The time has come,' the Walrus said,
To talk of many things:
Of shoes — and ships — and sealing-wax --
Of cabbages — and kings --
And why the sea is boiling hot --
And whether pigs have wings.'
Lewis Carroll
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It's Presidential Primary time in the United States and this is the time for bombastic advertisements, public masquerades of grandiosity, and bickering debates. Blind promises are made and warring factions play a game of dog eat dog, getting more viscous as the final election approaches.
What is ironic is that essentially politics is like religion here, once a Catholic, always a Catholic, and the same seems to run for politics. Not that there are people who don’t change their mind, but the majority of republicans vote Republican and the majority of Democrats vote Democratic. I have many friends who despite the unsavory choices of today, will “hold their nose and vote” in favor of their overall color.
Interestingly enough however, the politics of our forefathers contained a different mix of ideas than today .Party politics has evolved over the years, and In fact have become quite different in their ideology. Back in the 60’s there was a huge swing in the flavor of the Republican Party as an ideological group. From Abraham Lincolns presidency until the early 1960”s, it was the Republicans who were more identified with Black rights and anti-slavery, than the Democrats. Abraham Lincoln was the politician who made the greatest impact on slavery.
The democrats were the more traditional-minded party. They were also the party focused on keeping taxes low and giving the individual states control in promoting commerce etc. Generally speaking, they believed in state run affairs.
It was not until 1964, when Lyndon Johnson became a champion for equal rights for Blacks, and damaged his party’s relationship with Southern Whites, the Democratic Party gained the majority of black constituents.
The Republicans countered by wooing the Conservative Southern whites, eventually culminating in a complete switch in political ideology by the year 2000.
By the late 1990s the last generation had republican liberals, and democratic conservatives; but now in 2016, the Republicans have the Conservatives, and the Democrats have the “bleeding heart Liberals “. And the show goes on…….
"Liberal" meaning in favor of more federal action in general, less power to states, active government that attempts to solve problems or encourage outcomes.
"Conservative" -- less enthusiastic about federal action in general, wants more power given to states, more passive federal government that maintains a minimal footprint in social and economic affairs.
“Murray Godfrey, US History professor
I suspect there is more evolution to come. As more and more women take part in politics, and find their voice, change will come. It is possible that we might even have a female president, although not all women would vote for Hillary, just because she is female.
I think it fair to say, that most women despise Donald Trump and his misogynistic thinking, but there are women, especially in the Tea Party, who are so invested in his views on immigration and race, that they are willing to overlook his misogyny.
I worry what would happen if he did become president, and how those women would be ultimately betrayed.
In Animal farm, by George Orwell, the revolutionary cry of the oppressed farm-yard pigs was, “Four legs good, Two legs bad”: but once the revolution was over, and the fat pig leaders became corrupted by their own power, the cry evolved to “Four legs good, two legs better” ….
In Lewis Carroll’s, The Walrus and the Carpenter, it was the Oysters that were tricked and betrayed….
But wait a bit,' the Oysters cried,
Before we have our chat;
For some of us are out of breath,
And all of us are fat!'
No hurry!' said the Carpenter.
They thanked him much for that.
A loaf of bread,' the Walrus said,
Is what we chiefly need:
Pepper and vinegar besides
Are very good indeed --
Now if you're ready, Oysters dear,
We can begin to feed.'
But not on us!' the Oysters cried,
Turning a little blue.
After such kindness, that would be
A dismal thing to do!'
The night is fine,' the Walrus said.
Do you admire the view?
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I was always told that the two topics to avoid at work or at the dinner table were politics and religion. They both get people very hot under the collar. But it's more than that. People can be very bigoted and dogmatic about both subjects. Even in America, "Christians" can be the worst offenders, making the assumption that they are right about every nuance, thinking everyone belongs to the same school of thought. The bible bashing conservative can be the worst offender, taking the bible literally at every word, with a subsequent regression in social, political and humanitarian evolution.
Women's rights are eroded in the name of God, and patriarchal laws dictate. Other Religious beliefs, even other Christian variances are not tolerated.
In extreme instances, Christian extremism has become as much a threat to the world as Muslim extremism.
In Africa, in 2014, violence by Christian groups such as Anti-Balaka, reached such a crescendo as to carry out mass beheading of Muslims, who refused to convert to Christianity.
Dylan Roof, who slaughtered 9 Congregationalists in Charleston, North Carolina, in 2015, is an example of an extremist who committed terrorism in the name of White Supremacy. He was a member of a cult like the Ku Klux Klan, which also describes itself as a "Christian” group.
Christians have been responsible for the most heinous of crimes to humanity throughout history, and even now, those crimes continue.
The Centennial Olympic park Park bombing, July 1996. Eric Rudolph carried out the bombing in the name of Christianity, killing one and wounding 111 others. He was part of a terrorist movement that encourages violence against pro-choice supporters and exalted by the Army of God who continue to praise him as a " brave Christian doing God's work" .
I am trying to draw a comparison between all extremist thinking, whether
Muslim, Christian, or other religion, and how dangerous it is, and how bigotry and narrow-sightedness, especially in church, can be a breeding ground for crimes to humanity.
I am fearful if either Trump or Cruz become president. Not because they represent the fundamental qualities of Republican thinking, but because they are fundamentalists in their thinking.
Even Cruz claimed in Dec 2015, that President Obama should "recognize the threat of radical Islamist terrorism, because Christians haven't committed terrorist acts for centuries. "
He must not have read the news.
Less than a week before, three people were murdered in a Colorado planned parenthood clinic, by a man named Robert Lewis Dear. He was linked to the Christian Identity movement, who has terrorized abortion providers for years.
Ted Cruz associates himself with Pastor Kevin Swanson, who advocates execution for homosexuality, which was largely ignored by the media.
He also accepted the endorsement of an activist who called for the execution of doctors who provide abortions.
I am concerned that the average self-respecting Republican has a poor choice of candidates, and I hope they will not be ultimately betrayed.
It seems a shame,' the Walrus said,
To play them such a trick,
After we've brought them out so far,
And made them trot so quick!'
The Carpenter said nothing but
The butter's spread too thick!'
I weep for you,' the Walrus said:
I deeply sympathize.'
With sobs and tears he sorted out
Those of the largest size,
Holding his pocket-handkerchief
Before his streaming eyes.
O Oysters,' said the Carpenter,
You've had a pleasant run!
Shall we be trotting home again?'
But answer came there none --
And this was scarcely odd, because
They'd eaten every one."
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