I love Rachel Maddow. I really do. She does a wonderful show that I listen to (via Stitcher) everyday and am always entertained, informed and enlightened.
photo courtesy msnbc.msn.com
But sometimes, the poor woman just doesn’t get it.
Lately she’s been trying to figure out the metamorphosis of Pro-Life theory among Republicans. More and more Republicans are aligning themselves with a pro-life agenda which is more far-reaching and radical than in the past. All the GOP presidential contenders have backed an interpretation of the pro-life position which would not just end abortion, all abortion, but make most forms of chemical contraception illegal. They have all spoken out clearly that they are aware of this and have no trouble with it. They don’t approve of contraception. Officially.
The state of Virginia is working on a bill to declare that “life begins at conception.” Which would do the same as above. In addition, a bill has passed both Houses which would require that any woman wanting an abortion must be required to have an intrusive (vaginally penetrating) sonogram whether the doctor in charge thinks it necessary or not. Some call this “slut-shaming” or “punishment for sexual activity.”
Heavy duty, huh? Poor Rachel is trying to get her head around the logic here. She’s a self-described political geek and none of this makes sense politically. Virtually all women (more than 99%) aged 15–44 who have ever had sexual intercourse have used at least one contraceptive method. Yet the Republican party, on the state and national level, has thrown their weight behind the elimination of contraception. Rachel is really confused. How can making illegal something that 99% of women have done make good political sense ? How can the GOP think they’ll win votes by threatening to make 99% of all women criminals. It isn’t logical. It makes no political sense. She doesn’t understand.
And that, of course, is because Rachel Maddow is a muggle.
Muggles, for those of you who have been Harry Potter-less the past 15 years, is a sub-species of humanity which has no talent or ability at magic. They are unable to use, see or conceive of the magical reality which whirls about them. Thus they are unable to effectively evaluate the actions of those men and women who do see the reality of the magical world. They must base their judgment and actions on visible evidence, logic, reason, science, falsifiable experiments, etc… And these things simply cannot detect or manipulate magical power.
So, if Maddow is a muggle, that makes the conservatives she is talking about wizards. They are in touch with a reality she isn’t. They see a truth she can’t. Therefore what they are doing makes eminent sense–if you can see as they do.
Anyone who has listened to the conservatives lately is fully aware that they have a source of knowledge and power that their enemies don’t. They’ve given it many names, but for the moment, let’s call this source of knowledge and power “The Force” (yeah, I know I’m mixing metaphors, work with me here), but it is magical.
Like things magical, it doesn’t surrender to “proof” or “evidence.” To be a wizard is to know that the magical world isn’t affected by things in the muggle world only vice versa. The actions of wizards can seem strange and contrary (Newt Gingrich lectures America on sexual morality). They declare the existence of things others can’t see (weapons of mass destruction) . They believe that they can make something real simply by declaring it so (“Obama is a Muslim and a foreigner”). They detect causal connections between phenomena (gay marriage and the fall of western civilization) that are invisible to muggle research or instruments. They know the power that rests in rituals (sonograms before abortion). They are privy to secrets and wisdom that is beyond others (America was founded as a Christian Nation). In light of this, Rachel, what women do with or think about contraception is irrelevant. The Force has declared it wrong and that is that. Muggle concepts such as “science” or “historical evidence” is also irrelevant, since the muggle world is a lesser part of the magical world. This is a very old and traditional model of reality: Plato would have understood it perfectly.
Logically then, wizards are more fit to rule than muggles, since successful wizards (who can be identified by their overwhelming mastery of things in the muggle world: money, sex, political power, defining of reality and the like) obviously know far more than the muggles they are ruling. It is obvious that wizards should not be bound by muggle rules, while muggles, for their own good, must be ruled by wizards who will apply their superior knowledge and power for the muggle’s own good.
"The Force is strong with this one."
The wizards of the GOP have spoken of creating a smaller government that doesn’t interfere in the life of American citizens. At the same time, they propose legislation which will require the government to monitor the Internet, entertainment media, sexual activity, emails, phone calls, political activity and other private behaviors. This is not hypocrisy or confusion, it makes perfect sense. Wizards don’t have to worry about such rules, with their magical powers they can circumvent them (or the rules cover nasty things wizards would be disgusted to do). Muggles, on the other hand, need such rules for their own protection and safety. As many in the GOP will tell you: only wizards are fit to rule.
So, unless Rachel and her fellow travellers figure this out, they are in for a very frustrating political season. They are unable to see what the wizards see and thus will never fully understand what the wizards are up to. They are limited to such things as evidence, science, research, logic and reason. None of which are able to penetrate the world of those who possess magical power.
Remember Rachel:
Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards,
Bachmann, Gingrich, Santorum, Romney, Perry and Anne Coulter at CPAC 2012.
For they are subtle and quick to anger.
J.R.R. Tolkien
I was really horrified about the transvaginal ultrasound because I thought it was purely to punish women. Which it is, but also that type of ultrasound can detect an embryo earlier than a typical abdominal ultrasound– so the required ultrasound at 8 weeks won’t show you anything. So it makes medical sense, in a larger context of making no sense at all.
Glad there is some logic in the logical fallacy.