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CITTA: Glenn Beck is America’s most intelligent man

By Kyle Citta

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Published: Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Updated: Thursday, April 2, 2009

Glenn Beck, talk show host and political commentator, is the single most intelligent person to ever grace the earth with his presence. 

This man of the mind, this gentleman of genius, this bastard of brilliance can do no wrong when his intelligence is put to the test. Whether he is comparing global warming to the systematic deaths of six million Jews or prophesying about the impending apocalypse, 50 percent of the time Glenn Beck is right all the time. 

A scholar such as Beck deserves a celebratory pronouncement of his mammoth intellect, and I’m here to give it to him. 

During his talk show on April 30, 2007, Beck drew a flawless comparison between Al Gore and Hitler.

“Al Gore’s not going to be rounding up Jews and exterminating them,” he said. “It is the same tactic, however.”

He continues with, “Back in the 1930s, the goal was to get rid of all of the Jews and have one global government … that was Hitler’s plan. His enemy: the Jews. Al Gore’s enemy; the U.N.’s enemy: global warming.”

Some claim that comparing global warming to the holocaust and Al Gore to Hitler are clear examples illustrating the logical fallacy of false analogy—that is, that two things being compared to each other aren’t alike enough to be analogous. 

First off, someone who even knows about the fallacy of false analogy is clearly an elitist and therefore can’t be trusted.

Boom, roasted.

Secondly, incremental temperature increases within the atmosphere of the earth are exactly like the methodical destruction of six million Jewish men, women and children. So, if global warming trends are like the mass murder of Jews, then logically, Al Gore must be like Hitler. 

I dare anyone to find a logical disconnect in that. 

On Nov. 14, 2006, Beck interviewed Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison who had just become the first Muslim elected to Congress. Beck began the interview by saying, “I have to tell you, I have been nervous about this interview with you, because what I feel like saying is, ‘Sir, prove to me that you are not working with our enemies.’” Adding, “And I know you’re not. I’m not accusing you of being an enemy, but that’s the way I feel, and I think a lot of Americans will feel that way.” 

The trepidation that Glenn feels is understandable and isn’t prejudice in the slightest. It’s perfectly normal to fear that Muslims will kill you, just like it’s normal to fear that a black person will pull a gun on you. Or it’s normal to be afraid that someone of Japanese descent might fly a plane into a cruise ship or that a European will launch a crusade against you.

Let’s not forget Americans either. Turn your back and they’ll enslave you.

Glenn Beck’s primary fear is that Ellison, a man with Juris Doctor, a volunteer children and teen track coach and a representative in Congress is working with terrorists. This might sound crazy, but it’s a statistical fact that 100 percent of the Sept. 11 hijackers were Muslim. If that’s true, then 100 percent of Muslims could be hijackers. Thus, Beck is correct in assuming that there’s a slight 100 percent chance that Ellison could be a hijacker. 

Again, Beck’s logic is sound and our country is safe. 

During an appearance on a March 2 segment of “Fox and Friends,” Glenn Beck said that he couldn’t disprove that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has set up concentration camps to house dissidents and establish a “totalitarian rule” in America. 

Savvy bloggers were quick to point out parallels between Beck’s comments and the plot of the 1998 movie “The X-Files.” In the film, a conspiracy theorist (Martin Landau) warns FBI Agent Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) that FEMA is plotting to institute martial law, unlawful imprisonments and totalitarian rule so that aliens can overtake the world.

It does sound like Beck ripped off “The X-Files” for his theory, but many government policies come directly from movies. For instance, No Child Left Behind is clearly inspired by “Black Hawk Down.”

After all, leave no man – or child – behind.

Regardless of whether Beck lifted the plot of a 1998 science fiction film for a conspiracy theory, you’ll still be sorry that you didn’t listen to Beck when you’re lying on a surgical bed in a flying saucer awaiting an anal probe.

On a Feb. 20 episode of his show, Beck used a War Room to posit a few mock scenarios showing how bad life could get in America. His scenarios included that in the year 2014 all US banks would be nationalized, unemployment would be at 12 percent, the DOW trading at 2800, the commercial real estate market collapsing and the government and unions controlling most businesses.  

One of Beck’s guests, Gerald Celente (CEO of Trends Research Institute), said this of the scenario: “New York City looks like Mexico City [...] we’re gonna see major cities look like Calcutta. There’s going to be the homeless, panhandlers, hookers, petty thieves and we’re gonna see pickpockets.” 

