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  Sexism

  Sexist bigotry is another problem, despite the tremendous strides we have made toward achieving equality of the sexes in America. I can easily remember when people were shocked to see a female commercial airline pilot or executive in a large organization. Female surgeons were almost unheard of when I was a child. Today more than half of the medical students in America are female and the chiefs of surgery at many large institutions, including Johns Hopkins, are women. As was the case with blacks, once people had an opportunity to work closely with members of the opposite sex, it became readily apparent that they were just as competent as anyone else.

  Nevertheless, there remain in our society people who doubt the ability of women to be good police officers, firefighters, or military combatants. They claim that women are too weak for such jobs. Anyone who is truly objective would have to admit that there are many men who are too weak for such jobs and there would be no rationale for putting such men in those positions just as there is no rationale for putting such women in those positions. On the other hand, there are many women who are stronger than most men and can easily handle these roles. We need to start evaluating people based on their abilities and not on their sex or other congenital characteristics.

  Keep in mind that not all the sexist bias is directed toward one gender. In recent years, sitcoms and commercials have portrayed men, particularly fathers, as buffoons. People seem to derive great pleasure from mocking men’s foolishness while extolling women’s wisdom and cleverness. While they may feel that this type of sexism is fine because there was discrimination against women for so many years, this is a childish mentality. Both men and women should be treated with dignity and respect. When men and women are able to work together as equals by bringing their specific skills and talents to the table, a type of synergy develops that can be beneficial to everyone.

  Ageism

  Ageism is another form of bigotry today. In the early 1900s, the average age of death in America was less than fifty years. Now that mark is approaching eighty years of age. As a result, we are seeing larger numbers of elderly individuals in our society. I sometimes observe younger people acting quite impatient when they are behind an elderly individual who is moving slowly up a ramp or flight of stairs. Instead of showing disrespect, these young people need to think about the fact that they, too, one day will be relegated to the slow lane and will be appreciative of patience by others.

  Younger people need to realize that the opportunities they have today exist largely because of the hard work and sacrifices of those who preceded them. Certainly we would not enjoy the kind of freedom we have today if our ancestors had not valiantly fought and defeated the axis powers of World War II. Not only should we be thankful to the brave men who fought and died for our sakes but we should remember the millions of women who occupied the vacancies in the factories created by the military draft. From their strength and determination were created more airplanes, tanks, and mortars than anyone could have imagined, thus supplying the fuel for military victory. As a mark of respect, we should be more than happy to care for these elders who have done so much for us.

  On the flip side, many older people have negative impressions of younger people and their work ethic, or their use of drugs, and their musical selections. If they stimulate their memory banks they will discover that when they were young, older people said some similar things about them. Of course we all have biases based on where we are in the stages of life. Wisdom gives the kind of perspective that allows one to appreciate others wherever they are along life’s journey.

  It is also important for the generation in power currently to realize that it has an obligation to the next generations, which if unfulfilled will likely create a level of animosity toward them that is unprecedented. Thomas Jefferson said it was immoral to leave debt to the next generation. He would be speechless if he were resurrected today and saw that we are leaving the next generation a $17 trillion national debt. If the next generations were paying closer attention, it is likely that they would be protesting the unbridled borrowing against their future. The stark reality is that if we don’t immediately assume fiscal responsibility and adopt policies that are conducive to economic growth, an economic disaster will ensue that will affect all generations. This is another area where a little common sense will go a long way.

  Homophobia

  Finally, there’s the issue of bigotry regarding sexual orientation. As I stated earlier, people who have differing opinions about gay marriage are likely to always exist. There has been a long and shameful history of gay bashing in America that thankfully is waning. However, this bigotry can still be seen in the assumption by many on the Right that gays should not have access to children because they are more likely to commit rape or engage in aberrant sexual indoctrination. If this is true, it should be relatively easy to prove statistically, but such proof has yet to be provided.

  Unfortunately, the mantle of hatred has been taken up by the other side, which feels that hateful speech and actions toward anyone who doesn’t embrace the gay agenda is justified. Obviously hatred on either side of the opinion ledger is unacceptable and should be shunned by all.

  Defeating Bigotry

  Unless we are able to apply both condemnation and praise equally and objectively, we will do nothing except exacerbate the social relationships that are vital to a healthy society. The problems facing America are so overwhelming that we can ill afford to expend energy on issues stimulated by bigotry of any type. Unless we are able to focus on the big-picture items, like many societies before us, we will be agents of our own destruction. I strongly believe that if we adhere to the creed “one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all,” that we can avoid the pitfalls that have so effectively disabled the pinnacle nations that preceded us. Let us live the words, rather than just allow them to roll off our tongues without thinking.

