Interesting news reports beginning to come out of these Caucasian Republics. See recent reports on the BBC, etc.
For the most part, this stuff will probably consist of money-making scams that protest the bomber brothers' innocence and the current "persecution" of their poor sainted mother.
Sound at all familiar -- two martyr brothers -- persecuted for their beliefs and accused falsely? Gunshots? Jail?
The main difference between Chechnya 2013 and Nauvoo 1844 is that Chechnya has suffered through several decades of turmoil and bloodshed -- of a largely secular nationalist movement edging ever closer to a "them-against-us" radical sect, with the "us" being ethnic Muslims and the "them" being Russians and anybody who cooperates with the Russians.
Give it a decade or two more, for popular resentment and suspicion to grow and fester -- and the Tsarnaevs will be honored and fictionalized just like Joseph and Hyrum Smith.
Useful icons -- for radicalization and/or money-making scams.
I never thought of it that way UD, but all JS is, today, in today's morg, is an icon to make money and exercise authority over others.
Joseph Smith's current 'persona' (in the morg) is so far removed from what actual history tells us he was and how he behaved, as to be almost unrecognizable (when juxtaposed against the original). The current Joe Smith, as officially taught, is a cartoon character of goodness and purity. The real Joe Smith of the past was a philandering, drinking, swindling charlatan (probably BPD or NPD).
Joseph Smith, in his death, has become nothing more than a useful idiot for the 15. An icon for gathering wealth and power. A doppelganger for cash.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/03/2013 04:59PM by schlock.
The Ensign's "Brother Joseph" is the guy you see at the $100-a-cut hair styling salon, smiling down at you from the jazzy, rainbow colored picture -- the perfect model with no hair out of place -- with the focus-group approved smile.
He is the innocent young teenager that you wish your kids could be -- perfectly obedient -- seeking out the greatest possible good -- bringing joy to his family and community.
Joe is also the Stalinesque Prometheus from a North Korean nationalism-promoting poster, holding high the torch of the-one-true-truth, lighting the way for the factory worker with his hammer, the peasant with his sickle and the soldier with his loaded machine gun.
My Joseph! May he ever be right! But, right or wrong, My Joseph!