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Texas Governor As E3 Keynote Speaker Causes Strife
Zonk pointed out a post on Joystiq highlighting a recent tantrum thrown by the ESA. Apparently the ESA didn't appreciate the framing GamePolitics chose to use for a story about E3's Keynote speaker and Texas Governor, Rick Perry. GamePolitics continues to call Perry into question as a choice for keynote speaker, saying: "While there are surely many Christians among E3 attendess, there are just as surely many who aren't. Aside from the fact that Perry was a bizarre keynote choice from the get-go, his divisive comments indicate that the ESA should rescind the offer. We have to ask again: why is E3 2008 being politicized? The answer, we suspect, has much to do with embattled ESA boss Michael Gallagher."
It seems fair to ask whether GamePolitics is motivated by anti-Christian or anti-religious bigotry in their coverage. There's no information to suggest that the keynote speech was going to have a religious theme or message of any kind.
A lot of game companies are located in Texas. The governor of Texas seems like he might have some interest in that.
The ESA is doing a poor job lately and the TX governor seems like a poor choice for an E3 speaker. Most people might suggest someone in the game business instead.
But none of that is an excuse for bigotry against religious folks in general or any particular religion. What other reason would GamePolitics have for their attack?
I've said it before and I'll no doubt say it again: Editors really need to learn how to use the and tags. It would make things so much more convenient.
Spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, and stupid comments are intentional.
The only reason Rick Perry is even Governor of Texas is because G.W. Bush was elected Commander in Chief!
Until recently I lived in Texas with Rick Perry as Governor. Never liked his policies, his political decisions or personal choices on a wide range of topics. Not only that but the guy is a complete buffoon when it comes to technology, he's solely in the position for money and power (the worst type of politician IMO). The guy had to know that GW was going to run for Pres., assuring him the top seat in Texas. Shame, shame on him.
Some dipshits who can't see that is nothing new,
Ok, who were the governors that gave previous keynote speeches at E3?
You shouldn't be surprised that people on Slashdot would question Perry's credentials for speaking at a video game industry expo. Like President Bush, Perry can't figure out a way to properly archive his emails for longer than a week. They just don't have the server space, he claims. And this guy grasps technology well enough that he should be treated as an inspired speaker at a video game convention?
Clearly, his administration could easily sort out how to archive all staff email. They're just claiming technical ignorance while it's convenient for them to obfuscate their communications. When it comes to Perry ramping up a run for the White House, oh, he's a technical genius!
Seth
$5 / month hosted VPS on linux = awesome!
Reading the original complaint about Perry giving the keynote, they have these "odd" feelings about the choice because the only thing they can see tying him to the video games industry is Perry's signing of some entertainment-related legislation. Forget about the ESA's mission statement of "serving the business and public affairs needs of companies that publish video and computer games," or that governors have much to do with legislation and other areas that directly affect their state's business and industry. In the end, the complaint seems to focus on some nefarious right-wing sub-plot linked via the ESA chairman having "deep Republican roots, as does Perry."
Then, in another article, they link the "E3 speaker" to "divisive" comments regarding his belief in non-Christians' path to hell in questions asked of him _on that topic_ way back in 2006, as if those have a particular bearing on anything he might say at E3 2008.
First mistake: claiming agreement with someone who shared basic beliefs as proof that he'd get up on stage and proselytize. Hate western religion much?
Second mistake: not researching someone's "quote" because, since it agrees with your bias, it must be true.
One wonders whether a professed atheist, an Islamic mullah or Wiccan priest, instead of one of those dastardly Republicans, would get the same scrutiny or presumption of bias or other "odd" or "bizarre" feelings.
In the same way, its not being Christian that is the problem here, but his statements in regards to a good proportion of the people who may attend the keynote and the hell-ward direction he indicates for them.
Governor Perry is known now as Mr. 39 in Texas. He won the last governor's race, for his third term, in 2006 with only 39% of the popular vote. 61% of Texas Voters don't want him either.
The election is a plurality, so there is no runoff, no second choicing on the ballot. There were four serious candidates.