Granted, New York already has homeless, panhandlers, hookers and the like. But what boils my blood more than anything is New York becoming Mexico City. First Mexico’s people illegally cross our borders and now you’re telling me its cities are going to illegally enter our country too?

Thank God Glenn warned us of this horror. 

Stephen Colbert decided to sully the serious journalism of Glenn Beck by satirizing the War Room with his own Doom Bunker. One of Colbert’s tasteless examples looked at the year 2014 where the DOW is trading below 250; the koala pox epidemic has destroyed most of the world’s livestock and we have a werewolf congress.

Colbert continued with a 2019 scenario in which the US auto industry is gone and all cars are replaced with decepticons. He jokingly added, “I know this sounds like the insane ramblings of a syphilitic brain.” 

Perhaps Glenn Beck does have syphilis, would that make him any less right?

Despite his critics, Glenn Beck has become a modern wonder of the world for his intelligence. A March 11 quote sums up Glenn’s brilliant brainpower nicely when he said, “Believe in something. Even if it’s wrong, believe in something.”

I believe in you Mr. Beck. 

Kyle Citta is a junior english and pre-med major. Reach him at kylecitta@dailynebraskan.com.

 

Comments

158 comments
Justin
Thu Apr 9 2009 01:14
So present the omitted context that shows how a call for armed revolution against the government should be interpreted. It shouldn't be hard; I'm simply asking for the information I haven't been able to find. Try as I might I can't locate the "context" that makes these remarks into anything but a rejection of the legitimacy of any election Republicans don't win.

By all means, educate me on this mysterious missing context.

Silly Goose
Thu Apr 9 2009 00:33
Gee Justin calling someone retarded, that so mean and heartless. Its so Obamalike. This is a definition of taking something out of context: To interpret something in a manner in which it was not intended to be understood, often deliberately. Sound familiar? I think you are reading way to much into what those quotes mean. Are you so easily alarmed or is this just a sad desperate attempt to prove your right? I really feel sorry for you. I think you need to seek professional help. Perhaps you should go to UNL Counseling and Psychological Services. They're quite helpful when them big mean conservatives seem to be out to get you.
Justin
Wed Apr 8 2009 19:51
Suggestion: Instead of making empty claims that I'm "taking things out of context", show me the context that is missing.

You can't just say "taken out of context" every time your retarded conservative heroes are caught with their feet in their mouths.

Silly Rabbit
Wed Apr 8 2009 16:52
Ted Kaczynski, the unabomber used to quote Al Gore. But I don't see Gore behind bars. Whats this marriage between Glenn Beck and Michelle Bachmann? I didn't know they were even seeing each other. Oh I get it, its some kind of a right wing conspiracy. I'm pretty sure Obama'll take care of that. He hates free speech, Hell he hate free everything. You really need to quit taking things out of context and while your at it maybe you should try listening to Beck instead of getting you information from some hate monger like Keith Olbermann. Justin, you spin and spin in circles and when your done you get no where
Justin
Wed Apr 8 2009 15:25
"Those crazies in Montana who say, 'We're going to kill ATF agents because the UN's going to take over' -- well, they're beginning to have a case." - Glenn Beck

Can somebody explain to me the "context" that makes this not supportive of milita terrorism against the government?

"I want people in Minnesota armed and dangerous on this issue of the energy tax because we need to fight back. Thomas Jefferson told us ‘having a revolution every now and then is a good thing,’ and the people – we the people – are going to have to fight back hard if we’re not going to lose our country." - Rep Michelle Bachmann

Can anyone explain to me the context where this isn't a call for armed insurrection against the government of the United States? Doesn't sound like a "joke" to me. People are dead, now, because of this rhetoric - Poplawski, we now know, posted Glenn Beck's diatribes to a website before killing police officers - I don't find it especially funny. I guess conservatives do.

Can anyone explain to me how a sitting Congressional Representative calling for armed rebellion against the United States isn't an act of treason?

Matt
Wed Apr 8 2009 14:15
Beck's quotes are taken out of context here. Often times he makes outlandish statements for the sake of humor. You cannot interpret the message of his program without watching it and understanding the tone of it. The things he says are not political rhetoric.

@Justin: you're such a product of the media. It's so easy to regurgitate all the garbage you hear from politically motivated 'news' sources, isn't it? And it makes you sound smart and hip too!

More for Silly Justin
Tue Apr 7 2009 22:31
"Does speech have consequences, or doesn't it? If speech can move us to noble acts, why can't it move us to ignoble ones?"

