Yes! And the fact that two philosophers of such different bent have arrived at the same conclusions adds tremendously to their validity in my estimation.
Posted on 10/20/2003 9:31:19 PM PDT by kattracks
In part one, I described nine areas of major conflict between the Right and the Left in American life, a conflict that rivals the First Civil War in intensity, though thankfully not in violence. Here in part two, I describe 15 others.
The Left regards American nationalism as dangerous, is more comfortable celebrating world citizenship and prefers that America follow the lead of international organizations such as the United Nations. The Right celebrates American nationalism, distrusts world organizations, prefers that America lead humanity and regards the United Nations as largely a moral wasteland.The Left believes that sensitivity to minorities' feelings trumps the majority's will. The Right believes that when not immoral, the majority's will trumps that of the minority. For example, because some employees do not celebrate Christmas, the Left believes that organizations should rename their Christmas party the "holiday party." The Right believes that because the vast majority of Americans celebrate Christmas, the party should be called a Christmas party.
The Left believes that a woman must have an unrestricted right to choose an abortion but no right to choose a silicone breast implant. The Right believes that society must decide when abortions are moral and legal but a woman has the right to choose to have a silicone breast implant.
The Left believes that attacking world poverty will greatly reduce Islamic terror. The Right believes that poverty is largely unrelated to Islamic terror.
The Left believes that George W. Bush attacked Iraq mostly for economic gain. The Right believes George W. Bush attacked Iraq to protect America and to change the Arab world for the better.
The Left believes that a high rate of taxation of people who earn more money is a moral imperative. The Right believes that allowing people to keep as much of their money as possible is a moral imperative.
The Left identifies with the values of most university professors in the liberal arts and values their insights. The Right regards most of these professors as moral idiots.
The Left believes that the greatest danger to mankind, as former Vice President Al Gore wrote in his book "Earth in the Balance," is the threat to the environment. The Right believes that the greatest danger to humanity is, as it always has been, human evil.
The Left believes that marriage should be redefined and that judges alone are entitled to do so. The Right believes that the millennia-old definition of marriage as between members of the two sexes is inviolable and that it can't be redefined by jurists.
The Left believes that in terms of parenthood, all a child needs is love, whether that love comes from a single parent, two men, two women or some other adult. The Right believes that children do best with the love of two married parents of the opposite sex.
The Left believes that opposing race-based college dorms, graduation ceremonies, congressional caucuses or professional organizations is racist. The Right believes that race-based college dorms, graduation ceremonies, congressional caucuses and professional organizations are racist.
The Left believes that labeling any enemy of the United States "evil" is wrong. It was wrong when President Ronald Reagan labeled the Soviet Union an "evil empire," and it was wrong when President George W. Bush labeled Iran, Iraq and North Korea an "axis of evil." The Right believes that not labeling such regimes "evil" is a sign of moral confusion and appeasement.
The Left is preoccupied with health. Leftist parents are more likely to believe that it is preferable that their teenager cheat on a test than smoke. Parents on the Right are more likely to believe that it is better that their teenager smoke than cheat.
The Left believes that just as America and the Soviet Union were equally responsible for the Cold War, Israel and the Palestinians are equally responsible for Middle East violence. The Right believes that just as the Soviets were responsible for the Cold War, the Arab enemies of Israel are responsible for Middle East violence.
The Left believes that criticism of Christianity is important and that criticism of Islam is bigoted. The Right believes that criticism of Islam is important and that most criticism of Christianity is bigoted.
I am well aware that not everyone on the Left agrees with every leftist position and not everyone on the Right agrees with every rightist one. Nat Hentoff is a leftist who doesn't support abortion rights; Pat Buchanan is a rightist who doesn't support Israel. But the existence of individual exceptions does not negate the fact that all the positions listed here as Left or Right are correctly labeled.
The fact is that this country is profoundly divided on virtually every major social, personal and political issue. We are in the midst of the Second American Civil War. Who wins it will determine the nature of this country as much as the winner of the first did.
©2003 Creators Syndicate, Inc.
Thanks.
You're on, and you're welcome.
-archy-/-
And the idea of Russians with lever actions is just cool as heck!
In this case the author posits a particularly sudden economic breakdown/crash, hardly an unlikely possibility, and the real difficulties come to pass as the fed.gov tries to regain/restore control after self-governance on a local order is more or less restored.
The screenplay Pulling Throughis on line and is worth consideration, and a hard copy version can probably be arranged; the author is a fairly common poster on the FALFiles webboard.
-archy-/-
Semper Fi!
You're on. Considering your screenname, would you also care to be added to the Stryker Armored Car/SCBT ping list?
And welcome to the list!
-archy-/-
I don't think that leadership of the sort or with the character of those who led the Confederacy either politically or militarily is there to do so today, but it's at least possible that it could develop, as such Confederate examples as Cleburne and Forrest did on that first go-around.
But that may be a mixed blessing, in that without such leadership, individual hotspots of conflict may particularly develop, and without a unified state or national command, it may get pretty difficult to get such things to abate once begun.
But I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see symbols of the Confederacy become rallying flags for some in the days to come. And possibly, the uniforms and unit designations and guidons of regiments from long ago as well.
-archy-/-
So included. Welcome.
-archy-/-
Well, to be fair, a few isolated cases of verbal excesses by unwise individuals does not a civil war make.
I'll make you a bet: if anything, ANYTHING happens to *Jungle Jerry* Boykin, even if he should be hit by a meteor, for instance, I'll collect points very shortly thereafter for the entry of Cokie Roberts I just made on an online *dead pool* website that counts such sudden mishaps.
-archy-/-
I'm obliged to have included you on it, and particularly glad to have you on it.
-archy-/-
And the indicators that Chittum has listed? How 'bout them.
In my book, Chittum and Prager have described the two sides of the same coin.
-archy-/-
Yes! And the fact that two philosophers of such different bent have arrived at the same conclusions adds tremendously to their validity in my estimation.
I threw my TV away ten years ago. I hope someone posts the news anchor(s) video. :>)
I strongly urge a Man on Horseback to lead. IMO it's not "if" but "when." It's very, very close to when.
I know I reported Karenna Gore's remarks accurately above. I did not know that there was talk by the leftist swine to actually hang on to office despite the Supreme Court -- though there had always been "reports" that the Clintons planned to hang on some way. If you're out there man, GET ON THE HORSE, ALREADY!
Regarless, IMO the catalyst would be the return of the "Fairness Doctrine." I made a personal vow that I would rather kill than see a return to the dark days when leftists shills could file complaints with government employees threatening conservative radio stations' licenses and shutting down conservative views.
And don't think the Internet is safe. Cass R. Sunstein's book, Republic.com, was well received on the left. It argues that citizens with bigoted, narrow views are a threat to democracy. Internet sites catering to such political views should be forced to offer enlightened views whether citizens want them or not. It doesn't take a lot of guessing to guess who the bigoted, narrow-minded folks are and what the "enlightened" views are. These guys never quit. They'll have to be stopped.
I had a New England Westinghouse 1915. Got it for $40.00 ten years ago. Best forty dollar gun I ever had.
Oh trust me ... you have NO idea
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