(Prefatory Note:  In a recent letter from foreign policy editor, Dusty Schoch to Democratswrite.com correspondent, Dr. Lenard Carrier, the subject of  hypocrisy within the neo-con fundamentalist Christian community is addressed for the enjoyment of Dr. Carrier and those to whom sidebar excursions into the rhetorical aspects of polemics is of interest.)

Len,

 When somebody gives me a new word, I put it on a 3 by 5 card and carry it in my breast pocket until it’s mine.  The tool you gave me most recently was “unregenerate.”  It had such a nice haughty ring to it in the context you employed it…in re the degenerate neocons we were then in the process of jointly deconstructing.  But today I revisited it because I hadn’t had it spring up and  out trippingly on my tongue, not to mention screen. 

 So I researched it. As a result,  I think you should reconsider using it in reference to the morally degenerate and religiously-exploitive neo-cons.  (I share this with you only because I know, from your turnings of phrase that you take joy as I do in the discipline and beauty of word-smithing.)

Among the listed denotations (ergo connotations) of the adj., “regenerate” is the nature and state of being “born again” in the Christian sense.  With the fundamentalist-exploiting neo-con Republicans, at least,  the word, hurled in denigration, makes the hurler appear pious, indignant or otherwise holier-than-thou in the Christian sense.  To me it would appear that a fundamentalist Christian, more than a non f-C, would choose “unregenerate” as a word in denigration of someone else, albeit Christian or Islamic.

 This is not to say that I have concluded–or even considered–where you stand in re Christianity, Christ or even the new Da Vinci coded version of him.  I do feel confident, however, that you would prefer not to appear as though your polemic weaponry is cast in a  Neo-Con Christian cauldron.  I think you and I both agree that the wall providing prophylaxis between church and state should be extended to proper protocols in polemics concerning those institutions.  

 The thing I find most daunting on the global scene is fundies on all sides chanting the “us” and “them” songs of crusading wars on the basis of “their” being “unregenerate” (a.k.a. “infidel” if you’re Islamic; “anathema”  if Catholic;  “schiksa” or “goya” if Jewish, or “homosexual” if you’re Southern Baptist).

 Having said that, I fully intend to pull my “unregenerate” sword out and use it to hack away at any neo-con Christian who, in my theater and striking range, defends our fascist foreign policy on the basis of  reprised and perverted Rapturous/Zionistic/Armageddon mythology.  I will publicly skewer him as “unregenerate” (a) because he literally (theologically) is, (b) because in attacking one of these fascist fundies I would not hesitate simulating  born-again indignation in order to out the hypocrisy of one of these pseudo-Christian perverts, and (c) I will take delight in watching him dumbly and without rejoinder absorb the well-earned insult at least as long as it takes to go home and consult the dictionary that will explain to him how he’s been insulted.

 War’s the only enemy.

 Best,

Dusty 5 27 06