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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: Dr. Jaguar DuPre

“they have the right to govern, and majority rules. Anything against that paradigm is treason, don’t you see?”

Sorry there pal. They forfeited that right.


341 posted on 03/23/2010 12:48:35 PM PDT by Shaun_MD
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To: 50mm

Talk about sleepers, this may take the cake. Hoo hah.


342 posted on 03/23/2010 12:48:41 PM PDT by bcsco (Obama: Hokus Pokus POTUS)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

That ZOT should be gold plated for knocking out a sleeper that old...


343 posted on 03/23/2010 12:49:52 PM PDT by bcsco (Obama: Hokus Pokus POTUS)
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To: bcsco

LOL!

Yeah!


344 posted on 03/23/2010 12:50:13 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops, and vote out the RINOS)
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To: stephenjohnbanker

Was working on a retread this morning, but so far no kitty...


345 posted on 03/23/2010 12:51:13 PM PDT by bcsco (Obama: Hokus Pokus POTUS)
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To: BIGLOOK
"I hear that the AGs of thirty seven states are about to file suits against this bill as unconstitutional. If my math is correct that's 74% of the states, one more puts it over the 75% mark, which in the number of states needed to adopt an amendment to the Constitution."

Indeed, correct. Unfortunately, most of the non-representing representatives in congress no longer with for their states. Therein lies the rub.

346 posted on 03/23/2010 12:51:25 PM PDT by ronnyquest (There's a communist living in the White House! Now, what are you going to do about it?)
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To: Dr. Jaguar DuPre
Gibbs? Is that you?.
347 posted on 03/23/2010 12:51:57 PM PDT by WakeUpAndVote (Drill baby, drill!)
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To: Kaslin

What Good Can a Handgun Do Against an Army.....?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/backroom/2312894/posts?page=242


348 posted on 03/23/2010 12:53:36 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (If we're an Empire, why are Cuba, Iraq, the Philippines, Japan & Germany independent?)
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To: bcsco

Ah well, such is battle ;-)


349 posted on 03/23/2010 12:59:16 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker (Support our troops, and vote out the RINOS)
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To: CodeToad

Liberals also like to send Americans to internment camps—FDR signed Executive Order 9066—


350 posted on 03/23/2010 12:59:18 PM PDT by reagandemocrat
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To: Irisshlass

‘The reason the way things are the way they are is because people don’t vote. There is a small percentage of people that vote. People need to get off their dead asses and vote!’

That’s is the biggest reason.


351 posted on 03/23/2010 12:59:40 PM PDT by RedMDer (Recycle Congress in 2010, 2012... Forward with Confidence! Forward!)
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To: papertyger
Unfortunate that you need to resort to insults. No better than a lib.

You are, truly, a paper tiger after all.

352 posted on 03/23/2010 1:00:02 PM PDT by wbill
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To: Dr. Jaguar DuPre; 50mm; darkwing104
Kenny the Snake Stabler responds to your idiocy
353 posted on 03/23/2010 1:02:36 PM PDT by GOP_Raider (<----Click over there for a special message from GOP_Raider)
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To: echomike23

Many of us know officers. How will the chain of command react?

There’s a reason Obama wants his own armed militia.


354 posted on 03/23/2010 1:06:50 PM PDT by bIlluminati (Don't just hope for change, work for change in 2010.)
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To: jtal

All civil wars start out as non-violent. This will inevitably become violent — it’s only a question of degree. And it will be Obama’s statists that start it.


355 posted on 03/23/2010 1:07:24 PM PDT by Dionysius (Jingoism is no vice in these troubled times.)
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To: backhoe

ain’t that the truth...


356 posted on 03/23/2010 1:09:54 PM PDT by Lucky9teen (If politicians had to live by the rules they make, there would be different rules.)
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To: wbill
Unfortunate that you need to resort to insults.

So how do you suggest I carry on a disagreement with an "adult" who actually used the "well how do YOU know" tactic ... like a petulant teenage girl?

Don't like "papertyger?" I thought "boy named Sue" would be too obvious ;o)

357 posted on 03/23/2010 1:15:58 PM PDT by papertyger
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To: Admin Moderator

Nice ZOT!


358 posted on 03/23/2010 1:17:33 PM PDT by CSM (Keeper of the "Dave Ramsey Fan" ping list. FReepmail me if you want your beeber stuned.)
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To: Dead Corpse
indeed, the peaceful but ARMED rally on the Va side is prolly a mixed blessing for the country...

lots of cameras need to capture the events that day...for posterity...

359 posted on 03/23/2010 1:20:46 PM PDT by Gilbo_3 (Gov is not reason; not eloquent; its force.Like fire,a dangerous servant & master. George Washington)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Fortunately, at least one type of lawsuit can be launched against this law, said lawsuit being based on the fact that this REVENUE-RAISING bill originated in the Senate, not the House.

Wonderful, but do you believe in our liberal courts, including SCOTUS that is at the whims of Judge Kennedy? I don't. Moreover, this is due process in a country of laws, shredded by progressives many times over.

360 posted on 03/23/2010 1:21:17 PM PDT by melancholy
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