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Bauer: Anti-War Rhetoric Rooted in Nation's 'Blame America' Education

By Fred Jackson, Jody Brown, and Bill Fancher
March 18, 2003

(AgapePress) - A leading pro-family advocate suggests the anti-war movement demonstrated across America in recent weeks stems from a public school system that has fostered a "blame America first" attitude.

Gary Bauer
Gary Bauer says the derogatory remarks from the Dixie Chicks singing group about President Bush (see below) last week are just the latest evidence of a "self-loathing hatred" that has taken hold in America. He points to other examples -- such as a recent anti-war protest in California where the demonstrators ripped apart a memorial to those killed in the 9-11 terrorist attacks, and an editorial from author Tom Robbins who suggested that the worst thing about a war with Iraq is that there is no chance America might lose.

Bauer believes the seeds of the "blame America" attitude have been sown in the nation's schools. He says during his presidential bid a few years back, he was confronted in classrooms by kids as young as 10 or 11 who had been taught every one of America's flaws -- and nothing about their country's greatness.

Bauer says it is time to "re-arm the hearts and souls of our children ... by teaching them to love God, to cherish this good and decent land, and to appreciate the spilled blood and the patriot graves."

Got Tact?
The Dixie Chicks singing group is facing the wrath of a lot of angry fans after lead singer Natalie Maines began a concert in London last week with these words: "Just so you know, we're ashamed the President of the United States is from Texas."

Maines, a native of Lubbock, Texas, issued an apology on Friday for the apparent anti-war comment. "As a concerned American citizen, I apologize to President Bush because my remark was disrespectful. I feel that whoever holds that office should be treated with the utmost respect," Maines said.

Despite the apology, though, many fans and the radio stations which play the Dixie Chicks' music are not in a forgiving mood. Some stations are boycotting the group.

One station in Kansas City has set out garbage cans so people can throw away their Dixie Chicks CDs. And in Bossier City, Louisiana, a few hundred protesters brought in a 33,000-pound tractor to crush their CDs.

Is Anybody Listening?
Meanwhile, the anti-war rhetoric continues to increase -- especially in Hollywood, where liberals are attacking the president and the impending war with Iraq.

Black entertainer Harry Belafonte recently called the president an "evil" man. He has also labeled Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice as "house slaves" of Mr. Bush.

American Renewal director Richard Lessner says while stars like Belafonte, Martin Sheen, Sean Penn, Johnny Depp, and Barbra Streisand have the right to speak what they feel, he trusts the common sense of the American people.

"I don't think most Americans expect [celebrities] to have expertise [on the subject]," Lessner says. "I don't think anyone seriously looks to Barbra Streisand for guidance in their political thinking."

As more and more stars speak out against the war, a few like former Senator Fred Thompson are voicing support.