A Nation Divided

Shari Goodman

As Islam and the Left continue to gain momentum in their march towards world totalitarianism, we in the West, the guardians of Western civilization, are in the midst of a deep political, economic, and social divide that has impacted our ability to wage a viable defense, let alone a strategic offense of the principles and values that our now under attack from within.

While the Muslim Brotherhood, a terrorist organization bent on our destruction continues to make inroads into all of our institutions, one has to ask where are the voices within our halls of Congress, the press, or academia to sound the alarm? A Muslim Brotherhood document found during a raid by the FBI clearly states that " "The Ikhwan must understand that their work in America is a kind of grand Jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western civilization from within and “sabotaging” its miserable house by their hands and the hands of the believers so that it is eliminated and God’s religion is made victorious over all other religions." http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/misc/91.pdf Their methodolgy practiced here at home is outreach and since 9/11 they have succeeded far and wide in penetrating all of our institutions. Throughout the globe Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and Hindus are slaughtered for the sin of being non-believers (kafir); yet, not a word from Western clergy or Western leadership. Instead we have a President who apologizes to the Islamic world for the accidental burning of the Koran as if the worth of a Koran has more merit than a life. Have we in the West been so indoctrinated with pacifism that we cannot distinguish between good and evil or right from wrong? Has our sense of identity been so blurred that we cannot take pride in exerting our collective voice when confronted with evil?

Throughout our history, we have withstood turmoil and challenges only to have survived with greater strength and unity. Today we are witnessing an America in decay.....an America where citizens are deeply divided not only along ethnicity, race, religion, and gender but by class warfare and political camps. Whence once both political parties respected and abided by civility and acted within the sphere of the law, today's demonization of Republicans and Conservatives by the mainstream media, the press, Hollywood, and academia has reached a dangerous new low in American society. The level of disrespect and distrust accorded to Conservatives and people of faith is similar to the fate of many suspected Communists in post World War II America. Symbolizing this descent into political warfare is Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters who recently stated to a gathering of supporters that Republicans are "demons" who are bent on destroying this country while she proclaimed that Tea Party goers "should go straight to hell". (The Hill 2/15/12) It is shocking that those in leadership and the media have been so de-sensitized to such rhetoric that there has been no call to sanction Waters or at least words of condemnation from those whom we look to for leadership.

THE LEFT vs. THE RIGHT

Although only 20% of our population identify themselves as liberals, their power and influence far exceeds their number. Through control of the mainstream media, our press, academia, unions, and Hollywood, they use their power to push a progressive domestic and foreign agenda that is not in alignment with the values of the majority. They have made various inroads in debasing our culture and touting the benefits of a Socialist utopia to a younger generation. Should the trend continue they will succeed at eroding the very principles enshrined by our founding fathers.

A DIVIDED JEWISH COMMUNITY

Many of us political Conservatives in the Jewish community are ostracized from Jewish life by a predominantly Jewish political Left that has very little respect for alternative voices within their midst and less tolerance for inclusion for those with whom they differ. They have been wrongly led to believe that Judaism is synonymous with Tikkun Olam (repairing the world); thus, those who do not hold to their progressive views of repair are cast aside and shunned from Jewish public life. For those on the Right, it is not too unusual to see the divide within many Jewish families who can no longer be seated together at Jewish celebrations or family gatherings because of the strain and discord of a house divided. At a coming wedding celebration, I as a Jew will be seated with Christian fundamentalists since my known Conservative political views preclude my welcome at a table of Democratic friends. The demonization of those on the Right should have no place of respectability within the confines of our institutions. It breeds contempt and destroys the core of who we are. The ability to differ without casting aspersions on our opponents should be a prerequisite for political leadership and from those who are entrusted to teach our young.

CLASS WARFARE

Class warfare has been a tool of revolutionaries throughout history as a method to rile the masses. By bestowing victimhood upon a population they hope to rally the masses to rise up and tear down existing frameworks. Frequently used in South America by Eva Peron and Che Gueverra we are now seeing the use of class warfare within our own political sphere here at home. Occuppy Wall Street, a movement funded by Socialist/Communist George Soros and other Left wing NGO's, has declared war upon banks, corporations, and capitalism. "Soros whose net worth is estimated at $22 billion funds the Alliance for Global Justice which manages donations benefiting the communists, socialists, anarchists and hippies who occuppied Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan." (Human Events 10/21/11) Envy of the rich is not an American trait where equal opportunity and not equal outcome was envisioned by our founding fathers. It polarizes us as a country and prevents us from uniting for the greater good.

ETHNIC MINORITIES VS. EUROPEAN AMERICANS

Multiculturalism has displaced our national identity and stripped us of our right to sovereignty. As Americans continue to increasingly identify themselves along ethnic lines we will continue to see a polarization within our political and social fabric. African-Americans, Hispanics, Jews, and other minorities are expected to heed the "group think" at the cost of alienation should they refuse. Thus, conservatives such as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Larry Elder, Dennis Prager, Thomas Sowell, and Attorney General Alberto Gonzales along with other countless conservatives find themselves embattled within their own communities. The importance of group identity takes precedance over what is in the best interest of the country. Appeasement by elected officials in return for votes drives a wedge between those favored minorities and those within the majority. Policies (free tuition and drivers licenses for illegals) are born in the interest of these groups without concern that such policies erode our unity through polarization; and a policy that grants amnesty for millions of illegals who did not go through the process of immigration erodes our national right to sovereignty.

FAITH VS. SECULARISM

For the last few decades our American establishment has undergone a secular transformation within our institutions. While a majority of Americans (82.5% according to gallup.com 12/23/11) still continue to identify themselves as people of faith, our institutions of higher learning, the press, the mainstream media, and Hollywood have been championing a secular agenda that seeks to shut out people of faith from public life and the formation of public policy. Thus, it is not unusual to find people of faith mocked and ridiculed within these institutions while Secularists such as Bill Mahr have a license to influence. Such ethos elicit resentment and contempt from mainstream Americans for the institutions that should be fair and balanced.

As we begin the first part of the 21st century, America finds itself at war from within and without. While Islamists have declared war upon all non-believers, Americans are in a non-violent civil war for the American soul. The divide is deep and tearing our fabric apart. The distrust of public servants and distrust of the media as well as corruption in Washington and corporate life has added additional momentum to an already fragmented society. America, we are at war with an insidious Islamist adversary that is gaining momentum while we are at war with each other. If we are to win the war against a civilizational jihad waged within our shores by those with an Islamist agenda, then we must set aside our differences. We must begin to find the commonality of language, culture, and values to unite us if we are to survive an enemy that seeks to erase our freedom, liberty, and equality. For over 200 years we have fought long and hard to survive......let's not lose this one.

Family Security Matters Contributor Shari Goodman, M.Ed., is chapter leader of the Calabasas-West Valley ACT! for America Chapter. Her views are her own and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the national ACT! for America organization.