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It's a Civil War: What We Do Now
Townhall.com ^ | March 23, 2010 | Dennis Prager

Posted on 03/23/2010 4:56:20 AM PDT by Kaslin

A terrible thing happened to America on Sunday, March 21, 2010.

The country took its biggest step ever down a road diametrically opposed to its original intent of keeping the state small so that the individual can be free and great.

Therefore, in this unprecedented crisis of values, this is what needs to be done:

1. Know and teach America's core values.

We got to this point solely because over the past few generations, Americans have forgotten the values that have made America distinctive and great. Even the "Greatest Generation" failed to communicate them.

In a nutshell, they are what I call the American Trinity: "In God we trust," "Liberty" and "E Pluribus Unum." The left has successfully made war on all three -- substituting secularism for God and religion in as much of American life as possible; substituting equality (of result) for liberty; and multiculturalism is the opposite of "E Pluribus Unum."

People who do not understand American ideals -- especially small government -- now dominate our schools, our entertainment media and our news media.

(My own contribution here is a video titled, "The American Trinity" at prageru.com. Please view it and forward it.)

2. Recognize that we are fighting the left, not liberals.

Conservatives and centrists are no longer fighting liberals. We are fighting the left.

Liberalism believed in American exceptionalism; the left not only does not believe in it, the left opposes it. President Obama, when asked if he believes in American exceptionalism, replied, "I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism, and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism."

Liberalism believed in creating wealth; the left is interested in redistributing it.

Liberalism believed in a strong defense. The left believes in cutting defense and a strong United Nations.

3. Democrats should be referred to as Social Democrats. This is not meant to be cute, let alone as a slur. But calling Democrats Social Democrats is an effective way of reminding Americans that there is no longer any difference between what is now known as the Democratic Party and the Social Democratic parties of Europe. When the Democratic Party returns to its roots as a liberal, not a left-wing, party, we will happily resume calling the party by its original name. However, since no Democrat can cite a significant difference between the Democratic Party and the SD parties, there is no good reason not to use the more accurate nomenclature.

4. Work tirelessly to repeal the bill.

We must single-mindedly work to repeal the government health plan. We all know that it is difficult to repeal entitlements because they are like drugs and it is very difficult to wean people off drugs. But it is not impossible. We need to warn our fellow Americans that entitlements will do to America what drugs eventually do to addicts.

All Republicans must run for office on the "repeal" issue. Even when they lose, the difference between right and left, between Republicans and Social Democrats will have been made clear; and clarity is our best friend.

5. Our motto: "The bigger the government, the smaller the citizen."

I used this phrase in addressing the Republican members of Congress. It has become widely used, including by Rep. David Dreier, R-Calif., on the House floor during the Congressional debate on Sunday. It encapsulates this epic battle of American values versus leftist values. Every movement needs a motto. I nominate this.

6. Do not let other matters distract.

Neither Republicans nor conservatives are united on every issue facing America. Immigration is one example. But we are united on the big government vs. free individual issue, which, more than anything else, has defined America. If we allow any other domestic issue to divide us, we will lose.

And here's why: If Americans forget what America stands for, it won't help us if there is not one illegal immigrant here. And if we do remember what it means to be American, we can handle anything.

7. Acknowledge that we are in a non-violent civil war.

I write the words "civil war" with an ache in my heart. But we are in one.

Thank God this civil war is non-violent. But the fact is that the left and the rest of the country share almost no values. The American value system and the leftist value system are irreconcilable. If the left wins, America's values lose. If American values prevail, the left loses.

After Sunday's vote, for the first time in American history, one could no longer confidently believe that the American system will prevail. And if we don't fight for it, we don't deserve it.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Front Page News; US: Missouri
KEYWORDS: 111th; 2010; 2010midterms; bho44; bhofascism; bhosocialism; bhotyranny; bringdownthatbill; civilwar; cwii; cwiiping; democrats; dennisprager; donttreadonme; elections; fail; government; liberalfascism; liberalism; liberalprogressivism; liberals; missouri; obama; obamacare; prager; pragerudotcom; progressives; progressivism; revwar2; socialdemocrats; socialism; socialistdemocrats; tyranny
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To: Kaslin
Neither Republicans nor conservatives are united on every issue facing America. Immigration is one example. But we are united on the big government vs. free individual issue, which, more than anything else, has defined America. If we allow any other domestic issue to divide us, we will lose.

