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Culture War Roundup for the week of February 3, 2025

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There's a similar thing with Trump but nowhere near to the same extent as it was for Obama

C'mon, are you kidding me with this?

I haven't seen any actual shrines to trump with candles and offerings at the alter, and I haven't seen any newspaper articles saying "Many spiritually advanced people I know identify Trump as a lightworker, that rare kind of attuned being who actually help usher in a new way of being on the planet"

So that's one level of crazy even his colloidal silver quaffing fans haven't reached yet. They just think he executed Hillary Clinton and replaced her with a clone as part of The Plan.

remember this creepy song/chant being taught to children: https://youtube.com/watch?v=Qp-ot_vChlU

I know people (unwillingly; they're in my neighborhood) who honestly think that if they can just manage to get Trump to pray for someone sick, said person will be healed. No shrines and prayer candles that I'm aware of, but I don't hang out at their house, either.

I mean to be fair, judging by all the prayer request chain emails I get from friends, they think this about a lot of people. There's some carcinisation features of folk religions that evolve over and over. In another fifty years I wouldn't be surprised to see Americans burning money at funerals so the deceased can tip St Peter the customary 25%

There are people who treat the trump family as royal, but few who have the fawning demigod attitude the left still has for Obama.

No, I'm not. I don't think you remember just how big the Obama cult of personality was if you think Trump is on the same level. Obama's was everywhere. The news, the arts, you basically couldn't get through a day without encountering that stuff.

By comparison, though Trump personality cultists surely exist they don't control mass media (and in fact are shamed by said media, not that that's right either). I've never personally encountered one, whereas I knew several people who were all in on Obama. They simply are not as big nor as much of a cultural force.

Immediately thought of this: https://youtube.com/watch?v=2fZHou18Cdk

Seeing that '17 years ago' next to the view count was a real 'Holy shit' moment because it does feel like yesterday

Personally I'll always remember the Chris Matthews. He was the 'I felt this thrill going up my leg as he spoke.", who also cried over an Obama speech and compared him to Jesus.