It is beginning to look like the efforts of right wing radicals are beginning to bear significant fruit – but not what they intended.
The New Civil Rights
The murder of Trayvon Martin has kicked off a new civil rights movement. The outrage is marked and it appears the participants in the protests are planning on being relentless. We should all be cheering them on. The reaction is showing up well beyond Florida and has become connected to the opposition to voting rights suppression efforts.
Women
We are also seeing that the issue of women’s rights regarding abortion, reproductive rights and health care in general is settling in and will not go away. The outcry makes it clear we are not going to let Republican men get away with their attack on women.
LGBT
Who would have predicted the magnitude of the LGBT issue. It has jumped from marriage equality in America onto the world stage where we see violence and oppression in advance of the Olympics in Russia. This would have seemed extremely unlikely not too long ago. But it is now being highlighted after an unconscionable amount of time.
Prison Reform
Suddenly there is bipartisan support for reconsidering mandatory minimum sentencing. And a decline in the prison population is coming. Of course among many Republicans it seems not to be about justice, fairness and humanity but about money. It has finally, finally come to our attention that we are wasting lives and money by putting people in prison with inordinate sentences for minor infractions. It seems that racial and ethnic justice did not rule the day but money has. It is right and so long overdue.
Dreamers and their Moms
In Arizona Latino Dreamers and their mothers staged a demonstration near a detainment facility where men due for deportation were being held. When a bus came out with men in chains the vigil extended to blocking the bus for hours until it turned back into the facility. The mothers risked arrest and deportation. Their bravery was telling and deeply touching.
Fast Food and Inequality
Fast food workers, who are among the most visible victims of income inequality, are demonstrating across the country. They are demanding a minimum living wage and stand in the open before their employers. This is new. It is essential. All of these groups with their issues stand against the debilitating programs of the radical right.
The Stirrings of Morality
And now at last reputable Republicans are speaking out. Right after the Governor of North Carolina spoke Colin Powell stood up and noted his opposition to the program to disenfranchise so many North Carolinians. He said that his party must have a program and must be inclusive. And also recently James Sensenbrenner, a Republican Congressman from Wisconsin, has spoken out about the need to restore the voting rights act -immediately. At last. At last. We know responsible Republicans exist and it is long overdue for us to hear from them.
The Death of the RRP
It is clear that what has become the Radical Republican Party has signed its own death warrant. Certainly they can hang on for a time but the rising tide of the young, women, immigrants and demographics in general will surely engulf them.
What a shame that they are wasting our time, our money and human lives and potential as they visit their death throes upon us. We look forward to the day when responsible Republicans take back their party by removing the radicals who violate the values of our country and impair our future. We also look forward to a new coalition built across party lines to rebuild the promise of our America’s future.
Roger Burt
Easton
Edward Torbert says
I’m so sorry the writer isn’t happy with what seems to be everything in this country. Maybe he should find another place more to his liking. I hope he doesn’t think he speaks for all Democrats. Just as the extreme Republicans have formed their own party, the Tea Party, the writer need not go through that trouble, a Socialist Party has already been formed. I resist socialism in most all respects and completely disagree with the general tone of the writer’s comments. The Martin trial was ajudicated in a court of law as it should have been. It should be a done deal. Why would anyone think they have more insight into the events of that tragic evening than the jury who heard all of the evidence in the case? The comments on the prison population are causing me to think the writer has never had any real insight to the problem, simply replaying the sound bites of someone else he has heard. I won’t go into all the rest of the comments because it isn’t worth the effort. If I had to guess, I’d say the writer is probably in his mid to early 20’s, just out of college. Why do I think that? Because he sounds a bit like me at that time in my life. There is no doubt in my mind he believes his comments are the “right” way to make the changes he believes are needed. I applaud him for speaking his mind but his comments represent what is really wrong with our society today, polarization. There more extreme comments become the more extreme the responses so that eventually, we end up not being able to do anything, just like Congress. Is there need for reform, yeah buddy!!! But there needs to be realistic discussion and consensus on issues, not crying so much about victimization. It may not be worth much, but that’s my take on the comments.
William Burton says
To continue to refer to the death of Travyon Martin as murder is irresponsible, inflammatory, and shows a total lack of respect for our judicial system.
The only person ever accused of murder in this case has been acquitted. Whether you agree or not is irrelevant. Our judicial system has spoken and it is over for this case.
Get a life and quit trying to use your view of the case to promote your own agenda.
Berwanger says
Thank you for printing this article. Mr. Burt’s editorial is enlightening. He comments on many of the ills of our society. A sample of his key phrases follows:
– Right wing radicals
– Let Republican men get away with their attack on women
– among many Republicans it seems not to be about justice, fairness and humanity but about money
– …the most visible victims of income inequality
– the radical right
– We know responsible Republicans exist and it is long overdue for us to hear from them
– the Radical Republican Party has signed its own death warrant
– they visit their death throes upon us
– removing the radicals who violate the values of our country and impair our future
– rebuild the promise of our America’s future
Having worked overseas in 12 countries on and off since the 1980s, I have observed, up close and personal, that America is by far the most fair, tolerant and diverse society on Earth, particularly given its 300+ million population.
I believe Mr. Burt is fortunate to live in America and to have the opportunity to express his opinions openly. It is also my belief that casting aspersions and demonizing others does little, or nothing, to improve situations and beliefs.