Politics, under God.

I have read page 12 of get your war on many times and I still cannot find a coherent theme for Rees' use of "Under God." Its meaning is so varied and confused that it really means nothing. Oh, well I guess that was Rees' point. In the first frame the phrase "under God" simply does not fit - it was said as an afterthought, as though it is a necessary part of any sentence. In the second frame it implies that the war with Iraq is religious in nature and in the third frame it takes on a more traditional prayer-like quality. In the fourth frame "under God" seems to be a stand-in for "shit." Finally, when Voltron says, "Under God?" it can be interpreted as the US abusing the phrase to distract from what is really going on - we're a war-machine in a suit. Though Rees is making a point about American foreign policy (see Michelle's post referencing the "crusade"), I think that the most important point he makes is the vapid, hallow nature of God in politics. There are enough stupid people in this country that don't think about how God's name is being abused in politics and instead run under the flag every time He is used as justification for anything.