  Action Steps

  When ready to call someone a nasty name, stop and evaluate the situation from that person’s point of view.

  Stand up for the rights of someone with whom you disagree.

  Identify an area where you have participated in bigotry and plan two concrete actions you can take this week to remedy the situation.

  Be aware of bigotry shown toward you and plan two concrete ways to civilly confront the bigots.

  NO WINNERS IN POLITICAL FIGHTING

  A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends.

  PROVERBS 16:28

  I worked as a supervisor of highway cleanup crews around the Detroit area during the summers of 1970 and 1971. Mostly from inner-city Detroit, the young men in these crews were not overly ambitious and enjoyed having a good time. At first they were always interested in knowing the minimum amount of work required of them in order to be paid. They were quite clever in devising schemes that would meet that minimum requirement without exerting excessive effort.

  Since they were particularly averse to working long hours in the hot sun, I proposed a framework that would allow them to do the bulk of their work early in the morning before rising temperatures made work unpleasant. Instead of paying them by the hour, I would pay them for a full day’s work when they had collected a certain amount of trash. Prior to such an offer, they each worked independently while surreptitiously keeping an eye on how much work was being done by the others. Now they became more insistent on efficiency and the best way to quickly complete the work. They devised methods of working together, which greatly enhanced not only their efficiency but their satisfaction. Working faster and more effectively than any other crews became a badge of pride for them and they actually looked forward to their work, while at the same time establishing very cordial working relationships with one another. There were occasional days when dissension arose in the ranks and on those days there was a noticeable decline in the crew’s effectiveness. If an outside force wanted to lessen the effectiveness of a crew, they would sow seeds of discord, and simply wa
tch them grow.

  The work crew mirrors the political landscape in our country. When working toward the common goal of American people’s welfare, Republicans and Democrats get along relatively well. Even though they have philosophical differences they are able to work together to pass legislation that is beneficial for everyone. When special interest groups influence one side or the other, creating dissension, Congress doesn’t work well at all. Unfortunately, polarizing influences—such as unions that want what they want, gay rights groups, isolationists, and others who cannot or will not consider the opinions of others—have become stronger in recent years, robbing from the pool of moderate legislators and increasing the numbers of extreme legislators. Their efforts explain why it is so difficult to come to consensus on almost anything.

  “My Way or the Highway”

  Washington, DC, is dysfunctional today because the primary two political parties have become opponents instead of teammates with different approaches to the same goal. In a speech not long ago, President Obama referred to the Republicans as enemies. While it was wrong of him to refer to them as such, many of the party probably see themselves as his enemies, largely because of the Affordable Care Act, the biggest governmental program in the history of the United States, which was passed without a single Republican vote in the House or the Senate. Never before has any major society-changing piece of legislation been passed in this country without bipartisan effort. During the bill’s passage, I had an opportunity to speak with one of the president’s senior staffers and said that this unilateral act would create an unprecedented level of dissension and rancor that could preclude cordial working relationships for an extended period of time. The response I got was “So what? That’s nothing new.”

  This “my way or the highway” approach has resulted in disaster. Influenced by special interest groups, like some of the insurance companies that stood to benefit from the exchanges if they worked well, the Trial Lawyers Association, which supports anything that doesn’t include tort reform, and many liberal universities, which blindly support anything disguised in the mantle of liberalism, Democrats tried to create a bandwagon effect to alleviate any anxiety felt by the public. But by rushing to pass the bill while they still controlled the House and Senate, the Democrats passed a program so massive that many components of it have not even been tested. As Nancy Pelosi once famously said, “We have to pass it, so we can see what’s in it.”

  As we are finding out what’s in it, more groups, including labor unions that originally supported it, are withdrawing their support. A program that was supposed to reduce costs and allow people to keep their insurance if they wanted to, is raising costs and making it impractical for people to keep their previous insurance. It is also rapidly expanding the number of part-time workers in our country because the law does not require employers to provide health care insurance for part-time workers. The result will funnel almost everybody into government health care.

