"fascistic disposition" paragraph

[Otto]

I have indeed difficulties to understand what's so difficult in understanding this:

"We believe and doubt at the same time--it seems a condition of political thought in a modern superstate to be permanently of at least two minds on most issues. Needless to say, this is of inestimable use to those in power who wish to remain there, preferably forever." (xiii)

"(...) such exotic developments as the religious wars which we have become all too familiar, involving various sorts of fundamentalisms." (xvi-xvii)

"various fundamentalisms" -- I've heard of the Islamic fundamentalism that promises me 72 virgins if I blow up myself with some Jews or Americans of course but what is the other one he's referring too? Could it be Southern-US Christian fundamentalism?

"Moral superiority? Good intentions? Clean living?" (xvi)

This is a post 9/11-text by a critical American author. He doesn't say that the USA have become fascist. But what he says in that "fascistic disposition" paragraph is that in times of war it's sometimes hard to tell.

I don't think it's "shitty" when someone manages to write a foreword -- that bears qualities of a warning itself -- to a novel that is widely considered as a warning.

Otto
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Eulenspiegel7646 at aol.com 
  To: pynchon-l at waste.org 
  Sent: Thursday, May 15, 2003 11:59 PM
  Subject: Re: "fascistic disposition" paragraph


  In a message dated 5/15/2003 12:04:06 PM Pacific Standard Time, ottosell at yahoo.de writes:


    Nobody is a shitty writer only because some readers don't get the full
    meaning of the writing. We're talking about Pynchon and not J.K. Rowling.



  You don't understand, Otto.  If a document does not agree with the politically correct version standing behind our Troops & the junta currently occpying the White House, it is, by definition, "shitty" if not "French."

  cordially, Tyl 
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