Posted on 08/04/2006 12:20:39 PM PDT by My2Cents
"Culture war" in America may be overblown: poll
The so-called culture wars rending America over such issues as abortion, gay marriage and stem cell research may be overblown, based on a U.S. poll released on Thursday.
"Despite talk of 'culture wars' and the high visibility of activist groups on both sides of the cultural divide, there has been no polarization of the public into liberal and conservative camps," the Pew Research Center said, commenting on its poll of 2,003 American adults.
Best illustrating the willingness of Americans to consider opposing points of view is that two-thirds of poll respondents supported finding a middle ground when it comes to abortion rights -- a solid majority that stood up among those calling themselves evangelicals, Catholics, Republicans or Democrats.
The issue of abortion continued to split the country -- 31 percent want it generally available, 20 percent say it should be allowed but want to impose some restrictions, 35 percent want to make it illegal with few exceptions, and 9 percent want it banned altogether.
The poll, sponsored by the nonpartisan research group, was conducted with adults by telephone July 6-19 and had a margin of error of 2.5 percentage points.
On five prominent social issues -- abortion rights, stem cell research, gay marriage, adoption of children by gay couples, and availability of the "morning-after" pill -- most Americans did not take consistent stances.
Just 12 percent took the conservative position on all five issues, while 22 percent took the opposite stance on all five. The bulk of Americans had mixed opinions.
On the subject of gay unions, 56 percent opposed giving gays the right to marry, but 53 percent favored allowing gays to enter into legal agreements that provide many of the same rights as married couples.
There has been an increase in recent years in the proportion of Americans who believe homosexuality is innate -- 36 percent, up from 30 percent in 2003. Similarly, 49 percent believed homosexuals cannot be changed to heterosexual, compared to 42 percent in 2003.
The poll's findings on stem cell research -- which preceded President George W. Bush's veto of a bill to expand federal funding -- showed 56 percent favored the research even though human embryos would be destroyed, while 32 percent were opposed. Most of the gains in support of stem cell research occurred prior to 2004 and has been stable since.
But perhaps more significantly, 57 percent of the respondents said they had heard little or nothing about the stem cell debate.
However, the culture war over abortion is over...Conservatives have won (61% want some type of restrictions).
Good point. But, it could be said that that division is part of the culture war as well.
Even if a minority, there is a solid bloc of committed social conservatives who fortunately have disproportionate influence at election time. Commitment doesn't show up in polls.
First, the culture wars include welfare reform, politically correct speech restrictions, special privileges for "victim" groups, MSM bias, etc, etc.... The fact that it's being referred to as "so-called" means we've got them on the run... If they are allowed to reframe what is and isn't part of the culture war, they'll have a win.
First, the culture wars include welfare reform, politically correct speech restrictions, special privileges for "victim" groups, MSM bias, etc, etc....
The fact that they're calling it "so-called" means we've got them on the run...
Right. This poll only asks questions where they expect to receive mixed or ambivalent responses.
This article is pure hogwash. Gay marraige has been solidly been voted against in every election.
Even the poll shows strong opposition to gay marriage.
The country is less divided on the issues than culture warriors often think. It's the activists for this or that cause that attract the most attention, not the people in the middle. And citizens who actually don't disagree that much on specific issues can be quick to assume that people at the other end of the country are crazy.
You are correct. My question: So, WTF does the issue still keep coming up to be 'voted' on?? Makes no sense to me.
Like de Toucqueville said a long time ago, one of the most interesting things about the American culture is its tendency to discuss issues and move to the center. I know lots of people who call themselves "liberal," and we get along fine, and actually in their personal and professional lives they are really very conservative. However, they repeat their lines about hating Bush and so forth, without much understanding that they are far more to the right than they seem. Likewise, I know a lot of people who would consider themselves "conservative Christians," but they would not bother a lesbian couple living next door even if they understand that it is not a lifestyle approved in Scripture. In fact, they would polite and kind - Christian-like, in a word. So this poll doesn't surprise me. Gay activists are a good example. Those of us who consider such a lifestyle an abomination, sad, or self-destructive are not gathering forces for war against fellow citizens. The activists eagerly paint the other side as a bunch of idiot bigots, but that hasn't stuck, in part because it isn't true and in part because it is an attack on the integrity of their neighbors. The center? Sure, here's your civil union. We won't bother you in your house. Leave the institution of marriage alone, though. There is a still a lot of discord about the activists trying to move through the schools, but left unspoken is the fact that most parents and students don't want to hear about homosexuality in the classroom. That's probably why most of my students now use the word "gay" as insulting commentary about something that is supposed to be good but is actually ill-considered or stupid; that didn't appear in teenager slang until the activists made moves in the education system. Those students saying "that's really gay" will soon be elected to school boards and city councils, and they'll deal with the activists differently than we do.
Just my morning meanderings.
I think you may have said some good things in your "morning meanderings", but you MUST try using some paragraphs. I learned this lesson by getting a similar response a couple of years ago.
Good editing there, my friend.
I'll do better next time.
The only thing that is 'underblown' in America is the stupid democrats!!!!!!
Gee... just in time for the November elections... what a coincidence... /s
You seem to disapprove about wars. I see you signed up today to post that comment. HMMMMM!!!
...most parents and students don't want to hear about homosexuality in the classroom. That's probably why most of my students now use the word "gay" as insulting commentary about something that is supposed to be good but is actually ill-considered or stupid; that didn't appear in teenager slang until the activists made moves in the education system.
Insightful
Actually their new use of the word "gay" probably comes from seeing lots of "South Park." That is the way it is used on the show. It's great that the creators have turned the word "gay" into a term of derision. The gays stole the word which once meant frivolity, and used it to describe an utterly miserable and perverted lifestyle. Now it has been changed. BTW, that illustrates the power of TV on kids. Think of all the garbage that is getting pumped into them by MTV, cable, and the broadcast stations.
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