  Although some of the Democrats may have felt temporary joy when they passed the bill, in the long run, they destroyed harmony. The Democrats now have an albatross around their necks with Obamacare and will forever be blamed for destroying a reasonable health care system that needed improvement, but was working for 85 percent of the populace. The Republicans were shut out of the process and have been largely marginalized, and they continue to weaken themselves with internal squabbling. Everyone loses when our politicians and our people engage in this kind of political infighting.

  I can remember a time when senators and congresspeople from different political parties were friends and happily worked together to help our nation prosper. In recent years politicians have capitulated to divisive forces that drive wedges into every crack and then hype the differences of opinion to force each side deep into their ideological corners, making it difficult to compromise without appearing to surrender. A prime example is the federal budget battles we seem to face annually. They have become games of brinksmanship where both parties participate in a game of chicken. The goal is not to solve problems but rather to pin on opponents the blame for lack of progress or for a government shutdown. Those representatives who play this game rather than represent the will of their constituencies should be voted out of office regardless of their party affiliation, and should be replaced by people who understand the dangers of fiscal irresponsibility and moral decay.

  Many of our politicians seem to relish their role as dividers today. It is essential to the viability of a united nation that we learn to recognize their tactics and resist. If we are fragmented, we cannot provide a united response to tyranny, and we certainly cannot get things done effectively.

  Division Tactics

  A favorite tactic of dividers is the demonization of their opponents. It is rare for them to engage in a rational conversation but they are eager, particularly when surrounded by people of like mind, to viciously castigate those with opposing views. Usually the questionable motive they ascribe to their victim is the very same thing they are guilty of themselves. It is sometimes tempting to get into the mud pit with them and hurl insults, but this serves to lower one to their level and accomplishes nothing. For instance, recently a prominent congresswoman stated that it was not possible to cut one penny from the federal budget, and implied that those advocating this were heartless. The sad thing is that anyone who thinks at all knows that this is not true, but they are more loyal to their party than to truth or the well-being of future generations.

  Another tactic of the dividers is to hold up one of their own as an example of someone who has been treated unjustly in some fashion, and say that this is what their opponents want to do to everyone. Last year, Democrats claimed that a Georgetown law student was poorly treated by those who did not wish to make free birth control pills available to her. Not only did they say that Republicans discriminated against her by refusing to pay for her birth control but they suggested that this refusal meant the Republicans were engaged in a “war on women.” The argument had very little substance or truth but was nearly wholly focused on victimization and blame.

  Demagoguery is another tool of dividers. Dividers on both sides of the aisle make sweeping and often obviously false statements about their opponents, recognizing that most people understand that this is foolishness, but a growing number don’t think for themselves and blindly trust their political leaders, believing everything they say. These gullible voters believe emotionally manipulative arguments presented by strong leaders, especially when the arguments are repeated frequently and are not called into question by most of the media.

  Yet another device used by the dividers is quoting their opponents out of context. The extreme media uses this technique frequently and when they are caught, they simply say “My bad” and quickly move on. All of these techniques are designed to call into question their opponent’s character and set them up as enemies of the people who should be resisted on every level. It is my fervent hope and prayer that “the people” will soon awaken and recognize that they are being manipulated by real enemies—those who are constantly trying to divide us and make us believe that we are one another’s enemies.

  “We the People” or “They the Government”?

  Over the course of time many Americans have forgotten that “we the people” are actually at the top of the food chain as far as authority is concerned in this nation. The Republicans don’t run our nation. The Democrats don’t run our nation. We do. However, by dividing and engaging in political squabbles, we have allowed the government to grow so large and powerful that it has now become the boss, progressively taking charge of all of our lives. It has reached the size where it is incredibly dangerous for one half of the dividers to take control, since they can then wreak havoc on the lives of those who oppose them.

  For example, the IRS targeted Tea Party organizations for intense scrutiny and unfair treatment. To add insult to injury, the head of the IRS pleaded the Fifth Amendment rather than answer questions about her involvement in the sca
ndal. Other government officials have said they had adequately investigated the problem and were sure no one in the government’s executive branch knew anything about the decision to persecute American citizens. However, congressional testimony has subsequently revealed that the offending agents did receive instructions from higher-ups in Washington.

  What can we do about this type of situation? In times like this, the people must understand their power and their responsibility. This means getting together in groups like early citizens of this country did, discussing the problems and working together to put pressure on their elected representatives to use all available legal avenues to flush out the truth and punish the culprits. If illegal actions by dividers are just allowed to fade away with little or no consequences, we can be guaranteed to have repeat performances and significant exacerbations of this kind of abuse.