Dissolve the Union, Say it Aint So!

Two nights ago, I was lying in bed reading the “New Yorker.” I know it is a very liberal periodical, but usually I like to learn both sides of issues. I, not like many people in the political spectrum, listen to both sides equally and make my opinion based upon a fair sampling of the material. It is one of the reasons I started this column. I want to give both sides a place to voice their opinions.

There is one weekly column in the “New Yorker” called The Talk of the Town. It is a column that expresses the editorial content of the periodical and also various tidbits about New York and what is current in the “Big Apple.” Last week there was a section of the column called “So Long, Pardner” (sic) in which, Hendrik Hertzberg made a case for the dissolution of the United States.

As I was reading this, I got angrier with each passing paragraph. Isn’t this what the Civil War was fought over approximately 150 years ago? Where have we come? Are the “red” and “blue” states so difference and distinct now that a portion of the electorate believes they should be split in two? Abe Lincoln would be turning over in his grave. After all, wasn’t he the man who saved the Union, as well as, the Civil War’s last casualty? I really hope we aren’t heading in the direction that Mr. Hertzberg advocates!

During the “tea parties” on April 15, the governor of Texas, Rick Perry, stated, “My hope is that America, and Washington in particular, pays attention. We’ve got a great Union. There’s absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, who knows what might come out of that.” Mr. Hertzberg decided that this quote was a good starting point for an article about the dissolution of the United States and a good time to voice his opinion that dissolution of it might be a good thing. How could he take this comment from the Texas governor more than the light hearted comment it was meant to be?

In the article, Hertzberg continues, “But, if the numbers mount, (in favor of secession) might it not be better for all concerned if we just let Texas – and, by extension, any other parts of the old Confederacy that wish to accompany it--- go?” He then goes on to state the benefits of secession stating that “a more intimately sized Congress would briskly enact sensible gun control, universal health insurance, and ample support for the arts, the humanities and the sciences.” “The (Con)Federated States meanwhile, could get on with the business of protecting the sanctity of marriage, mandating organized prayer sessions and the teaching of creationism in schools, and giving the theory that eliminating taxes increases government revenues a fair test” And, also it could make abortion illegal.

Mr. Hertzberg is clearly taking the position that most liberals seem to be taking these days: If you don’t agree with us, leave. We don’t need you anyway. And, for the most part we don’t want to hear your opinions either.

This is also the case with the recent debacle over the comments made by Miss California in the Miss USA pageant. The girl chose to be honest and voice her opinion on gay marriage. She could have taken the easier way out and given the politically correct answer, but she was honest. What happened next was deplorable. The poor woman was raked over the coals by the lunatic that is Perez Hilton. I am truly happy that he has taken the brunt of the criticism, both from the gay and straight lobby, over this situation. The way he treated this girl is a disgrace and should not be tolerated. If she has any legal right of redress, she should take it.

This also addresses the issue of Arlen Spector. He has left the Republican Party and is now a Democrat. Why? In all reality I say good riddance, but giving breath to the other side, his reason for leaving the Republican Party is that he believes his views on a few issues have made his election as a Republican impossible in the next election. He truly believed that he could not get the nomination of his own party because he disagreed with the majority of the party on a few “social” issues. Have we taken away his right to speak or have we voiced our opinion against him by telling him that he is no longer really a Republican?

What has happened to open debate in this country? Is every area of the media now taking sides one way or the other? Do Chris Mathews or Keith Olbermann even try to show non-bias. Is the same true of any of the pundits on the other side? However, to give the conservative commentators a bit of a break, they don’t attempt to be journalists. They are one sided and argue that one side exclusively. They are the conservative equivalent of Michael Moore. They have an opinion and they state it. I have no problem with this. Just don’t try to pass yourself off as a journalist when you are in reality, a pundit.

The problem I have is that the supposed journalists are not even attempting to be journalists. The New York Times is blatantly liberal and doesn’t even try to hide it. Isn’t the Times supposed to be the best newspaper in the world. It was when I was a child. Now, it is the equivalent of the National Enquirer, “all the news that fits its audience and opinions.” The other side is completely ignored and not even given a forum. Sean Hannity has taken to calling it “The New York Obama Times.”

As stated earlier, the left refuses to listen to the other side and simply states we have the power, if you don’t like it leave. America is a great country and always will be a great country. We are the only true superpower left in the world and that is because we all are Americans; we think alike, we behave alike and hopefully, we love our country equally. The Baptists in the south and the Atheists in New York are all Americans. The farmers in the mid-west and the bankers on Wall Street are all Americans. The industrialists in the north and the Hollywood Moguls in California are all Americans. Even though we have our different opinions, religions and way of life, we are always Americans first.

I remember reading an article many years ago about why Federalism works in the United States but doesn’t really work anywhere else except in a handful of countries. The article stated that when somebody asks an American overseas, where they are from, the answer is always “I’m an American.” Citizens of the old Yugoslavia, never said Yugoslavia, they always said Serbian, Croatian or Bosnian. The same is true in many other Federalist governments that fall apart. We are always Americans first and Californians, Texans or New Yorkers second.

The article in the New Yorker about secession should be called for what it really is, the opinion of one angry person who cannot tolerate anyone who disagrees with him. Thank God he is in the minority. Hopefully, he will stay that way.

On another issue completely, I will now take a position on something that I have ignored for a long time: gay marriage. A reader of mine, whom I will not identify for fear or reprisal from his/her friends, came up with a solution that I believe will work and will not anger the majority. Let us take marriage away from the government completely. Marriage in all its sanctity and history shall be a religious union only. If a religious organization wants to marry only men and women, so be it. This fits the liberal position of separation of church and state and should also protect the churches that refuse to perform gay marriages.

If, on the other hand, a gay couple wants to tie the knot, it shall be at the governmental level as a “civil union.” This would also go for heterosexual couples. The state shall preside over all civil unions. The will regulate them, tax them and decide how they should be ended. States, and/or government will no longer have any power over the word marriage and its implications. This solution should satisfy the gay marriage proponents because they will be treated equally with non-gays. Religion is not the states concern and marriage will no longer be the states concern.

In closing, I would like to state that I have a strong love for this country and I hope that many members of the Democratic Party feel the same way. I am sorry that there are people out there that cannot tolerate anyone that disagree with them. America is great because we have always had the ability to have an open debate. Let’s not ever take that away, especially by the Democrats’ demand to bring back the Fairness Doctrine which is anything but…..

©2009 by Frank T. DeMartini. All rights reserved. Permission to copy will be freely granted upon request.