An Ideological Civil War
By Jon Alvarez (06/01/03)
We are in the midst of a civil war in this country. This war is not a traditional one consisting of two opposing armies fighting for victory on a battlefield. Rather, it is a war between two opposing belief systems. The spoils being fought for are the hearts, minds, and votes of the American public.
Daily we receive news of battles being fought in the media, in our political institutions, on our college campuses, and even in our elementary schools. The enemy we are fighting against has been around for years. It took the events of 9-11 for many Americans to wake up and recognize this threat that resides within our borders. The enemy we face is the ideology of the liberal left in America.
What is responsible for this new movement to free America from the clutches of liberalism? 9-11. The events of that September morning sent a wake-up call to many of whom we could refer to as “the silent majority”. It did not take long for President Bush’s words “You’re either with us or against us” to ring true. The War on Terror has not only helped to defeat those that seek our destruction from abroad, it has helped to identify those within our own country that mean America harm. While we have been waging a war against the proponents of terrorism in the world, the liberal left has attempted in numerous ways to obstruct and hinder our war efforts. Their attempts to discredit President Bush coupled with their desire to surrender our autonomy to the United Nations provide further proof to loyal Americans: that those on the left do not have America’s best interests in mind. We will no longer sit idly by and allow this to continue without a fight.
One only has to tune in to the network news or read the various editorials of the newspapers to discover the hatred and contempt held by the left for America. Examine the coverage of the anti-war movement by the media to witness their blatant anti-Americanism. We had to tune in to FOX News for any coverage of flag-waving Americans rallying behind their president and their country. Thanks to the influence of FOX News and the abundance of conservative Internet websites, more people are able to join the battle to save our country. We now recognize the bias that is inherent in the media and must consider the source. The ranks of the misinformed are decreasing as they become aware of the struggle within this country and ally themselves with those that love America.
Who loves America? Who wants to preserve America and the values, beliefs, and practices that separate her from the other countries of the world? Americans that fall into this category can only land on the right end of the political spectrum. Who blames America for the ills of the world? Who complains that there is too much patriotism on display in this country? Who is willing to burn our treasured flag to make a point about freedom of speech? Everything about the ideology of the left is in direct contrast to what America is all about. We have a long and storied history of which we are very proud. Our flag represents the struggles we've faced as a nation. The liberal left is offended by our history and would prefer to re-write our history books so as not to offend anyone.
We know political correctness has gone too far when those on the left cry that "The Pledge of Allegiance" is offensive to them. Whether or not one believes in God, God plays an integral role in America's psyche. We've all grown up with the Pledge; it was an integral part of a student's day, a reminder of his role in the world. Allowing the removal of the Pledge of Allegiance from classrooms for its reference to God would be one more step in undermining the pride and love people have for America. We can no longer sit idly by and allow this erosion of American values to continue.
Further proof of the broad and negative impact of leftist ideology is evident in the number of college educators leading anti-war protests on their campuses. Those leftover hippies from the 60's that chose to remain on college campuses rather than grow up and enter the real world are now responsible for the "education" of our leaders of tomorrow. It was quite disturbing for many Americans to see so much hatred for America emanating from the college campuses. Indoctrination of the youth is a tool of the liberal left that has been ignored for too long. We must make a concerted effort to evaluate what is being taught on college campuses and who is doing the teaching. The introduction of speech codes on campuses by liberals and their atmosphere of political correctness may be responsible for driving students into the conservative camp. The left's attempt to limit freedom of speech has enabled students to become aware of the double standards of liberal ideology. We can take comfort in knowing that the battle is not lost on campuses. Just ask the NY Times reporter that got booed off the stage at Rockford College.
The War on Terror is another area where liberal ideology is in direct conflict with the best interests of America. America has experienced firsthand the effects of terrorism. President Bush warned us that this would be a long fight. We know terrorism must be dealt with strongly. There is no reasoning with terrorists; we know that they must be destroyed. The Democratic candidates have already taken up a position that the War on Terror is wrong. What alternative do they offer? We must recognize the fact that the Republican Party and its conservative ideology is best suited to not only protecting America from dangers abroad, but also from dangers within.
Hollywood leftists have learned a valuable lesson about the rise of conservatism in this country. The "cold chill" that Tim Robbins and Danny Glover are experiencing is not the specter of Joe McCarthy but of American citizens snapping their wallets shut. The trough that we fill with our entertainment dollars will no longer be made available to them. Their choice to side with anti-American groups like A.N.S.W.E.R. up to and during Operation Iraqi Freedom has shown us where they stand in this civil war of ideologies. We respect their right to free speech, of course, as they should respect ours. There are no more double standards when it comes to free speech.
Why is it that those that embrace the ideology of the left, the liberals, seem to hate America and only find the negative in it? Why do they constantly blame America for the ills of the world? What is it about their belief systems that make them this way? I do not understand how their minds work, how they arrive at their ideas on how this country should be run. What I do see is a group of people that do not seem to like America, in fact, they seem to despise America and what it stands for. Is it guilt because they live in the greatest country in the world? I don't know.
We are winning this battle, that much I'm now sure of. 9-11 has ushered in a new wave of patriotism and faith that will ensure that we win this fight. The NY Times reports that that there is a surge in trust and confidence in the military. This news only confirms that the left is losing support for they tend to distrust the military as an institution. Glance around as you drive and you'll notice an abundance of cars whose owners have adorned them with flags. We love our country and have awoken from our slumber to discover that our very existence is at stake. Rest assured, though, the more piercing the cry from the left becomes, the greater the validation that we are on the right path. We have the left on the ropes, but we must not let up. We must drive the stake further into the heart of the enemy and expose them for what they are and what they stand for. Whatever that is, it's not in America's best interest. The only way for Americans to preserve the country they love so dearly is to defeat the enemy that ultimately seeks to change it. President Bush must win the election of 2004. Our country's existence as we know it and our very lives could depend on it.
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