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The second American civil war: What it's about: Part II
townhall.com ^ | 10/21/03 | Dennis Prager

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.

Contact Dennis Prager | Read Prager's biography



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: coldcivilwar; conservatives; culturewars; cwii; dennisprager; theleft
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To: Cannoneer No. 4
Please add me to your *CWII Pilgrims* list.

Target! Cease fire.

181 posted on 10/21/2003 6:51:53 PM PDT by archy (Angiloj! Mia kusenveturilo estas plena da angiloj!)
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To: archy
Mine's an octagon reciever rebarelled by Sako in 1970, the last year they built them. Awesome rifle at any price. For what I paid it's absurdly great. Nice wood even.
182 posted on 10/21/2003 6:55:43 PM PDT by Jack Black
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To: MileHi
you want on our ping list regarding the countdown? I do, if you please

You're on, and you're welcome.

-archy-/-

183 posted on 10/21/2003 6:56:24 PM PDT by archy (Angiloj! Mia kusenveturilo estas plena da angiloj!)
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To: archy
Typically for years. It will be a Social War. Such wars are based far more on the passions than upon a political ideal. The Civil War was in the main political in nature, i.e. a central government vs. a confederation of States.
184 posted on 10/21/2003 6:58:28 PM PDT by AEMILIUS PAULUS (Further, the statement assumed)
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To: Charles Martel
Hey, archy... at your convenience, please add me to your ping list.

You're added, Charles, and you're welcome.

-archy-/-

185 posted on 10/21/2003 6:59:10 PM PDT by archy (Angiloj! Mia kusenveturilo estas plena da angiloj!)
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To: dpa5923
If possible, I would like to be included in this ping list also.

Possible and accomplished. You're on, and welcome aboard.

186 posted on 10/21/2003 7:01:17 PM PDT by archy (Angiloj! Mia kusenveturilo estas plena da angiloj!)
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To: Jack Black
Agree, Completely!!

We are NOT in a "Civil War;" we are in a Time of "Civil Upheaval!!"

Americans "WELL & TRULY REMEMBER" "9/11;" we need NO FURTHER MOTIVATION to Institute a "War on Terror!"

"Political Operatives" trying to use our Current "War" are SADLY "OFF-BASE"-- trying to create political issues concerning our current "War on Terror."

The American People Aren't stupid; WE KNOW who our "Allies" are--& Who we cannot trust.

America KNOWS that we are largely, "on our own" in this fight; we will have some help from our "traditional, English-speaking Allies," but we MUST FIGHT the "Psychopathic Islamic Radicals" MOSTLY ON OUR OWN.

SO BE IT; WE are the better, more Civilized, more Peaceful, more Worthy Culture!

"W" was RIGHT; "Bring IT ON!!!;" we are in a "Fight to the Finish--a Fight we MUST WIN!!

Doc

187 posted on 10/21/2003 7:08:53 PM PDT by Doc On The Bay
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To: Jack Black
Mine's an octagon reciever rebarelled by Sako in 1970, the last year they built them. Awesome rifle at any price. For what I paid it's absurdly great. Nice wood even

A Sneak! Yep, they were built for *Special Purposes* by the Finns, who hadn't quite forgetten all the neat features of the M91 as reworked by Harry Manser. And your late M39 has the .311 bore and D-chamber that allows the use of USSR-/Warsaw Pact standard ammunition. My old 28-30s have .308 bores and use any good .308 bullet, usually a handloading proposition in the 7,62x53r case.


188 posted on 10/21/2003 7:09:57 PM PDT by archy (Angiloj! Mia kusenveturilo estas plena da angiloj!)
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To: familyofman
Hehehehe! Good one!
189 posted on 10/21/2003 7:34:15 PM PDT by m18436572
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To: archy
It's tougher to accomplish without the time machine, but I'm giving it a shot.
190 posted on 10/21/2003 8:51:44 PM PDT by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: archy
Me too, please.

Thanks.
191 posted on 10/21/2003 9:03:34 PM PDT by Badray (Molon Labe!)
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To: Jack Black
" Are the issue dividing left and right more severe than those in the 60s around the time of Vietnam?"

I think that a few factors are at work that didn't really come into play in the 60's.

For one thing, the left has gained a near stanglehold on the news media, the entertainment media, education, and the government itself. There has been 40 years of indoctrination and acceptance of it by many in this country. The respect for the rights of the individual are at an all time low - it's all about class and race and orientation now. Groupism and class envy are the watchwords of the day.

Those of us on the right who still value these things are more aware of the threat to our way of life and will not suffer the abuse much longer. If it is delayed much longer, resistance will be futile (yeah, yeah - it's a movie line). The longer the minds of our young are in their hands, the fewer there will be who will even know or care about the America we love and won't fight for it.

192 posted on 10/21/2003 10:06:52 PM PDT by Badray (Molon Labe!)
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To: Badray
Me too, please.

Thanks.

You're on, and you're welcome.

-archy-/-

193 posted on 10/21/2003 10:51:17 PM PDT by archy (Angiloj! Mia kusenveturilo estas plena da angiloj!)
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To: archy
Please add me to the list. Thanks!
194 posted on 10/21/2003 11:45:07 PM PDT by spodefly (This is my tagline. There are many like it, but this one is mine.)
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To: spodefly
Please add me to the list. Thanks!

You're on, and Welcome!

195 posted on 10/21/2003 11:49:26 PM PDT by archy (Angiloj! Mia kusenveturilo estas plena da angiloj!)
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To: Travis McGee
"Do you know of any other books about the 'second civil war' which are up to the minute in their history, including 9-11, the Beltway Sniper, the Patriot Acts? If you do, I'd like to hear about them."

Just the ones that are vanity published.
196 posted on 10/22/2003 5:32:12 AM PDT by ought-six
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To: ought-six
Sounds like you are in the publishing industry, one of those agent-groupies who thinks it's still 1968 on 5th Avenue, and computers have not been invented. Good luck with the buggy whip sales, but I don't have 3 years to knee crawl through Manhatten fellating every literary agent in sight. Some folks do enjoy that, but I don't have time.
197 posted on 10/22/2003 7:32:13 AM PDT by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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Comment #198 Removed by Moderator

To: JJDKII
Please add me to your list. Thanks.

You've been added, and you're very welcome.

-archy-/-

199 posted on 10/22/2003 8:20:11 AM PDT by archy (Angiloj! Mia kusenveturilo estas plena da angiloj!)
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To: kattracks
Read later.
200 posted on 10/22/2003 8:57:54 AM PDT by EagleMamaMT
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