ePublishing Works! For Authors for Readers

Blood Libel: If the metaphorical shoe fits… January 13, 2011

Political rhetoric… so not my thing.

But, when it comes to trashing someone’s imaginative use of words…

Well…   Read on at your own risk.

Sarah Palin’s early morning Facebook post, yesterday (In case you missed it).   “Journalists and pundits should not manufacture a blood libel that serves only to incite the very hatred and violence they purport to condemn.”   This “status update” is in response to accusations that imagery and rhetoric associated with her may have contributed to the recent Arizona violence.

But, blood libel?  Really, Ms Palin?

Blood libel (or libels), as you may already know, are allegations that a person or group engages in human sacrifice, often accompanied by the claim that the blood of victims is used in various rituals and/or acts of cannibalism.  Historically, the term has been used to falsely accuse Jews of using Christian children’s blood to prepare their Passover matzoh. This myth is said to have begun in Europe as early as the 12th century, perpetuated by the death of a small boy in England in 1144.  Please note, this is only a myth!  And, like fiction, myths are rarely true; but are almost always birthed and verbally perpetuated by those who desperately need it to be true.  Sound familiar?

Which brings us back to the crux of this post.

Metaphorically, Sarah Palin has it right.   The Press, the Right, the Left, the Talk Show Spewers, the special interest groups, are indeed sacrificing our Nation using the words of her people in various rituals and/or acts that cannibalize us; our time, our money, our energy and our economy for the single purpose of personal gain!

And this is not a myth, folks.

Its is sad commentary indeed, that we, as a Nation, would rather engage in fruitless playground mudslinging than putting shoulder to the wheel and set our economy to rights.  Stirred mud produces nothing but stink and sour. The men and women who actively fought and died, sacrificing all so that we might live free, deserve more than that from us. Come on America! Do what you do best; make our Nation, our world, our children’s future a better and safer place.

Engaging in anything less will truly be blood libel — the real, non-mythical kind.