Dennis Prager writes an Irresponsible Article

It's called The second American Civil War.

"Whatever your politics, you have to be oblivious to reality to deny that America today is torn by ideological divisions as deep as those of the Civil War era. We are, in fact, in the midst of the Second American Civil War.

Of course, one obvious difference between the two is that this Second Civil War is (thus far) non-violent. On the other hand, there is probably more hatred between the opposing sides today than there was during the First Civil War."

Yep. And from the tone of his article, it's clear that violence may not be that far off. He lists of issues where the two sides differ, being careful to focus on extremist positions for the left while promoting a very reasonable course for Republicans. One example;

"The Left regards America as morally inferior to many European societies with their abolition of the death penalty, cradle-to-grave welfare and religion-free life; and it does not believe that there are distinctive American values worth preserving. The Right regards America as the last best hope for humanity and believes that there are distinctive American values -- the unique combination of a religious (Judeo-Christian) society, a secular government, personal liberty and capitalism -- worth fighting and dying for."

What tripe!

He is comparing the far left to mainstream Republicans. I'm not going to deny there are some on my side of the aisle who don't have much respect or use for America. But they are in the minority. Most liberals love America and want it to return to values of fairness and equality and justice that we used to believe in.

But even if he presented both sides fairly, this would still be a wildly irresponsible article. We are all Americans. Yeah I disagree with the policies of President Bush and Karl Rove and Dick Cheney and, well, Dennis Prager. But I don't doubt that they are trying to serve America in the best way they can.

I also thought veiled hints at forthcoming violence are, frankly, insane. Is that the way you want to win, Mr. Prager? Do you want to see liberal blood in the streets? If you don't you should clarify your position.

I shall conclude with the words of Thomas Jefferson, which seem particularly relevant at this juncture. "Let us restore to social intercourse that harmony and affection without which liberty and even life itself are but dreary things. And let us reflect that having banished from our land that religious intolerance under which mankind so long bled and suffered, we have yet gained little if we countenance a political intolerance as despotic, as wicked, and capable of as bitter and bloody persecutions."