Right Versus Wrong [View all]

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Last edited Sun Feb 1, 2015, 06:34 PM - Edit history (1)

There has always been a puritanical versus enlightenment fight going on for the heart of the country. Fascist, corporatist versus people, theocrats versus secularists, authoritarian versus freedom, racism versus decency, science versus ignorance and greed versus charity. During the times when the fight is most visible, such as the Great Awakenings, the Abolitionist Movement of the 19th century, the labor movement of the early 20th century, the Civil Rights Movement and today’s fights, it is not always apparent who will win the fight; even for those gifted with empathy and critical thought. And being right on one or more critical issues, such as civil rights, does not automatically put one on the right side of all issues.

Lyndon Johnson helped move civil rights forward and was great on poverty, but expanded United States involvement in a blatantly unjust war. There were African Americans helping the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission, a KKK type organization (with members of the Klan involved), because they believed the state would win the civil rights fight. And of course there has been overlap within many of the issues, with morality, reality and empathy being the common thread.

We are fighting numerous problems today, with clearly delineated sides of right and wrong. (Albeit with grey areas, degrees and nuances in each subject.) Our idea of democracy seems almost a joke in its current form (the Kochs spending close to a billion dollars to buy politicians, lobbyists writing our laws, entire media outlets - of which there are only six – devoted to propaganda, misinformation, scapegoating, wealth transfer to the top and diversion). Our idea of freedom is unrecognizable from just a generation ago with Total Information Awareness on a fast track to fruition, along with other repellant programs (NSA spying, DEA spying, asset forfeiture, militarized police, over 200 SWAT raids a day, license plate readers and indefinite detention). War crimes going unpunished and in many circles, unacknowledged (torture, the entire Iraq War). A reigniting of the civil rights fight, a fight against reprehensible trade agreements like the TPP and an effort for the middle class and the majority of the country to hold on to whatever wealth they have left. A fight to help the environment (global warming, endangered species, the health of the oceans, overpopulation, wilderness protection, etc.).

It’s easy to see which sides are right and which sides are wrong in these struggles. At least on the edges, where facts and decency are facing lies, greed and malice. What bothers me (aside from the ever-present War on Reality) is the fact that I don’t know which side will win this one.