Defense Secretary Austin's 'Pulp Fiction' Prayer Sparks Controversy
Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
TLDR
- U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is facing criticism for quoting lines from the movie 'Pulp Fiction' during a Pentagon prayer service.
- The lines, presented as a prayer for a rescue mission, closely resemble a monologue from the film, sparking accusations of misusing religious rhetoric.
- Critics argue that Austin's use of religious language distracts from military messaging, particularly during heightened tensions with Iran.
The Hankyoreh reports on a peculiar controversy surrounding U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who appears to have quoted lines from the iconic film 'Pulp Fiction' instead of a biblical passage during a Pentagon prayer service. Austin presented the text as 'CSAR 25:17,' a prayer for a rescue mission, claiming it reflected Ezekiel 25:17. However, the wording closely matched a famous monologue delivered by Samuel L. Jackson's character in Quentin Tarantino's 1994 film.
The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. Blessed is he who, in the name of charity and good will, shepherds the weak through the valley of darkness, for he is truly his brother's keeper and the finder of lost children. And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is Sandy 1 when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
This gaffe has drawn significant online ridicule, with many mocking Austin for seemingly reciting movie dialogue as scripture. The Pentagon, through spokesperson Sean Reilly, defended Austin, stating the phrase was a custom prayer used by the 'Sandy-1' rescue unit in Iran and that the movie's quote was inspired by the biblical verse. Reilly dismissed accusations of misquoting the Bible as 'fake news.'
The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men. And I will strike down upon you with great vengeance and furious anger those who attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
Despite the Pentagon's defense, the article suggests growing fatigue with Austin's frequent use of religious rhetoric in official settings. He has previously been criticized for comparing journalists to Pharisees and has been urged by figures like Steve Bannon to focus on military briefings rather than religious references. This incident highlights a broader concern within some circles, including within the Trump camp, that religious language is overshadowing military messaging, especially during sensitive times like the current tensions with Iran. The situation underscores a demand for clear operational explanations and responsible communication over symbolic or faith-based rhetoric when military actions are concerned.
The Bible verse Ezekiel 25:17 is the inspiration for the movie quote.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