This is a very important point. One of the reasons that the GOP lost support last year was that some very vocal people became obsessed with immigration and this was exploited by the Dems to distract the GOP from its central issue, which is keeping government small and preserving the freedom of the individual. I thought it was interesting that those who yelled the loudest and attacked George Bush as though he were the devil incarnate had no suggestions of their own, and to me this indicated that a lot of them were Dem plants, stirring up the gullible to create division and confusion.

It's no accident that the Dems are bringing up immigration again, because they know this is going to distract a certain segment of the GOP and cause such hysteria that the real damage they plan to do - the final extension of government control through the cap and trade bill, which will essentially give the government control over our food supply, travel and living space - won't be noticed until too late.

We must not let ourselves be distracted.

61 posted on 03/23/2010 5:37:36 AM PDT by livius
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To: Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)
Could we have won wars by being “non-violent?”

Allot of social struggles have been won this way. The public will see the truth of the coming tyranny if they see hundreds of average Americans being hauled off to jail for passive civil disobedience. Violent acts, will be used to marginalize us. This requires a willingness to get arrested, not something that comes easily to a conservative.

62 posted on 03/23/2010 5:38:27 AM PDT by outofstyle (Anti-socialist)
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To: echomike23
I think they're from Uranus.

sorry... couldn't resist

63 posted on 03/23/2010 5:39:28 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: Kaslin

Non-violent civil wars always turn violent.

“Cold” wars always turn “hot.”

We’ve been in a non-violent civil culture war for many decades. Sunday’s vote was a declaration that the central government is DARING freedom lovers to make the “cold” culture war “hot.”

Socialized medicine is an open declaration that “your health, your life, your wealth, is OURS to determine and make use of.”


64 posted on 03/23/2010 5:39:40 AM PDT by GoodDay (Palin for POTUS 2012)
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To: Kaslin

Damn. It’s true, but damn. Sad to be at this point.

I’m in.


65 posted on 03/23/2010 5:40:42 AM PDT by News Junkie ( Reason and Faith)
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To: Travis McGee

I’m your huckleberry.


66 posted on 03/23/2010 5:41:04 AM PDT by Repeal The 17th (Thank you for your contribution. Your comment has been submitted for review.)
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To: indylindy
The non violent Iranians have not had too much luck with a non violent civil war. The other side has the guns, holds the power, and counts the votes.

That should tell us something about what is coming on the horizon.


It seems to me, if the military honors their oath to defend the Constitution, they'll side with us and we can mop up the commies in no time.
67 posted on 03/23/2010 5:41:06 AM PDT by crosshairs
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To: RipSawyer

That’s a very interesting observation.

It’s the opposite distribution curve as intelligence.

There are fewer men of average intelligence than there are of women of average intelligence.

But, there are many more men of both high intellect and very low intellect than there are of women of either extreme.


68 posted on 03/23/2010 5:41:06 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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To: Kaslin

What does “Civil war” mean? I am a conservative and too stupid to understand....


69 posted on 03/23/2010 5:41:07 AM PDT by mikelets456
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To: Kaslin
My impression if Dennis is he is a kind and gentle man, someone you wouldn't mind to have as an Uncle.

For him to couch this in such strong language, given his careful choice of words at all times (he is not a firebrand) is a bigger deal than we preceive at this moment.

FWIW, even the most liberal of Jews know of him and for the most part will respect him and agree to disagree. I suspect within the "Reform" Jewsih community this will get some notice.....

70 posted on 03/23/2010 5:41:46 AM PDT by taildragger (Palin/Mulally 2012)
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To: Kaslin
‘Thank God this civil war is non-violent.’

No, it isn't and it does not have to be. Americans need to boycott industries which are subsidized by the gov’t. or which propagate Anti-American views. You know who they are AND none of the ‘things’ they produce are irreplaceable or vital. Keep your dollars in your pocked.

