: There's obviously something deeply wrong with your government.

There has always been, really. Now thanks to the internet and a lot of political busybodies we get to see a glimpse of what happens behind the media's curtain.
posted by skallas at 4:08 PM on May 5, 2004

Is it now the responsibility of all elected officials to make this country look dumber than dirt?

We *elected* these people.

If one follows the syllogism, than I think this stands as proof that yes, yes this country is now dumber than dirt.

(I say that knowing full well that there are those who will:

a) label me as a hater of America/terra_ist,

b) point out that I have only pushed them further from progressive or liberal values, and its my fault they support such asinine behavior,

c) tell me to love it or leave it,

and d) prove that they are really and truly dumber than dirt.)
posted by Wulfgar! at 4:52 PM on May 5, 2004

That may be a very telling point, skallas. The Internet is kind of like shining a flashlight under the refrigerator: you can see all the cockroaches scurry about.
posted by five fresh fish at 5:38 PM on May 5, 2004

The revealing part is when you shine a flashlight at the cockroaches...and they just stay there. It's humbling, and really changes the way you look at the media. It turns out they will only write about the cockroaches if a powerful bug wants them written about.
posted by inksyndicate at 5:49 PM on May 5, 2004

Maybe it gives Bush more ammo to rag on Congress. After all Bush speaks with god/jesus doesn't he? Couldn't he get to the bottom of this?
posted by infowar at 6:05 PM on May 5, 2004

I'm saying that google still points there, when the words are absent. stonerose gets it.

Yeah, thanks, I get it too. You mean you've never clicked on a Google news link and found the right page but with a different headline than the one you clicked on? The results page doesn't represent what the page looks like at the instant you're doing the search, it shows what the page looked like when indexed. There's nothing remarkable on the Google side of things: The item was in that Washington Post column when it posted, and was subsequently removed.
posted by soyjoy at 9:49 PM on May 5, 2004

The rabbi seems to be wearing a Lubavitcher fedora. If I know anything, I know my Hasidic hats. Lubavitch is the sect that announced that their Rabbi, Rebbe Menachem Mendel Scheerson, was the messiah. After Shneerson died, some continue to think he will rise out of the grave and proclaim the messianic era. I'm not surprised that one showed up to blow the shofar. Messianism can mess with your head.

Now, question is, Moon is getting really old. What happens after he dies? Money + religion + politics + kim chee = bad medicine.
posted by zaelic at 9:43 AM on May 6, 2004

Very interesting, I'll have to read more about the Lubavitches.
posted by inksyndicate at 1:39 PM on May 6, 2004

Lubavitch is the sect that announced that their Rabbi, Rebbe Menachem Mendel Scheerson, was the messiah.

That view was fairly common among the Lubavitch (and still exists to some extent), but I'm pretty sure it was never 'announced,' or in any way made official; nor was it universally held.

Also - any rabbi who even hinted that Moon was the Messiah would almost certainly excommunicated, and promptly.
posted by kickingtheground at 2:13 PM on May 6, 2004