Divisiveness is not caused by religious differences but by those who are offended by religion, and most especially by the influence of religion in our public life.
(Richard John Neuhaus, “The Public Square,” First Things [February 2007]: 55-72, at 66)
Christopher Whitcomb, a former FBI agent, tells us how to prevent another Virginia Tech massacre.
To the Editor:
Paul Krugman is on target in “Way Off Base” (column, April 16); the Democrats fear their voter base.
Republican leaders pander to Christian extremists even when their views are wildly out of touch with the mainstream. In contrast, Democrats treat their base voters like lepers even when, as on the subject of the war, they are not only mainstream, but they are also morally right.
Looking to 2008, Democrats can still learn from the people at their grass roots if they are inclined to learn. Sadly, that’s still a big if.
Laura Flanders
Los Angeles, April 17, 2007
The writer is the author of a new book about the Democrats.
Note from KBJ: After the debacles of 2000 and 2004, perhaps Democrats want to win. And don’t you love the progressive trope that “Republican leaders pander to Christian extremists”? They “pander” to ordinary, hard-working, patriotic Americans who oppose handouts to the lazy and stupid, oppose tinkering with the institution of marriage, believe that abortion is wrong, want to control immigration, and want to end the reverse racism that is affirmative action.
Read the first sentence of this editorial opinion by The New York Times: “The trouble with modernity is how efficiently it obliterates the troves of age-old knowledge otherwise known as wisdom.” Is the Times going conservative on us? Is it coming to see (for example) the rashness and arrogance of tinkering with the definition of “marriage”? Unfortunately, no. That would be principled. The editorial board of the Times wouldn’t know a principle if it bit them in the ass.