RE: "A line was drawn in the sand somewhere between Clinton's sexcapades and 9/11........ ever since I find it very difficult to deal with people coming from a certain mindset."
Ted, not sure I understand how either of these items relate to Southern Baptists?
Southern Baptists are the heart of Bush's support. They mostly occupy southern states. They were the ones most shocked by Clinton's behavior with Monica Lewinsky. It is their values that have taken center stage since 1998 whether its the ten commandments in court houses, eliminating abortions, implementing a second round of gerry mandering in three years in southern states and even some northern states to increase the GOP's power in Congress, attacking Iraq, increasing defense spending etc. They used the excuse of Clinton's faus pax to wield a mighty sword against Dem. principles and policies. I have an Aussie friend who is very religious and repeatedly asks me to not confuse his sense of religion with the evangelicalism of S. Baptists.
They are a huge and significant voting bloc in this country. They got Bush elected and they have worked diligently behind the scenes to keep him in power. They are the ones pushing very hard for more religion in gov't. Bush has given out monies to religious backed social service organizations and programs.......under the guise that he's a compassionate conservative and cares about the little people in this country when in reality he is insuring that this country's religious fundamentalists have a more active role in the federal gov't.
You may agree with some of their values.......I know I do....but don't ever think they are the same as you or I. Don't mean to make it into another conspiracy theory but you haven't lived until you've seen a bunch of Texans jump up and start singing the Yellow Rose of TX. They have a sense of Texas nationalism that many Americans don't have about the US.
Ever since Bush has been President, this country has been very divided. Bush's style creates polarity. It's ironic too that he said (before taking office) he creates unity, not divisiveness.
When people have hidden agendas, they often say one thing but think and do something else.
I believe people should simply be judged on the basis of their own individual character and I think you think that too.
I do but you can't ignore the facts........there is a large bloc of people in this country who have a very different understanding of the way this country should be run. You and I might disagree about Indians and have to find a way to compromise or mitigate those differences. These people don't care.........they feel God is on their side, and therefore, do not take any prisoners. They are this country's religious and political ideologues.
On another note, you and Ten hang out together on this thread, yet you two appear to be as different as can be. So, maybe the Internet is a good way to bring different people together.
I think Ten and I share a few of the same values and Ten lives on the West Coast........and is originally from Boston. He has had some heavy liberal influences in his life......that's why he's not all bad! <g> More importantly, he is willing to compromise on some issues. That's more than I can say for many conservatives!
ted |
