Ultraconservatives can probably attribute much of their political success in recent years to manipulation through language. They have become adept at using words and short phrases that seem to indicate broad things that almost everyone supports, but are actually code words for their narrow agenda. For instance, "freedom" and "liberty" actually stand for invading foreign countries for no just cause to help the ideological and economic interests of a very few. "Family values" stands for the denial of basic rights to gays. And then there's "the culture of life". I mean, who in their right mind doesn't like life?
This past Sunday evening the GOP-led U.S. House of Representatives made a shameful mockery of some dearly held principles in their successful quest to pass a bill to have a federal court review the decision reached in the Florida courts that allowed the removal of the feeding tube that has been keeping Terry Schaivo alive (at least nominally so).
I would be lying if I were to say that the results of the 2004 elections did not get me a bit down. I spent well over a year of following the primary and general election campaigns very closely and participating by contributing money, posting to blogs, etc. I had hope that the Democrats would recapture the White House, and maybe even the Senate. Cautious hope, yes, but hope just the same. After all, the Republican stranglehold on our government has been a disaster in my opinion, and I desperately wanted to see it come to end. So, I had hope up until the very end, and even a little bit beyond that.
The following is my take on why our country is divided in the way, and to the degree, that it is. You can read this, and other of my opinions, at Stingball.