Anyone seen my low uid? last seen 10 years ago while panning the #@$# out of Taco's 'web based discussion system'
Having a politician give a keynote speech at a gaming convention makes as much sense as a game developer giving the keynote address at a brain surgeon's convention. Or a blues guitarist making a keynote speech at a convention for criminal lawyers. Or Willie Nelson giving a keynote for the DEA.
I know the governor signed a law to provide incentives to game developers, and sure, let him make a speech at the E3. Knock yourselves out. But to give the keynote address when he's not in the industry makes no goddamn sense, as does your blathering about "discrimination".
What. Like it or not, Christianity says that non-Christians will go to hell. If you don't believe that then I guess you've got nothing to worry about and his comments shouldn't bother you. It's not like they affect how he administrates his state. That's a tenant of the religion and there are plenty of Christians in office. Would you outlaw that religion?
To the extent to which it applies to a debate such as this, that religion already is "outlawed."
As are all others.
The separation of church and state is one of the foundational concepts of the USA, and vocally religious politicians should be raising red flags everywhere - not just at E3.
Although it's not specifically illegal to be a hate-mongering racist and religious bigot - and a politician at the same time if it doesn't get in the way of his policies - it's still considered to be pretty bad form considering the stated goals at the foundation of the USA.
People who are stridently against the foundational principles of my country are typically not invited to my fucking fondue parties.
The land shall stone them with the bread of his son.
Of course that fact that ANYONE would agree with Hagee who has stated on many occasions that the ultimate goal of Christians should be to help get World War III started to hasten the return of Jesus and that Hitler was doing the work of God just boggles my mind. It just goes to show you a sleazy politician will go wherever the money is no matter who's butt he has to kiss. But that is my 02c,YMMV
ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
"It's not like they affect how he administrates his state. That's a tenant of the religion and there are plenty of Christians in office. Would you outlaw that religion?
No, but it is extremely desirable for politicians holding public office to compartmentalize their religious views and try to keep them private, especially when said views are offensive to many of their constituents. Believe it or not many people dislike it when the person running their state or nation tells them they are going to go to hell for their personal religious views. It is a statement which is a strong indicator of bias, and that the person saying it believes you are an inferior to him because of your personal religious views. Doesn't really matter when its one private citizen holding this view about another. It matters a lot when its the chief law enforcement officer of a state or nation saying it, because that person makes life and death decisions which influence large numbers of people, someone who has a LOT of power over your life. Try being an officer in the U.S. military these days because the deck is stacked against you if you aren't devoutly religious(preferably born again Christian).
Religious people just don't get it, but separation of church and state, is just as much in their interest as it is of atheists and minority religions. The founding fathers implemented it because many of the people in America fled to America to escape state sponsored religious persecution in Europe. They knew first hand how horrible it was to live in a country where the government favored one religion and persecuted, often brutally, all the others. The Spanish inquisition sucked and it is a logical outcome of letting religious bias permeate government. The only fair and equitable way to avoid state sponsored religious bias is to keep religion out of government all together. The founding fathers did the right thing in separation of church and state, and religious people need to "get" that.
If people were really religious for the right reasons they would have no problem keeping their religion private. They would realize religion should be something between an individual, their god(s) and maybe the members of their their church. As soon as you start inflicting your religion on others, against their will, you cross a dreadful line where your religion has become a weapon, and not a path for self enlightenment.
Just curious, how many self proclaimed atheists or agnostics hold high elected office in this country? Very, very few, because they are for all practical purposes precluded from getting elected in this country, they are practically outlawed from holding high public office now. If you want to get elected to any serious political office in this country its a simple fact you are going find Jesus or at least Jehovah, one way or another, even if deep in your heart you don't believe in it. That creates a seed of hypocrisy and dishonesty to self in a lot of politicians that flowers in to a lot of corrupt elected officials.
@de_machina
The question's more why did they invite a Texas Senator to speak at a video game event anyway.
"Religious people just don't get it, but separation of church and state, is just as much in their interest as it is of atheists and minority religions."
I'm not American, but I'm told that the American churches were the ones that lobbied hardest for separation of church and state. The reasoning was that they didn't want some other church coming along and taking over the government.
