It's a Civil War: What We Do Now

Townhall.com ^ | March 23, 2010 | Dennis Prager

[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.

[hedgetrimmer]

Your comment makes absolutely no sense.

[hedgetrimmer]

You’re being sarcastic, aren’t you?

[bcsco]

This one: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2476955/posts?page=82#82.

[TexasFreeper2009]

WW2 pales in comparison to the civil war, but I don’t remember the generation after the civil war generation running amock, tearing society apart, become godless, etc.

[Dead Corpse]

My Dad was an immigrant. They came here for the right reasons and worked hard to BE Americans.

Then again, there weren't hot and cold running welfare programs for them to leach off of either. Nor were there "sanctuary cites" that would coddle them.

The problem isn't how many are coming here. The problem is those coming here for the wrong reasons and breaking the laws as their very first act on our soil.

For each wave of immigration, Irish/Chinese/Russian, it was heralded as the End of American Culture and Values. Turns out those pundits were wrong.

It'd be the same this time too. But, we're "doing it wrong". Those coming here now have neither need nor desire to assimilate.

[nanetteclaret]

I “retired” 5 years ago and have never regretted it. A LOT of money can be saved from not spending on things you can either do yourself or forgo: clothes, gas, manicures, housecleaning, laundry, childcare (if you have children), eating out (plus you will eat better), etc. You will probably find that your quality of life will go up even though the paycheck coming in is lower.

[nanetteclaret]

You must be a new Texan, since it’s obvious you never learned about Reconstruction. Look it up and be educated!

[saminfl]

I suggest you read, Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans by T. R. Fehrenbach.

[wbill]

Re: Scoped Rifle....

Good plan, unfortunately, I really don't have a field of fire right now that's good enough for something like that. Now, if I was back home where I grew up, with about 1/2 mile of fields all around me....... but that's another story.

Besides, the sound of a shotgun being racked (esp. on a quiet evening, about 2am, lol!) is about as good a deterrent as any.

[wbill]

we just have to make sure that we vett them well.

Working on that right now.... Step #1 is to dump my current CongressCritter...he's one of Pelosi's Yes Men, and a real Democrat stooge. You might have heard of him, guy's name is "Brad Miller".... he made a small splash on FR during last summer's tea parties when he refused to meet with his constituents because he was afraid of them. :-)

There are a couple of good possibilities in the upcoming (R) primaries, the frontrunner looks like he might be OK, but I've still not got a chance to see/meet him yet. Want to do that before I start doing any work for him.

After that? Well, I haven't thought that far. Locally, I'm represented pretty well. Might just keep encouraging the locals to hold the line and stop and backsliders. Too early to think about 2012 yet.

[TexasFreeper2009]

Actually both sides of my family have been here since the early 1800’s

Sure, reconstruction was a horrible process imposed on the South by the North but what does that have to do with what I am talking about?

I am talking about a whole generation of kids whose parents completely dropped the ball, and allowed their kids to run wild.

Where were the parents of the kids that went to woodstock?
Where were the parents of the kids that spit on our soldiers?
Where were the parents of kids engaging in free love and drugs?
Where were the parents of the kids that burned American flags?
Where were the parents of the kids that joined the communist party
Where were the parents of the kids that joined the black panthers?

Busy watching that new TV gadget I guess, because they sure weren't doing their job!

[nanetteclaret]

How old are you? Your characterization of the parents of the Boomers is very unfair, which leads me to believe that you really know nothing about it.

My parents were as conservative - and as strict - as they come and they were horrified, as were other parents of the time, at the way we acted in high school and college. I was a hippie and voted for McGovern, but I grew up and am now more conservative than my mother.

