tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post114827469525257208..comments2024-03-13T21:26:03.011-07:00Comments on Right on the Left Coast: Views From a Conservative Teacher: Shocker! Left Is Inconsistent!Darrenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-1148431288577863972006-05-23T17:41:00.000-07:002006-05-23T17:41:00.000-07:00I am not nearly as offended by the DaVinci Code, w...I am not nearly as offended by the DaVinci Code, which is a work of fiction that poses some questions that have been in the air for around 2000 years as I am by SouthPark and what amounts to a tasteless slur on Catholic beliefs. But you have a point. If we are willing to allow smears of Christanity and Judaism, why then are we so fearful of offending those of Muslim faith? Is it simply okay because Christianity is the prevailing religion in the United States, or is it just another example of allowing a small vocal population to call the shots? There are American scholars of Islam that are afraid to speak publicly on some of the historic violence that diffrent Muslim sects have exerted against their brethren. If we are to openly discuss the dangers of radicalized religion, we need to open the Pandora's Box not just to Islam, but to conservative, survivialist Christian groups, polygamous Mormon groups and others that are similarly allowing a charismatic leader to form their opinions for them. Put Hitler, who was reported to be a fiery speaker, into a pulpit and you have the same one-mindedness that the Islamists' Doctrine supports. We need an open discussion. But fear is holding it hostage. If either side in the political debate ignores this fact, then we will continue to have lopsided application of respect and concern for whatever belief system comes up on the hit list.Ellen Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02845981491726296767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-1148411257103130592006-05-23T12:07:00.000-07:002006-05-23T12:07:00.000-07:00Damiano, good point--one that was answered for me ...Damiano, good point--one that was answered for me by reading The Right Nation, a book about the rise of conservatism in the US, written by two Brits.<BR/><BR/>They posit that there have always been two "wings" in the Republican Party: the Southern "Religious" wing and the Western "Libertarian" wing. The Southern wing, which unfortunately is ascendant now, consists of the religious and social conservatives, whereas the Western wing consists of the "get government off the backs of the people", "that government governs best which governs least" conservatives.<BR/><BR/>To that latter group, of which I am a devout member, deficits matter. <BR/><BR/>I don't know why the lefties have such a problem with the social/religious conservatives--they're merely trying to do what the lefties do, use government to enforce their own view of society onto the rest of us.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15730642770935985796noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10348701.post-1148393381773282262006-05-23T07:09:00.000-07:002006-05-23T07:09:00.000-07:00The Left is not capable of consistency because the...The Left is not capable of consistency because they try to be everything to everyone and wind up being nothing to anyone. They no longer have a real platform or even a real constituency, and are left begging for political scraps after the big dogs feast.<BR/><BR/>I wouldn't equate this type of inconsistency, however, with that of the Right. The Right's inconsistency is more of the "when it's convenient for me" variety. <BR/><BR/>One question for the Right: Do deficits matter? Follow that question over the last twenty years and tell me that the GOP has cornered the market on consistency.<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Ciao, <BR/>DamianoAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com