"If persons like Glenn Beck and Rep Michelle Bachmann uncritically report conspiracy theories as truth"

Now Justin, does this constitute a call for "an armed insurrection?" I Think not. Numskulls have been calling for the Impeachment of Bush for years you yourself have called for him to be tried as a war criminal. Is that some kind of a conspiracy? Besides I don't know if Obama wants to take people's guns away or not. How can I know if he does? Ask him? Thats a laugh, like he ever tells the truth about anything. Besides I recall that a year before Obama was elected Beck was saying that people were so mad they were going to grab pitch forks and go to Washington. Is that a conspiracy? It might be a joke. I would ask you since you are so busy being indignant that I doubt if you'd know a joke if one kicked you in the backside.

"It's amazing that it only took 6 weeks of a Democratic president to have conservatives calling for armed insurrection." Really My God Justin what should we do? if Glenn Beck and Rep Michelle Bachmann are plotting some sort of armed insurrection I suggest you call up the FBI immediately. Where your sense of civic duty Justin? Don't you care? Don't just be a cry baby. After all your guy just won. Be confident be brave. Heck provide me with the proof and I'll take you by the hand and take you to see the Feds myself. Even though I "wouldn't have the brains to follow along, anyway".

I supose its my lack of brains that prevents me form following the torrent of idiotic illogic, desperate misunderstanding and utter paranoid gibberish that constitutes your high level of intelligence. Nor can I follow the line of reason that seems to suggest that anyone who disagrees with you seems to be involved in some sort of conspiracy.

LOLlerskates
Tue Apr 7 2009 15:18
Oh snap! This just got good, as a new "your name" emerges to take on all takers.

THUNDERDOME!

Your Name
Tue Apr 7 2009 10:15
Anyone who has seen this gadfly incessantly keeping vigil over the comments to make sure no one deviates from his party line knows who the "unhinged nutter" really is. Not to be confused with the unhinged nutters who overthrew the government 220 years ago. Vast difference.
Your name
Mon Apr 6 2009 23:25
Glenn Beck excels at nothing if not scaring the crap out of old people.

Vin Diesel is smarter than Glenn Beck, and he has bigger pipes to boot.

Justin
Mon Apr 6 2009 20:08
Does speech have consequences, or doesn't it? If speech can move us to noble acts, why can't it move us to ignoble ones?

If persons like Glenn Beck and Rep Michelle Bachmann uncritically report conspiracy theories as truth ("we're moving to a global currency"; "Obama wants to take all your guns") and ask people to arm themselves to fight the government, don't they share some responsibility when the unhinged nutters that listen to them do exactly that, with fatal consequences?

I think they do. Anybody who thinks that's "ignorant" is welcome to explain why.

Aaron
Mon Apr 6 2009 18:11
Comments like Justin's help to remind me that despite their best efforts, neither party has achieved a monopoly on ignorance.
Justin
Mon Apr 6 2009 13:02
If you don't see a link between agitation for armed rebellion against the government and a man opening fire on police officers, then I can't spell it out for you. You wouldn't have the brains to follow along, anyway.

It's amazing that it only took 6 weeks of a Democratic president to have conservatives calling for armed insurrection.

Justin you poor soul
Mon Apr 6 2009 11:45
My Gosh Justin; What a ridiculous argument. I'd assumed that you had proof that Glenn Beck was calling for the shooting of policemen. Your argument displays the most fallacious display of illogic possible. By the rules of your illogic I could claim that Barak Obama is responsible for the utter nonsense that you so obviously display.
Your name
Sun Apr 5 2009 20:10
Great come back! But are you absolutely positive you're going to be a comic after you graduate?
Chet
Sun Apr 5 2009 19:32
Pretty big talk from someone who won't even use a name.
Your name
Sun Apr 5 2009 18:15
Yeah, but there isn't much that separates shooters like that who need guns to be tough and small-minded, humorless punks who can only afford to pick fights in cyberspace.
Justin
Sun Apr 5 2009 14:34
In Pittsburg, a man fired on four police officers because he was under the delusion that they were "coming to take his guns" - a standard trope of the right. As people are egged on by Glenn Beck and Rep. Michelle Bachmann (unfortunately of my own home state) to buy arms to prepare for armed rebellion against the United States government, these sorts of tragedies will only increase. People like Beck need to be held accountable for the results of their speech.
FTW
Sun Apr 5 2009 14:12
If wikipedia is slang for "common sense" and "not a backwards way of thinking," then yes.
Your name
Sun Apr 5 2009 10:31
whoops. "arouses," as in, "my spelling arouses pity."