While gathering material for a more detailed diary on a related topic, I came across a blog about Garrison Keillor’s visit to Highland Park Methodist Church, the President’s home church. I had to share it with you.
“I got some insight last week into who supports torture when I went down to Dallas to speak at Highland Park Methodist Church,” Mr. Keillor wrote. “It was spooky. I walked in, was met by two burly security men with walkie-talkies, and within 10 minutes was told by three people that this was the Bushes’ church and that it would be better if I didn’t talk about politics. I was there on a book tour for “Homegrown Democrat,” but they thought it better if I didn’t mention it. So I tried to make light of it: I told the audience, “I don’t need to talk politics. I have no need even to be interested in politics — I’m a citizen, I have plenty of money and my grandsons are at least 12 years away from being eligible for military service.” And the audience applauded! Those were their sentiments exactly. We’ve got ours, and who cares?
The Methodists of Dallas can be fairly sure that none of them will be snatched off the streets, flown to Guantanamo, stripped naked, forced to stand for 48 hours in a freezing room with deafening noise, so why should they worry? It’s only the Jews who are in danger, and the homosexuals and gypsies. The Christians are doing just fine. If you can’t trust a Methodist with absolute power to arrest people and not have to say why, then whom can you trust?”
Scott Parks in the Dallas Morning News blog
I have included only the Keillor quote as reported by Parks. Parks’ disparaging comments can be found at the link.
Note: Keillor is not known for political commentary, but since the 2000 election fiasco, he has become more openly and angrily critical of the Right and the Bush administration.