Although I generally think of the pundits in the media as a bunch of whores, ready to jump on any news trend real or perceived, I think they do have a point when it comes to "Culture Wars." Despite what we consider "right" and "normal" here in the Northeast, there is a whole other America that has a different vision of how things should be.

This "Other America" wants to wave the flag and believe in their country. They want the President to be strong and steadfast (when in fact he has the conviction of an idiot) and they want to believe him when he gives a seemingly fictitious reason for going to war. When the President arbitrarily wraps himself in the Flag, they want to salute it. They want to give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to deciding whether he just had bad intelligence or he was lying. These good people don't want to think he was lying and you can't fault them for having good intentions. Abusing this kind of trust makes the deceptions of the current Administration that much more despicable.

There is a whole country out there from West Virginia to Arizona - God-fearing, churchgoing, well-intentioned people - that doesn't think the way we do. The pundits like to sensationalize it as "Culture Wars." Although it's a catch-all term, there is a genuine difference in values that goes the very heart of the American dialogue today.

These people don't support the Liberal agenda, but that doesn't make them bad. They are tired of having the so-called "Gay Agenda" shoved down their throats. I mean, most people of goodwill could get behind the repeal of sodomy laws and the criminalization of gay-bashing. They may even support some kind of sanctioned civil union for committed partners. But when those activist judges started unilaterally sanctioning gay marriages, that really made them dig in their heels. Carl Rove understood and tapped into this fear masterfully.

As one who travels in both Church and Liberal circles, I get to hear both sides of the argument. I have to tell you, I love the people in my church. (I belong to a rather conservative Missouri Synod Lutheran church.) They are good, solid, unpretentious salt-of-the-earth type folks. They love Jesus, they love America, they care about their communities and they are VERY Conservative. They worry about the sexual perversion and violence and anti-religious messages that come beaming into their homes every night via the television. They don't want Hollywood teaching its values to their kids, which I can certainly understand. They distrust the Media, because with the emergence of Right-wing talk radio and Fox News, we all realize now that the Media has its own agenda and always did.

Every group wants to feel good about themselves, often at the expense of others. The "Northeastern and Hollywood Elites" seem as good a "straw man" to target as any. Just as the "Religious Right" is an easy target for the Left. Let us resist the temptation to vilify the rank-and-file opposition and engage them. Find out what's on their minds, perhaps we can identify some common ground. Do I think the current Administration is corrupt, delusional, exclusionary, greedy and downright dictatorial? Damn right I do. Nevertheless, let us reach out to our opposition in dialogue and not make them our enemies for their support of the Bush regime.

God Bless America!

Last Updated 1.24.05