The problem with Baby Boomers was that there were just so many of us. (Baby “Boom,” get it?) The pop culture was like a tidal wave and most of us were just sucked into it. The popular slogans of the day were “Make love, not war,” “If it feels good, do it,” and “Don’t trust anyone over 30.” The theme was rebellion against “The Establishment,” so many kids who were brought up by very strict, patriotic parents rebelled more egregiously. The Viet Nam War had a lot to do with it - guys my age were drafted and couldn’t even vote! This was a huge issue which drove a lot of the rebellion. The Communists just exploited and exacerbated it.

[TexasFreeper2009]

In fairness, not ALL of the WW2 generation dropped the ball raising their kids. You can get out yearbooks from the 60’s and clearly see at a glance that most parents did a great job of raising their kids in the 60’s, the idea that the hippies represented the majority at the time is a fallacy.

My problem is with those parents that bought in to the sex, love and rock and roll garbage themselves and let their kids run wild.

[nanetteclaret]

There were no PARENTS who bought into the “sex, love, rock & roll garbage.” All we ever heard was “Turn that music down!” My parents’ generation loved Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman. They hated rock & roll.

Now the hippies who had children - that’s a different story. They are the ones who let their children run wild. The children born after 1970 are a different generation altogether. Many of them were brought up with no values, because their hippie parents wanted them to “decide for themselves.” So of course, they have chosen anarchy. And now they are having children and bringing up the grandchildren of the WWII generation. The differences in generations is still enormous.

[TexasFreeper2009]

There is an old saying in my family ... that you don't know how truely successful you were at parenting until you see how your grandchildren turn out.

Raising children properly was of primary importance in my family. None of my Grand Parents, Parents, or siblings ever had long hair, they completely rejected the culture of the 60’s and 70’s and they were in the majority. They proudly voted for Nixon in both of his landslide victories, and THEY not the hippies represented the majority at the time.

Looking at my families pictures from the 60’s and 70’s is like looking the Bush's family pictures from that time compared to the Clinton's. Short crew cut type hair and preppy clothes, no flowers or bell bottoms to be seen. Although I have seen a few bad ties :)

[nanetteclaret]

Well, I’m happy for you.

[El Gato]

Besides, the sound of a shotgun being racked (esp. on a quiet evening, about 2am, lol!) is about as good a deterrent as any.

Yea, but I thought we were talking about rioters and looters, not common burglars or other home invader types.

[wbill]

Well, yeah, that's true. Dunno if Rioters and Looters would hear that particular sound. They'd likely pi$$ themselves, if they did though. Easier marks to be found elsewhere.

Frankly, you can call me a Pollyanna, here, but I figure that the real rioting - think LA, Watts, Huff riots, etc - will occur in the, erm, underprivileged parts of town. Walking, or even driving, out to where I live is too much like work.

I figure that if rioting spreads to where I live, we'll have bigger problems on our hands than worrying about some member of the local diversity relieving me of my TV set. AFAIC, they can come clean my house out, I'll be taking my family someplace safe. :-)

[El Gato]

I also don’t dig living out of a cave that I have to crawl into...

That I could stand... depending on the other occupants of the cave. Bats are fine. Bears, snakes, some spiders.. not so much.

[El Gato]

But even with an individual right to keep and bear arms, the government is the sole legitimate keeper of the right to use force except in limited circumstances such as the right to protect yourself, family and property or to prevent the comission of a crime. Other than that, the state reserves the right to violence to itself whether to punish or to enforce

I believe we fought a war, in part over the "Divine Rights" of Kings. In this country, the State has no rights, and no powers beyond those delegated to it. That does include the power to use force to punish, after due process, and not to "enforce", whatever that might mean. The police have no more power to use force than you or I. They can use it to defend themselves, or to stop a crime in progress.

The state gets it's power as delegation from the people. The people could not delgate any power they did not have and they did not give up any they had.

Government doesn't stave off anarchy, it's society, government just provides the mechanism for doing the will of the people.When it stops doing that, you have tyranny, which can lead to anarchy, depending on the "efficiency" of the Organs of State control.

As Jefferson put it:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.— That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.—