Your belief system states that you should call people who see things differently than you do "douche-bags."
I like Rick's belief system better. Or, should say, Rick's belief system allows me to like HIM better.
There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
More seriously, what do Perry's religious views have to do with his validity as a keynote speaker at E3? Unless he decides to go off on a preaching spree, the answer is...NOTHING.
120 characters for a sig? That's bloody useless.
..then they wouldn't register with the government. Assembly is a legal right under the constitution, you can't stop people from meeting and pooling their resources to do something together. Besides, churches are an _obvious_ boon to communities and provide countless hours of volunteer labor to community projects nation-wide. Which is better for society, a million people watching TV all night or a million people going out and building new parks? It makes sense to give them tax breaks (since under existing law they're nonprofits) and it makes sense to give them special protections so they can peacefully coexist with the secular government.
Okay, how about: "If people read the Bible and didn't fall into the trap of letting their peers test their piety they would have no problem keeping their religion private."
/. -- the Free Republic of technology.
There's no reason to think religion will have anything to do with what he talks about. In fact, there's no indication given at all regarding the topic he'll speak on.
However, if he trots out the extremist right-wing view of gaming, he'd be a perfect keynote speaker since this would point out to those attending that the ESA is the only body of industry solidarity between conservative anti-gaming lobbying, and the politicians. This is critical because big name developers are pulling out left and right from the organization. Perhaps this is a desperate plea for attention by the ESA?
Even if you disagree with what someone says, you can still learn something. In fact, you might learn more than if you only listen to those that agree with you. Listening carefully to the opposition's rhetoric is a great way to strengthen the effectiveness of counter-arguments. After all, the point isn't to just argue, but to argue effectively. You can just blindly insult someone and make sure they stop thinking and listening immediately, or tear down the foundation of everything they just said and force them to recognize for themselves how foolish their argument looks.
Maybe they should've asked Jack Thompson?
"What you want is to prohibit people from believing or expressing anything other than that which you think."
No it means I'm not going to force my religious view or absence there of on anyone else, and I don't want them to force it on me, especially using their position in government to do it. What part do you not get that I don't want someone elected to public office shoving their individual religious choice down my throat using their office to do it. I don't care that they have a religious choice and in their private life they exercise it to the hilt, but when they punch in for work they should leave their religion at home.
I didn't say politicians can't draw upon their religious beliefs to shape their opinions and outlook. I suggested they should refrain from making public policy overtly and primarily based on their religious views, and they should especially refrain from flaunting their particular religious views in speeches and the like once they take office. It smacks of insincerity and manipulation to hide "use" God when you are pushing public policy on your constituents.
We can agree to outlaw murder, rape and theft without crutching off religion. If you are inflicting harm on a fellow human being it follows what you are doing should be outlawed, no God required. Abortion is a tougher call, but there is an issue where people should agree to disagree and it should, within reason, be left to individuals to make their choice. If you disapprove of abortion then fine don't do it, but leave other people with different values to make their own decisions. If you disapprove of gay marriage fine, but you should leave people who don't share your views alone if they want a legal basis for a union with the person they choose to spend their life with.
@de_machina
You seriously underestimate the impact 10 very public executions a year will have to compel a populace to conform to the religious views of those in power. You don't have to kill everyone who doesn't conform, you just need to make it clear that those who don't run a definite risk of torture and execution. The inquisition was in particular used to ethnically cleanse Spain of Jews, something it did very well.
You would think Protestant Christians would have enough historical perspective to remember how Rome persecuted Christians and how Catholic monarchs persecuted Protestants to realize it is a fundamentally good thing to have governments which are precluded by law from expressing their religious views as part of their governance.
@de_machina
It also tells him to stone witches and adulterers to death, be a good subject to the king, and a whole lot of other stuff.
When you only pick out the nice parts, it's not a surprise the whole thing comes out as nice. It isn't. It's a mixed bag. Most importantly, it's got nothing to do with games and since he apparently can't keep it private but has to make it a part of everything he does, it would indeed seem better to have someone speaking about games at a games convention, instead of giving a speech about religion thinly veiled as a gaming speech.
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