Keep It Pithy (6 page)

Drug addiction and alcoholism would be considered contagious diseases. Those afflicted would be encouraged to get help but not looked upon as victims.

All kinds of child abuse and neglect would be confronted by the community immediately and reported to the proper authorities. There would be zero tolerance for adults who hurt or endanger kids.

Police would be assigned to provide protection at all public schools and would be stationed on campus to deal with
disruptive and destructive students, as well as disruptive and destructive outsiders. [As in Newtown, Connecticut.]

Curfews on teenagers would be enacted and enforced by local communities.

Zoning laws would be toughened and standards of care imposed on properties both public and private. Run-down buildings would be more easily condemned and then sold at auction to responsible builders.

Public nuisance laws would be passed so that individuals who disrespect neighborhoods and properties by actions such as graffiti, public lewdness and intoxication, incivility in words or deeds, littering, or the general creation of mayhem could be arrested and prosecuted by local authorities.

If that kind of creed was encouraged in all poor neighborhoods, and a cooperative discipline imposed by responsible citizens (who are the majority in every neighborhood), you would see the ghettos of the country gradually transformed into solid working-class enclaves.

The class system as related to race plays a role: Single-income white households have a median income of $39,000, while
single-income black households have a median income of $25,000. And the earnings gap between rich and poor is widening.

And ever widening still
.

This is not a minority problem. This is a national problem
.

All people who work deserve a fair chance and the respect of the community
.

That is the American ideal, and I don’t want us to forget it
.

The suggestions listed above might make even more sense in light of the following observations from my
Culture Warrior:

Although 89 percent of blacks voted Democratic in 2004 [it rose to 95 percent in 2012], when it comes to social issues African Americans are largely in the traditional camp. A Pew Research Center poll taken in July 2005 found that 75 percent of black Americans believe secular-progressives push too far in keeping religion out of schools and government. Only 17 percent of African American voters want to legalize gay marriage—an overwhelming statement of traditionalist conviction.…

Because the African American political establishment is largely locked into one issue—advancement of blacks through government largesse—African Americans remain largely on the sidelines in the culture war. Generally speaking, taking up the battle is simply not relevant to them,
because traditionalists have not defined the culture war to coincide with their interests. I believe that is a huge mistake.

In many black communities, Christian churches are prominent centerpieces. Faith is an important tradition in black America. That’s why the gay marriage issue is overwhelmingly rejected by blacks. Their religion says homosexuality is not acceptable, and many African Americans bitterly resent the argument that marriage for homosexuals is a civil right. If you want a lively discussion, walk into a black church and put that on the table.…

Take another issue: drugs. Many African Americans have seen firsthand what narcotics can do; they don’t want hard drugs legalized. Lawlessness and the breakdown of the traditional family in poor black neighborhoods (the out-of-wedlock birthrate for blacks is 70 percent) have deepened the cycle of poverty and deprivation. Any sane person can see that.

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photo credit 3.3
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And older African Americans generally deplore the rise of gangsta rap and the disintegration of civility among some young black people. This is a big [Bill] Cosby theme, and he pounds it home in his lectures again and again, despite attacks on him by the S-P
community, which often views the hate-filled rap lyrics as “genuine expression.” …

The upshot of all this is that it’s safe to say few, if any, citizens are enlisting in the S-P corps in East St. Louis or South Central Los Angeles. But, again, not many blacks are waving the traditional flag, either. It would take a strong black leader who understands that the Judeo-Christian tradition, as well as a return to discipline and personal accountability, would greatly aid the advancement of African Americans. Until such a leader arrives, most black Americans will remain disengaged from the culture war that is raging around them. And that’s a shame.

FOUR

RELIGION UNDER ATTACK

Who Cares? You Can Hear a Pin Drop

Your religious freedom means that I can’t tell you what to believe
.

My religious freedom means that you can’t stop me from talking about what I believe. Just don’t listen, if you don’t want to
.

I have often written about my faith; it’s a large part of who I am
.

As far as your personal religious conviction, that is completely up to you. But I will say this: Used in the correct way, religion can be a force that makes your life more worthwhile. It can make the bad times bearable and the good times more satisfying. Spirituality looks out for you because it brings you out of yourself and into a realm where the welfare of other people becomes as important as your own.… That kind of worldview will allow you to build relationships with people who will indeed look out for you even as you are looking out for them.

And now for the completely ridiculous …

Why did the word “Christmas” suddenly become controversial? Why did I have to spend quality TV time on this issue? … The answer is the semi-successful perversion of the U.S. Constitution. The ACLU and other secular-progressive groups constantly say they are challenging public displays of Christmas and other spiritual expositions to
protect
Americans from the emergence of a “theocratic” government—that is, a governmental system driven by religious thought and judgments. The tired “separation of church and state” argument is used again and again to justify attacks on spirituality in the public square.

But the “separation” argument is one big lie, a bogus piece of propaganda cooked up by an intentional misreading of the intent of the Constitution.

This “wall of separation” falsehood has, however, been lovingly embraced by the secular media and foisted upon the American public with a ferocious intensity.

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photo credit 4.1
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Please trust me when I tell you that, just a few years ago, I never envisioned being a culture warrior on behalf of Christmas. To me, Christmas has always been the most magical time of the year. I remember as a small child sitting on the stairs early Christmas morning before anyone else was up, staring down at the scene before me. Santa Claus had come! All the presents were neatly wrapped and perfectly placed under the tree (a real one). I was mesmerized. What treasures would my sister and I be getting? I just sat there and soaked it all in. I remember the moments vividly. Why would
anyone
want to mess with Christmas?