I was listening to some conservative rhetoric the other day on the car radio soon after reading some liberal rhetoric in the local newspaper. The perspectives from which each side came seemed to be pretty clear. In truth, there are lots of exceptions, I understand. The explanations below might seem way off base -- each side would chastise me -- but I'm only reacting to the rhetoric being put out there. These are the beliefs which each side seemed to hold:
Conservative Republicans want to use conservative and traditional morals based on Judeo-Christian values. These morals and values are used as ethical guidelines with restrictions and recommendations. Republicans also want as much freedom as possible within the confines of those traditional constraints. A republican would like nothing more than have the Constitution and U.S. Laws all based upon the Bible, and they celebrate the founding fathers; however, they want each individual to make personal choices and face the consequences for those choices. Republicans tend to be proud of the ideals set up by the founding fathers and proud of the good morals that the U.S. has stood up for throughout its history. The American flag is a symbol of high moral standards and great achievements.
Liberal Democrats want to use secular, governmental controls based on current progressive values. These values are meant as guidelines to keep people in line with restrictions and recommendations, rather than individual choices and consequences from those choices. Democrats also want as much freedom as possible but only if non-traditional; freedom to express old-fashioned Christian beliefs and to glorify America make liberals cringe. U.S. Laws should be based upon a progressive view of the world and not follow obsolete “God-given” rules. A liberal democrat would like nothing more than have all references to Judeo-Christian roots in the founding of the U.S. banned from any mention and to brand the founding fathers as what liberals believe they were – racist, misogamist, rich, white men who made their wealth on the backs of slaves. Democrats tend to feel justified being ashamed and angry at the immorality that can be found throughout America’s history, including their history of discrimination against non-Europeans, institutional racism, and colonization of non-European territories. The American flag is generally seen as a symbol of oppression.
Conservative Republicans try to follow Judeo-Christian values, with a touch of Greco-Roman ideals, in their attempt to be good people. They try to be nice, courteous, self-sufficient, courageous, male-led, female-nurturing people who care for those under their stewardship. They want freedom to try new things, to stretch and grow and be creative – therefore as a consequence regularly break those same traditional value-limitations, so then are quickly called hypocrites and judged poorly, and must somehow repent to be accepted back in the fold of the morally righteous.
Democrats also want the freedom to be creative by acting, wearing, and speaking in ways that are in opposition to traditional Judeo-Christian ideals. They adopt an evolving set of values based on progressive ideals, such as Marxism, Eastern philosophies, Liberation Theology, African Naturalism, Pseudo-Darwinism and other anti-Judeo-Christian/traditional themes. They sometimes find themselves using traditional values, such as found in Christianity, but once realized, dramatically alter the expression of those values. For example, Jesus is still worshipped but in a very different manner than a traditional WASP or Roman Catholic might do so.
The similarities are that both Republican and Democrat want morals (restrictive guidelines for right & wrong behavior) to provide ethical barriers in which we are allowed to be free. The differences are that conservative republicans attempt to base their morals on conservative, Greco-Roman, Judeo-Christian – often metaphysically-inspired – traditional values. The liberal democrats attempt to base their morals on non-Judeo-Christian, non-traditional, alternative values; they admire secular, often atheistic ideals made by man's reasoning, such as Hobbes' Leviathan, rather than supernatural ideals handed down by a “historically cruel culture.”
As we can see, conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats seem to be creating a wide and often bizarre chasm between themselves. They are straying further from their own roots and becoming confused as to what they actually stand for due to the extreme rhetoric. Should we ban the rhetoric? NO! Should we speak out for reason and understanding? YES! Will we? Probably not for awhile.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Wisconsin Problems
The Wisconsin budget problem still disturbs me. What disturbs me is how the democratic process was thwarted. In November, citizens voted to elect representatives who would carry out their wishes. Some people did not get their wishes – that is the paradox of democracy. Those who vote for the losing candidate must live with the results. Whether the winner is George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Bobby Jindal, or Scott Walker, we must accept the legitimate winners of an election. This is democracy.
In our democracy we’re a republic, where the government is responsible to the citizens and in return the citizens must follow the laws that their representatives create; the election results must be followed even when some folks don’t like the results.
In Wisconsin, the minority Democratic representatives effectively bypassed the democratic process by leaving the state in order to avoid voting on a key bill. Whether you might like the outcome of a vote or not, in our country we must respect the outcome of the democratic process or else our country will collapse into chaos. Peaceful, non-violent protesting is our protected right and a great tool in democracy – but our representatives bypassing the laws of democracy will eventually result in mob rule. Just look around the world and you’ll see where that will lead us.
In our democracy we’re a republic, where the government is responsible to the citizens and in return the citizens must follow the laws that their representatives create; the election results must be followed even when some folks don’t like the results.
In Wisconsin, the minority Democratic representatives effectively bypassed the democratic process by leaving the state in order to avoid voting on a key bill. Whether you might like the outcome of a vote or not, in our country we must respect the outcome of the democratic process or else our country will collapse into chaos. Peaceful, non-violent protesting is our protected right and a great tool in democracy – but our representatives bypassing the laws of democracy will eventually result in mob rule. Just look around the world and you’ll see where that will lead us.
Driving Dangers & Moral Choices
While doing a bit of research for moral choices we make, I discovered there’s an activity we choose each day that annually cost tens of thousands of lives, millions of injuries, and billions of dollars in property damage and lawsuits. That activity is reckless driving.
Every single day drivers choose to drive way too close to my rear bumper, regardless of my speed; every single day drivers choose to speed down our residential street, regardless of the kids playing. Drivers choose to text; drivers choose to rush; drivers choose to compete; drivers choose to speed; drivers choose to ignore laws and common sense; and drivers choose to kill, maim, and die.
Drivers choose to ignore the logic that if they make these reckless choices day in and day out, they will almost certainly cause injury and/or death. They choose to play Russian Roulette with themselves, with the children in the neighborhood, and with us. Personally, when I see one of these people driving recklessly nearby, I prepare to get as far away as possible – slow down, speed up, whatever it takes. If they insist on threatening me with their vehicles, I prepare to defend my life because we all have the right to defend ourselves.
Tens of thousands of lives gone every year – maybe someone you know. Millions of people injured – probably you or someone you know. Billions of dollars in damages – from our pocketbooks. Am I crazy for thinking that something needs to be done?
Every single day drivers choose to drive way too close to my rear bumper, regardless of my speed; every single day drivers choose to speed down our residential street, regardless of the kids playing. Drivers choose to text; drivers choose to rush; drivers choose to compete; drivers choose to speed; drivers choose to ignore laws and common sense; and drivers choose to kill, maim, and die.
Drivers choose to ignore the logic that if they make these reckless choices day in and day out, they will almost certainly cause injury and/or death. They choose to play Russian Roulette with themselves, with the children in the neighborhood, and with us. Personally, when I see one of these people driving recklessly nearby, I prepare to get as far away as possible – slow down, speed up, whatever it takes. If they insist on threatening me with their vehicles, I prepare to defend my life because we all have the right to defend ourselves.
Tens of thousands of lives gone every year – maybe someone you know. Millions of people injured – probably you or someone you know. Billions of dollars in damages – from our pocketbooks. Am I crazy for thinking that something needs to be done?
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