Number two: The legislation, if it is made into law, (even if it isn't) is a howling fraud on the public.

Counter that... I suggest we all go to the bank and ask for our money! Seriously

71 posted on 03/23/2010 5:42:13 AM PDT by SMARTY ("What luck for rulers that men do not think. " Adolph Hitler)
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To: News Junkie

i wonder if one was to start (cw2) would it come from independent militias or states that eventually would call upon militias?

would the 10th amendment be the site for the boiling point?


72 posted on 03/23/2010 5:42:52 AM PDT by echomike23
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To: RipSawyer

It’s so crazy. History has been through all of this so many times, it amazes me that there are still some “useful idiots”, to coin a phrase. One can start with the Roman Mob and go all the way up to Peristoika and Britain’s NHS to see why and how this won’t work.

Humans are humans and will always will be. One does not need be a student of history to understand the common sense that we all possess; thus the name COMMON sense. When one has to work as hard to bend truth as the Obamites are, you are committed. As Hitler noted in Mein Kampf “the people will always the Big Lie” as opposed to the small one.


73 posted on 03/23/2010 5:44:21 AM PDT by LurkLongley (Ad Majoram Dei Gloriam-For the Greater Glory of God)
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To: wolfcreek
Sand in the gears. Metaphorically speaking of course.


74 posted on 03/23/2010 5:44:40 AM PDT by listenhillary (Capitalism = billions raised from poverty, Socialism = billions reduced to starvation)
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To: livius
I consider immigration to be THE central issue. There is ZERO hope of ever having anything resembling a restored Constitutional Republic once the voting roles are bloated by 20,000,000 hard core leftist/Democratic voters from Mexico.

Anyone who doesn't get this is delusional. Amnesty is game, set and match in a way that Health Care isn't. Heath care is a terrible battle to lose, but immigration is the war.

So, yes, I'm obsessed and will continue to be obsessed, until such time as we lose on that at which point I will withdraw from politics, it being at that point a total waste of time.

75 posted on 03/23/2010 5:45:14 AM PDT by Jack Black
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To: Kaslin

The bigger picture is that the entire country is in a war with a corrupt DC. Sad really.


76 posted on 03/23/2010 5:46:29 AM PDT by Earthdweller (Harvard won the election again...so what's the problem.......?)
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To: Jack Black

Very interesting and sinister film. It’s hard to think of an innocent explanation for that camp.


77 posted on 03/23/2010 5:46:41 AM PDT by Travis McGee (---www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com---)
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To: Kaslin

Anyone who wishes to shred or even stomp the Constitution is an enemy of the state whether they be from the left or right and there are authoritarian opportunists from both sides. The fight for self-government was against authoritarianism which is oriented up and down on the axis, not left or right. The difference is government coersion vs. freedom and self-determination.


78 posted on 03/23/2010 5:47:15 AM PDT by dajeeps
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To: Kaslin
[ We got to this point solely because over the past few generations, Americans have forgotten the values that have made America distinctive and great. Even the "Greatest Generation" failed to communicate them. ]

WRONG..... The republicans allowed the teachers Unions to STOP teaching civics and American History to grade and high schools.. To wit; americans don't have a clue of what america is or even USED to be..

Also; not taught is what a democracy, a republic and socialism is.. American do not know communism IS socialism.. as well as Nazism and fascism.. Communism, Nazism an fascist are all socialism..

Progressive schools have eliminated or "hidden" this knowledge from most americans.. And americas colleges are actually re-education camps to enhance this LACK of knowledge... Republicans have allowed america to be DUMBED DOWN.. Yes.. REPUBLICANS.. They did absolutely NOTHING ABOUT THIS for decades..

79 posted on 03/23/2010 5:47:40 AM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole....)
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To: echomike23

I think the healthcare state/fed showdown will not turn violent,

but I believe these “firearms freedom acts” WILL end in a violent conflict.

There is NO WAY the BATF is going to give up this area of jackbootery without shooting someone.


80 posted on 03/23/2010 5:48:59 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a humanist and a Satanist is that the latter knows who he's working for.)
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