"Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Saul Alinsky

Perhaps I should save this post for tomorrow seeing how it's April FOOLS Day, but I am so shocked that I need to type now. I was reading a political magazine a little while ago and Saul Alinsky's name and ideas came up in a commentary about our current administration. What caught my eye was the dedication to one of Alinsky's books. Check this out:


"Rules for Radicals" begins with an unusual tribute: "From all our legends, mythology, and history (and who is to know where mythology leaves off and history begins – or which is which), the first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own kingdom – Lucifer."

Lucifer is worthy of a tribute? 8-O

More about this man from Wikipedia:

In Rules for Radicals (his final work, published in 1971 one year before his death), he addressed the 1960s generation of radicals, outlining his views on organizing for mass power. In the first chapter, opening paragraph of the book Alinsky writes, "What follows is for those who want to change the world from what it is to what they believe it should be. The Prince was written by Machiavelli for the Haves on how to hold power. Rules for Radicals is written for the Have-Nots on how to take it away".[4]


Why does this even matter? Well, I was shocked at the Lucifer dedication, but saddened because

Alinsky's teachings influenced Barack Obama in his early career as a community organizer on the far South Side of Chicago.[7][8] Working for Gerald Kellman's Developing Communities Project, Obama learned and taught Alinsky's methods for community organizing.[7] Several prominent national leaders have been influenced by Alinsky's teachings,[7] including Ed Chambers,[5] Tom Gaudette, Michael Gecan, Wade Rathke,[9][10] Patrick Crowley,[11] and Barack Obama.[12]



Nice.


1 comment:

Niki said...

Can't say that I'm surprised. :-/