Posted on 03/23/2010 11:04:46 AM PDT by neverdem
It’s a Civil War: What We Do Now
Seven steps toward reclaiming America’s values.
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.
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 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. People who do not understand American ideals — especially small government — now dominate our schools, our entertainment media, and our news media.
In a nutshell, those values 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 for “E Pluribus Unum,” substituting its opposite, “multiculturalism.” (My own video on this subject, titled “The American Trinity,” can be seen at www.prageru.com. Please view it and forward it.)
2. Recognize that we are fighting the Left, not liberals.
Liberalism believed in American exceptionalism; the Left not only does not believe in it, but 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 relying on a strong United Nations.
3. Democrats should be referred to as Social Democrats.
This is not meant to be cute, let alone 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 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 us.
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-individuals 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, American values lose. If American values win, 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.
— Dennis Prager is a nationally syndicated radio talk-show host and columnist. He may be contacted through his website, dennisprager.com.
The Left likes to use flourishing rhetoric when the public seems ripe. People may be ready to be sympatico with “war has been declared upon us.”
Nothing else will do!
Talk won't suffice. "Issues-oriented" arguments against this or that bill or effort in the Congress or by the Executive Branch won't do.
Understanding and articulating the underlying principles of our Declaration of Independence and Constitution, and then coordinating efforts to defeat violations of those principles is the beginning of a return to what Jefferson called the "only path to peace, liberty, and safety."
Fortunately, there are many sites providing quick and easy access to the necessary information. The Liberty Fund has a library which contains original documents, speeches, and writings. One Congressional Candidate has a web site which is a marvelous resource for literally hundreds of documents, books, e-books, and original writings. Then, there is Mark Levin's "Liberty and Tyranny," and Stedman & Lewis's "Our Ageless Constitution." That 292-page book is a treasury of information and documents, including 25 illustrated and easy-to-read essays, each page explaining a principle underlying the Constitution. These may be used for learning and teaching the ideas, using the Founders' own words.
The tyrants who now control Washington are not intellectually equipped to combat the geniuses who formed and framed the United States Constitution. They think they are smart, intellectual, and "progressive." The truth is they are only petty tyrants, pseudointellectuals, and get by with their actions only because America's citizens have not been taught the ideas of liberty. When confronted with those ideas, the counterfeit and "regressive" ideas of the Clintons, Obamas, Reids, Pelosis, and all the others can and will be exposed.
Acknowledging the role of Divine Providence at the beginning and throughout America's history would be helpful also.
Listening to Winton Phipps' youtube video of "Heal This Land" may help with the anger, as well.
Sorry! That’s “Heal Our Land.”
“Title” search has been marginal for quite some time.
What a bunch of crap.
This is why we are in a bunch or trouble.
Conservatives by nature are not good at offense and have a high regard for law. The moment this thing became the law of the land many ‘conservatives’ got behind it.
It is a must that if we are to restore constitutional government we get comfortable with concept of government as the enemy. It is not your government. You government was killed and replaced with this zombie/ body snatcher. I know it looks like your government. It may even call you out by name and your heart aches, but you know what you must do.
bttt
If the dup thread was posted 4 or more hours after the first, we let it fly. We call it the 4-hr rule. Thanks anyway.
Amen! American combat veterans endured their respective “wars” to give us our freedom.Sadly I don’t believe ANYTHING could rile the American public to arms in a “civil” or “revolutionary” manner ever again. We’ve become far too complacent.As long as we have our computers and TV’s and no one invades the three foot space directly surrounding us, well, if I have to explain, you wouldn’t understand anyway.God help us all!
lol
No problemo. Thanks for clarifying.
You’re welcome.
I really hate it when leftists called themselves liberal. It is a misnomer. Liberal means to bring on change. The left is opposed to change and want to maintain the status quo. The left is the reactionary, while the right is revolutionary.
This is all fine and dandy. Problem is this approach is about 5 years too late. IMO what’s happening now is worse than what happened in 2001. The approach to internal threats should mirror that of the external.
That thread was not very politically correct...This thread is Civil War light....Where we all get along even though we disagree.....Like Mr. Rogers neighborhood.
NO!! It is NOT a “civil war.” That would suggest that Americans are fighting Americans. The left is NOT made up of actual Americans, but rather of America HATERS. These are people with nothing but contempt for both the nation and its people. What I desperately hope we’ll engage in is a second American revolution. Just like the first, it will be a battle of actual Americans against enemies of America.
Wrong. Government is the enemy of freedom.
You are, however, correct in the sense that:
-The lack of government is unreasonable in an evil world.
-Limited government is maintained when citizens are responsible.
-Massive government is the product of profound cultural corruption.
I subscribe to the belief that we have a corrupt and totalitarian government because we have become morally bankrupt as a culture.
“I believe that you are cautious.”
You are correct.
First, many FReepers have direct knowledge of what has been foisted on our nation beginning in the 1960’s. We knew about Ayers when he wasn’t just a (”respectable”) guy in the neighborhood.
And yes, without going into my background, certainly more than at any other time of my life I am exceedingly cautious. This is not a state v state controversy, it is a government v citizen dispute. And, apart from O and Pelosi, there are a couple hundred dedicated socialists in our government; over a hundred of which came out of the closet even prior to Sunday. Many know “Slaughter Rule” Slaughter is a proud member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
They have an agenda and, as we have seen since the 60’s, they are willing to play hardball. If we are not successful with the 2010 elections, it seems mosts likely sometime thereafter we will be challenged to take bold action.
You have heard this before, but O and his handlers will seize any opportunity to find an emergency that increases their power. For example, folks talk about not paying federal taxes: “what, are they going to arrest all of us?”
Yes, its possible they could arrest us all in a global sense. They could conclude defiant non-payment of taxes is a real threat to the existence of government and declare martial law. Even if it is only a sizeable number of non-payers they could come with their new shotguns and seize assets.
So, in my view, it seems essential that we proceed cautiously until we see what the 2010 elections bring.
Sorry for the rant.
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