The rich and the rightists drone on in reasoned tones, tying the inarticulate liberals in knots of logic, or shouting down those with the capacity to express themselves.
You've fallen into earshot of AM radio: a non-grey area where black contrasts with white, but white always prevails in the marketplace of ideas that seasons a well educated and informed electorate.
RIIIIIIIGHT.
So normally you are at work when the right-wing wonks preach to the choir that is their aged or self employed median target audience. But today, through the wonders of radio and a day off in celebration of Independence Day, you can hear AM in all it's glory.
What is hacking off the right-wing nowdays? You are about to find out. the short answer is, everything. The long answer is, anything that might be advocated by even the most reasonable moderates. After all, we are a country at war.
The first thing that rub righties raw is a failure of patriotism. If you are ashamed of America as it is today, if you feel our country has been disgraced by the lies and hubris of the Bush administration, if you find fault with either the basis for or prosecution of "the war on terror" then you don't support our troops and you stand with Hillary, Murtha and the terrorists.
Nevermind that the war arose from a pack of lies and a Strangelovian world view articulated in 1990's Neo-Con manifestos. Nevermind that the consequence of the war has been not quick victory and the spread of Democracy, but the shed blood of our young troops in a quagmire of sand and urban warfare. Nevermind that this war bankrupts our nation - at an accelerated rate - because (god forbid) why would we roll back the tax cuts due to a little thing like an expensive war? Keep your eyes on the war, citizens. Don't pay attention to the man behind the curtain who isn't growing the economy, saving social security, or solving the health care crisis (remember that?).
This is truly the stupidest American administration that has governed in many a lifetime. In almost all the most important decisions it has acted out of selfishness and the exercise of power for it's own sake. "Might makes right" might be a cliche, but it's a cliche to live by. Saying this, however, would piss off the right.
Never mind that true patiotism arises out of a love of country based on what that country stands for. Not, as Jane Fonda said of Viet Nam - "my country right or wrong". But the righty cheers on the home team. Later maybe we can find out what the home team stands for in a special on the History Channel.
What else gets the right-thinking man's dandruff up? Godlessness, that's what. It is impossible to share ideological communion with our founding fathers without partaking at the Christian altar of public belief. Of course, this begs the question of what differentiated American government from all the divinely justified tyrannies that preceded America throughout the long ages of the past. Wasn't the truely distinct blessing of this country not it's Christianity, but it's SECULAR character? Founding fathers such as Washington, Jefferson and Franklin avoided endorsing religious belief in any of it's specifics - christian or otherwise. "Public religion" was a concession they made to the need for public order, not religious truth. As to determinations of religious truth, that was reserved for private consicience or debate in the marketplace of ideas. You need look no futher than the great Thomas Paine for a true American patriot who was in no way a Christian.
What else wanks the rightist to lengths and convulsions? Failure to support Israel. Those who would find fault with Israel risk the possibility that Gawd Almighty, the eternal friend of Israel, would find fault with them. The rapture may or may not be coming, but until then why risk it. Judgement apparently hangs heavy of any who would ask Israel to act with fairness and justice to resolve it's longstanding disputes with the Palestinians. What does such a request entail? Removal of the West Bank settlements - all of them - and establishing just borders with an independent Palestine. The shelling that occurs every day would cease if only the unilateralism of Sharon's party was abandoned. Think back - before Sharon peace nearly came to the region.
Lastly, what ticks off AM righties the most? Cindy Sheehan and Congressman John Murtha, that's who. The right hates these people because they are traitors - persons who they would expect to be patriots based on their military ties and sacrifices. These two persons have paid dues to argue their points - but AKKK, their points are all wrong! Shehan gave her only begotten son and now asks us to do right. Remind you of any religion that the right wants our nation to endorse? Regarding Murtha, who is HE to point out the shameful and degrading influence that this war is having on our country and our servicemen. An ex-Marine who served in combat in a similarly misguided war, that's who. Indeed!
Recently a soldier in Iraq was interviewed on NPR. He described how his unit identifies targets during night actions: they look for "MAMs" (Military Aged Males). Sound like profiling to you? Or does it sound like a sure fire way to commit attrocities against innocents and maybe create terrorists out of the survivors.
That said, happy 4th of July to you and yours.
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