Now on ScienceBlogs: Another contender for the worst reporting ever: "Coma man"
My scientific specialty is chronobiology (circadian rhythms and photoperiodism), with additional interests in comparative physiology, animal behavior and evolution. I am not an MD so I cannot diagnose and treat your sleep problems. As well as writing this blog, I am also the Online Discussion Expert for PLoS. This is a personal blog and opinions within it in no way reflect the policies of PLoS. You can contact me at: Coturnix@gmail.com
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Category: Ideology • Politics
Posted on: September 27, 2006 9:53 AM, by Coturnix
Agonist (via Melissa and Amanda) reports that "comma" is a dog-whistle code word that Bush used to signal to the Fundies:
The phrase is: "Never put a period where God has put a comma." Which is to say - it ain't over yet, and God may well make it better. So Iraq's bad, but if we trust in God, he'll make it better.
Mark Liberman of Language Log, after a couple of funny riffs on "comma", starts digging into the dog-whistle theory and uncovers the antcecedents here and here.
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Comments
I think that Gawd ain't gonna make it better until Bush offers up a little sacrifice. Something like shipping off his twin daughters to Fallujah to replace my brother and his son.
I mean, it's not like they're employed or anything.
.
Posted by: Ick of the East | September 27, 2006 10:27 AM
I'm puzzled by the whole comma thing: isn't that a UCC call for tolerance? I wouldn't associate with fundamentalism.
Posted by: Mike the Mad Biologist | September 27, 2006 12:21 PM
As Mike said, this still doesn't add up. The UCC is the religious LEFT, not the religious right.
And I have no idea what Gracie Allen's religion was, but I'll bet she wasn't a fundie.
Posted by: Elayne Riggs | September 27, 2006 1:18 PM
You know - maybe it's because I'm a language teacher, but I couldn't understand the puzzlement over that figure of speech. He probably got it from Miss Reading Fool Laura, true, but it seemed clear to me. I don't think it's a dog whistle, because the people he whistles at (how apt that they're dogs) are very fond of periods. And the UCC isn't exactly on their friends list.
Posted by: The Ridger | September 27, 2006 1:33 PM
On the other hand, Little Lord Pontchartrain did misappropriate "No Child Left Behind."
Posted by: Mike the Mad Biologist | September 27, 2006 2:27 PM
The fundie catch-phrase, IIRC, is "never put a question mark where God put a period" or something very close.
Posted by: ebohlman | September 28, 2006 6:28 PM