FSM HOT TOPICS
Why Are We No Longer On The Same Page?
by DR. LAINA FARHAT-HOLZMAN October 22, 2010
What has happened to us that our national parties have morphed into extreme versions, each supported by news sources that only support their political preferences? What has happened to the mainstream?
While there are plenty of differences of opinion, many of them reasonable, something new has emerged that pushes people into extreme positions that at the sacrifice of core values. How do we maintain a civil society with such rancor?
Human Rights. Most Americans value the human rights of all of us—at least in principle. Why, then, are only conservatives complaining about the lack of human rights in the Muslim world? This used to be a liberal issue! Those who protect the rights of women should be outspoken against such issues as honor killing and should support such women as Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who has left Islam because of its traditional abuse of women. Instead, she is attacked by liberal critics for being “too harsh” on Islam, and even liberal feminists are mum.
And why should conservatives who believe in equal individual human rights not support the long-delayed abandonment of “don’t ask, don’t tell,” which forces good soldiers to lie or leave the service? How can conservatives with their disdain for mob rule and group think be hostile to individuals who happen to be gay?
Government. Our government was founded by people who knew how bad oppressive government is. It was elite conservatives who believed that a republic was the way to go—but that it required an educated electorate and a system of divided power (president, congress, courts). Our public school system was designed to teach all of our young people how to be thinking and informed citizens. Later conservatives used government to establish railroad systems, roads, canals and bridges to serve our economic growth. Entrepreneurialism is conservative.
It was our liberals who saw to it that more people could vote by expanding the franchise. It was also liberals who pushed for values of fairness, cooperation, and the optimistic view that human beings could be improved. It was also liberals who believed that immigrants could be integrated into a unified America. And both parties loved their country.
How can the extreme fringes of both parties now trash their former views? Are the conservatives willing to give up Medicare or Social Security (for themselves)? And extreme liberals complain about government spying on “peace activists,” even though these peace activists are active supporters of that most unpeaceful terrorist group, Hamas.
Foreign Policy. Choices in this arena have always been contentious. Conservatives were traditionally isolationist and liberals interventionist in support of our values (to the point of war). They appear to have switched sides. Liberals who historically supported Israel, a country that shares their best values, are now supporting Palestinians, who have no liberal values, but are “underdogs” and “anti-colonial.” Is supporting the underdog better than supporting people with our values?
And what has happened to conservatives who used to be against foreign adventures? Why are they eager to support our conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, with their hopeless efforts to promote democracy? And why are liberals resentful of these wars that were trying to further our best ideals?
We really do have much more in common than we think today. Using the mantra of “the enemy of my enemy is my friend” is not good enough. Furthermore, how can our own government be our enemy? And how can it be attacked (for different reasons) by both the far left and far right?
There is something wrong here.
Join FSM and stay informed. Get your daily Security Update delivered each day to your e-mail.
The #twittergulag saga continues: @gopfirecracker suspended, others still trapped
May 21, 2012 11:54 PM
#freegopfirecracker #freegopfirecracker #freegopfirecracker #freegopfirecracker— Dale Holt (@DaleHolt8) May 22, 2012 Come on conservatives! Everyone rallied around @ChrisLoesch when he was suspended! Now its @gopfirecracker so stand up! #freegopfirecracker— Schmoop (@RGSchmoop) May 22, 2012 Hey @twitter and @support – #FreeGOPfirecracker's account has been suspended. Please fix this mishap. Thank you.— Gabriella Hoffman (@Gabby_Hoffman) May 22, 2012 [...]
Cory Booker tweets #IStandWithObama; Hashtag hijackers flood the zone
May 21, 2012 11:39 PM
Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker, the Democrat who defended Bain from the Obama campaign's attacks yesterday morning, has been backpedaling more furiously than a clown on a high wire. Tonight, in an effort to mollify his critics on the Left, he posted four tweets that included the hashtag #IStandWithObama. Conservatives immediately took over the #IStandWithObama hashtag to mock President Obama, and within an hour it became a trending topic.
Cory Booker tries to clear up his position on Bain attacks
May 21, 2012 10:25 PM
Cory Booker continued his quest to run screaming away from the apparently too candid comments he made on Meet the Press on Sunday. Despite attempts earlier today to #FreeCoryBooker from those trying to force him to apologize Booker went on the Rachel Maddow show to do everything he could to walk back what he said. Que the mockery.
Obama's 'When you're president' picture spawns hashtag
May 21, 2012 09:59 PM
"When you're president, as opposed to the head of a private equity firm, then your job is not simply to maximize profits. Your job is to figure out how everybody in the country has a fair shot." -Barack Obama
Cue #WhenYouArePresident
Obama takes anti-Romney rant to Twitter
May 21, 2012 09:49 PM
It started off this morning with a video of a woman named Valerie from Indiana posted by Barack Obama’s official Twitter account. 12 hours, 12 tweets and a failed hashtag later, Obama’s reelection team took the day to tweet ongoing misinformation about Mitt Romney’s record in the private sector, specifically Bain Capital’s work with the [...]
FSM Archives
blog comments powered by Disqus