those 9 steps smirk stood on at the conv. ..............

[donsu]

http://www.buzzflash.com/mailbag/04/09/mai04256.html

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Subject: Bush's Deifying Symbolism

Note has been made of the various photographs set up by the Bush PR machine, which appear to give him a halo, or set him against a cross as a backdrop (one, as I recall, with astounding words in light that virtually announce him as the savior). The image created at the Republican Convention last night was astounding and unmistakable. The cross-emblazened podium stood out, as I'd read mention of it in the papers (apparently Jewish groups took offense, surprise surprise). More than that, for me, however, were the ascending circles upon which his platform was built. In Dante's three-part Divine Comedy, the third part details the protagonist's ascension through the nine spheres of heaven, until he at last arrives at "The Empyrean" -- the highest of the high, where God's throne and only the truly blessed souls are found. Take a look at Bush's stage last night. You guessed it - nine rings building up to the magical tenth platform, a presidential seal, atop which sits a cross and George Bush. The "stairs" were apparently purely decorative, as they never appeared to be used for anything, other than signifying "The Empyrean." The ascending circles of heaven in Dante's Paradiso are often noted to be a reflective inversion of the nine circles of hell in Inferno, the first part of the trilogy. So I watched my screen upside down, putting Bush at the bottom of the lowest circle of Hell, where a three headed Satan could feast on him, along with Brutus and Judas, for all eternity. Hey - whatever you gotta do to get through his speeches, right?

John C. Pitblado Hartford, CT
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[Myrina]

1. So that would mean

... that the audience was figuratively at the Ninth (lowest) Level of hell, looking up at him ? How appropriate !!

[Stuckinthebush]

2. This would be scary

if only Bush supporters could pronounce "Dante"

I think that bit of arcane symbolism would be lost on 99.9% of his supporters.

[donsu]

4. not so - there are a lot of religious nuts out there

that know this stuff (they could care less about Dante)

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

3. I liked the catwalk leading up to the 9 steps

When Bush did his little turn on the catwalk, yeah on the catwalk.