Some views remain a danger to democracy
By Nick Ellerbrock
IV Leader Staff Columnist
POLITICAL OPINION column, May 6, 2004
Students beware: According to a high-ranking government official, there’s a new terrorist organization operating right under our noses. Who are these terrorists, you might ask? Well, if you were to ask the United States Education Secretary, it’s teachers.
That’s right, Rod Paige called the NEA (National Education Association) a “terrorist organization,” during a private White House meeting with governors on Feb. 23.
Though Paige later apologized, comments like this from conservatives and the GOP do appear with some frequency, so I’ve decided to share some of the most appalling with you (which, I might add, makes things a lot easier for me, since I’m “writing” a column without really writing a column).
“It all comes from, I would argue, the right to privacy that doesn’t exist, in my opinion, in the United States Constitution.” – Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), Associated Press, 4/22/03.
Although a “right to privacy” is not explicitly stated in the Constitution, a liberty of personal autonomy is implied in the 14th Amendment, and the First, Fourth, and Fifth amendments give some protection of privacy.
“Environmentalists are a social group of individuals that are the tool of the Democrat Party.
I’m proud to say that they are my enemy. They are not Americans, never have been Americans, never will be Americans.” – Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), Alaska Public Radio, 8/19/96.
So wanting cleaner air and water is a bad thing? Hmmm. I guess we’re all supposed to agree with conservative Ann Coulter when she said, “God says, ‘Earth is yours. Take it. Rape it. It’s yours.’”
“The homosexual blitzkrieg has been better planned and executed than Hitler’s.” – Rep. William Dannemeyer (R-Calif.), The New Republic, 8/01/94.
Right. Gay people are really diabolical madmen (or women) intent on “cleansing” the world of us “normal folk.” The wheels really started turning with the introduction of the show “Queer Eye For The Straight Guy.”
“Quit looking at the symbols. Get out and get a job. Quit shooting each other. Quit having illegitimate babies.” – State Rep. John Graham Altman (R-SC), addressing African-American concerns about the ‘symbol’ of the Confederate Flag, The New York Times, 1/24/97.
No comment needed.
“Two things made this country great: White men and Christianity. The degree these two have diminished is in direct proportion to the corruption and fall of the nation. Every problem that has arisen can be directly traced back to our departure from God’s Law and the disenfranchisement of White men.” – State Rep. Don Davis (R-NC), e-mailed to every member of the North Carolina House and Senate, reported by The Fayetteville Observer, 8/22/01.
Again, no comment needed.
“I don’t know that atheists should be considered citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.” – George Bush Sr., O’Hare Airport in Chicago, Ill., August 27, 1987.
It seems Bush Sr. forgot about a little something called the First Amendment where “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prevent the free exercise thereof,” which also indicates a choice on whether or not to exercise the right at all.
“The fact of the matter is that this (increased American casualties) is a sign of the success of our operation, not its failure.” – Ralph Reed, GOP strategist, on MSNBC’s program “Hardball,” 10/28/03.
Is anyone else reminded of Orwell’s notion of “doublespeak” in 1984 here?
“I’m the commander – see, I don’t need to explain – I don’t need to explain why I say things. That’s the interesting thing about being the President. Maybe somebody needs to explain to me why they say something, but I don’t feel like I owe anybody an explanation.” – George W. Bush, Washington Post, 11/19/02.
So, the President of the United States, the highest office in our democracy, the ultimate public servant, doesn’t think that he owes “anybody an explanation?” I would think in a democracy the President would owe everyone an explanation.
Though it’s not hard to find stupid sayings from Republicans or Democrats, I’ll bet you’d be hard-pressed to find Democratic quotes that treat civil liberties and the plight of minority groups with such blatant disregard (also understand that by no means do all Republicans share these views).
Though, of course, all of these men are entitled to their opinion, my opinion is that these views are not only ridiculous; they’re dangerous in a democracy when the actual lawmakers believe these things.