Category: Politics
On Blood Libel
So the blood libel myth is in the news again, thanks to you know who. It’s generally agreed that the ex-governor of Alaska struck the wrong note in her defensive statement after the Tucson tragedy. But interpretations vary widely as to why she said “blood libel” and what she meant by it. The phrase “blood… More →
Posted on January 17, 2011 by Brook – 
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Politics, Religion | Tagged blood libel, Giffords, Jews
On Giffords
It seems like 2011 is starting out on a personal note. Here’s a post I wrote for Killing the Buddha about the Giffords shooting, but it’s really about my mom, who as most readers of MM will know, is a reporter in Tucson. The mythmaking surrounding the shooting is of course already out of control,… More →
Posted on January 11, 2011 by Brook – Leave a comment
Whatever Happened to Creation Care?
Before the election, the front-page New York Times story, “Climate Change Doubt is Tea Party Article of Faith,” quoted several supporters who claimed religious motivations for their climate skepticism: “Being a strong Christian,” said one, “I cannot help but believe the Lord placed a lot of minerals in our country and it’s not there to… More →
Posted on December 19, 2010 by Brook – Leave a comment
Politics, Religion | Tagged climate change, creation care, zombies
President MythBuster!
I’m so proud, our president is joining the mythbusting game.
Posted on December 10, 2010 by Brook – Leave a comment
Ground Zero, High and Low
I’ve avoided writing about this whole “ground zero mosque” fiasco simply because I was hoping it would drop out of public conversation. Seriously, you’re going to object to a house of worship in an American city? On patriotic grounds? Really? I hesitate even to link to these fearmongers, for fear of enhancing their cause. The… More →
Posted on August 17, 2010 by Brook – Leave a comment
Politics, Religion | Tagged Islam, Manhattan, Michael Bloomberg, pragmatism
Icon Update
MM can not resist the jaw-dropping Pope story of the day. According to the Christian Science Monitor, Pope Benedict has affirmed the authenticity of the much-maligned Shroud of Turin. The cloth, which has been scientifically dated to about 800 years ago, says the embattled head of the Catholic church, was nonetheless the actual garment of… More →
Posted on May 06, 2010 by Brook – 1 Comment
Politics, Religion | Tagged Catholicism, idolatry, Pope Benedict, Shroud of Turin
Idolatry Rocks
The worship of idols has been given a bad rap ever since the Bible’s golden calf. Putting your faith in earthly things, rather than heavenly ideas, was considered heretical, not to mention embarrassing and primitive. But as you might be able to tell from MM‘s obsessions with skulls, stones, and trees, I’m actually a big… More →
Posted on October 20, 2009 by Brook – 2 Comments
Politics, Religion | Tagged idolatry, Pope Benedict
Aftermath
The brilliant, devastating moments in “Aftermath”, the new play by Erik Jensen and Jessica Blank just opened at the New York Theatre Workshop, don’t strike you all at once. Rather, the details from the daily lives of Iraqi civilian-refugees since the beginning of the war that ravaged their country accumulate slowly and deftly, in words… More →
Posted on September 15, 2009 by Brook – 1 Comment
History, Politics | Tagged Aftermath, Erik Jensen, Iraq, Jessica Blank, New York Theatre Workshop
Birthers, and the Undead
This past weekend a loyal MM reader reminded me that I have as yet been mum on the topic of the “birthers,” and shame on me. They are, after all, one of the biggest purveyors of political misinformation since the Swift Boaters and more than deserved to be busted, debunked, and hopefully, defused. And I… More →
Posted on August 21, 2009 by Brook – Leave a comment
Politics | Tagged death panels
Independence Day debunking
As if to answer my prayers for mythography inspiration, the always-genius NPR program On The Media stepped into my vacation-induced void with their July 3rd program all about debunking national myths. Some of their debunking targets: Rosa Parks as meek older lady whose feet were just too tired to move to the back of the… More →
Posted on July 14, 2009 by Brook – 1 Comment
Politics | Tagged debunking, mythography, NPR
