Planned Parenthood vs the NRA: Constrasting models of freedom
Economics, not culture wars, may determine this election - but culture wars need to be understood on their own terms.
Last Modified: 29 Apr 2012 14:35
San Pedro, CA - In the 1960s, progressive movements in the US made unprecedented breakthroughs in achieving formal freedom and equality for women, blacks and other minorities, shattering long-standing moral frameworks of subjugation. The powers of subjugation did not go away, of course, but their instinctively presumed morality had been shattered.
In reaction, the right began serious mobilising during the following decade, aimed at reclaiming the "moral high ground", in what would come to be known as "the culture wars". The National Rifle Association was a key organisation in promoting a rival libertarian definition of "freedom", while the anti-choice movement claimed it was "pro-life", not anti-freedom. Both were deeply inflected with racism, largely unrecognised by millions of their followers. This election cycle brings potential harbingers of a long-brewing shift.
On the one hand, the killing of Trayvon Martin highlights the NRA's paranoia-driven promotion of vigilantism, undermining the very foundations of the social contract that secures the totality of all our liberties against just such violence. On the other hand, the anti-choice shift of focus to birth control, trans-vaginal ultrasound and the like, makes the pro-choice perspective inescapable: the basic issue really is: who will control womens' bodies - themselves? Or remote, unaccountable male power-wielders of church and government? Connecting the two is the question of which organisation represents and defends the more authentic and robust model of freedom - the NRA, or Planned Parenthood?
Inside Story Americas - Is there a war on women's health care?
The NRA's recent political activities have pushed it increasingly into fringe positions that even its own membership does not support (as revealed in a 2009 poll by Frank Luntz) - but without adverse consequences, so far. While the NRA claims to only be protecting gun rights of virtuous "law-abiding citizens", it opposes crucial provisions to weed out dangerous individuals - provisions its membership strongly supports. It does this largely by promoting a paranoid vision of "gun-grabbing" others who cannot be given an inch, even to keep guns out of the hands of potential terrorists, convicted felons or those with potentially dangerous mental problems.
in full: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/04/20124289267406755.html
RC
(25,592 posts)It is quite accurate in its descriptions of what is going on with various groups.
We would not be in this mess if we have an unbiased news media in this country. The contrast here is striking.
rrnusa
(4 posts)Friends for me this is not about being fans of the Clinton's. This is about the realty that right now is the actual mood in this country. We can be real about it or we can be like the conservatives in 08 and stick to Sarah Palin wishful thinking plan only in our case its Barack Obama wishful thinking plan.
How many states have put laws on the books about abortion, gays, immigration, faith in government, which are all hurting civil rights and are even re-defining the first amendment? How many times has faith crossed the line into civil laws in the states? More of these kinds of laws have been done SINCE Obama's election then was done BEFORE his election. This is because the Obama network can only focusing on the Federal offices. They do not have a network in place to be able to do anything else. That takes decades of hard work to create such a network and none in the Obama camp have done that. I am looking down the road at the next 4 years of across the board government in my country and going OH MY unless we find a solution we are going to see even worse laws get passed until they will be strong enough to be done on a national level.
The Clinton's have that network in place now with three Presidential campaigns behind them and decades of hard work but we need a rally point that will help all those state candidates. If Hillary announced, overnight you would see endorsements going back and forth for key governorship's, state legislatures and other local and federal offices. We could avert a red state country and turn it into a blue states country. This en-turn would even encourage the Republican Party leadership to abandon the tea party and tamper down the Christian Right. They want to so bad even now but the silent majority has not shown them cause to. Many are saying even now that Berry Goldwater was right about these people taking over our party. If we wait until 2016 there will be no shot for any of us including Hillary Clinton!
No matter if Mitt or Obama is elected it turns out the same on state level elections. So for me this is about stopping a teavanglist take over not a Hillary Clinton fan club or bitter still about 08 things. If there were an Obama network or another person network who could do what the Clintons could do in stopping that take over I would be writing for them. No one else has done the hard work over decades like the Clintons. I cant think of another name besides Hillary Clinton that can give us what we absolutely must have right now to stop these people. If you can give me a better name I am all ears! The reality mood of this country says Barack Obama can't get it done, heck he will be lucky to just get himself re-elected let alone help anyone else. This is not a time to chill Hillary. Those laws are coming! That is unless we all find the courage do what it takes to harness the silent majority of the country for actionable results that can keep those laws from being presented
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)Come on now, you're 4 posts in and I have the pleasure of your wisdom, is that it?
Lucky me.
allan01
(1,950 posts)then the nra needs to loose its non profit status as alec might, if it is being a political entity now .