Separate yet separate??? ... Vox Blogoli 05-1

While many (if not most) of the facts, figures and statistics cited by Jonathan Rauch in his article "State of the Union - Bi-polar Disorder" are accurate it is the small details which belie the split personality not the grand overview.

For example he states that "If the country is split into culturally and politically distinct camps, they ought to be fairly easy to locate. Yet scholars investigating the phenomenon have often come back empty-handed." While that is on the surface a statement one would think is easy to track and substantiate it is in its very vagueness leading to an inaccurate view of the actual situation.

As an example i believe that if a poll question was sent out asking the question "should America fight poverty?" i believe that you would get no difference of opinion or much opposition from anyone no matter what their ideological bent. As a nation (generally speaking) that is a core belief and value we all hold ... where the split comes is in the details of precisely what form and functionality that "fight" will take on.

It is in the details of the how, where, when, what , why, and who that Americans become fractured into the so-called red and blue factions. Anyone who can think structurally and critically knows this and understands that this is the "crux" of all political, moral, social and ethical situations we face.

Those who believe that government should handle and fix the poverty question are going to differ in their approach and recommended "solutions" very much greatly from the approaches and "solutions" of those who believe that fixing or eliminating poverty is a function better suited to an individualized approach.

The split personality is in the micro-system not the macro-system Jonathan .... and strangely enough you almost nailed it when you quoted Alan Wolfe's comments found in his book One Nation, After All .... "The two sides presumed to be fighting the culture war do not so much represent a divide between one group of Americans and another as a divide between sets of values important to everyone." but then you seemed to just pass right on by without ever noticing that THAT ONE POINT is THE POINT.

The difference that divides us will always be in the details .... and it is that factor of life and living within America that makes us as great a nation as we are. While there are BIG issues with BIG DIFFERENCES as well, the greatest splits will always come and be most noticed (to individual people if not the MSM), within the details of the issues and the proposals for their resolution. This to me is what makes America ... America; ... the freedom of the individual citizen to hold and act upon the CONVICTIONS of THEIR CONSCIENCE. While i must admit that i cannot find much personally in common with those on the left of the spectrum, i would rather that they be given the opportunity to voice those views than risk having my freedom of "expressiveness" be halted. Disagreement in details is not, in and of itself, a bad thing ... but rather should be looked upon as an opportunity to more fully explain ones own views better and reflect on any commonality found between the two divergences.

I am reminded of the adage (and the country song) "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything" ... It is the courage of convictions that makes America ... America .... not the courage of appeasement.

Speaking of courage .... today's thanks to our courageous men and women of the Armed Services goes not to specified units but rather to all of the family members, friends, acquaintances and neighbors of the 31 Marines killed in the helicopter crash in Iraq this morning .... the sacrifices of our men and women fighting for freedom and liberty will never be forgotten ... God Bless you all.....