OpEd News' Bob Burnett: Can the Looming Civil War be Averted?

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | April 2, 2010 at 11:31 am

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OpEd News writer Bob Burnett reminds us of the costs of Civil Wars:

David Frum ousted, the Hutaree Militia, Fox News and the inflammatory outpourings of Glenn Beck, all stirring the pot: Who will avert the Coming Anarchy?

The Civil War, Burnett reminds us, ranks as the most costly of US wars, with 625,000 deaths and close to as many injuries.

With our current cultural and political impasse, in which the Republican party continues stoking the fires of insurrection making war seem well nigh inevitable for thousands on the right. The threats against Democratic public officials can only be a mask behind which a greater domestic terrorist threat lurks, biding its time. Burnett makes a comparison which is also a warning:

The first Civil War was precipitated by a dispute regarding slavery and states' rights. It was inflamed by volatile rhetoric and widespread use of guns.

The States Rights debate has been resurrected. This can be seen in the fact that moments after President Obama signed Healthcare Reform into law, Attorney Generals from several states filed lawsuits arguing the Federal government violated the Constitution and demanding repeal. This is States Rights debate, left over from the Civil War, and coming back to haunt us once more.

This time, it is not slaveholders versus the Abolitionists which is setting the stage for war, but healthcare and economic help for all, versus the holy free market.

In the run up to the first Civil War, passions were inflamed by fiery rhetoric from secessionist politicians such as Jefferson Davis. The impending civil war is being fed by mass-media personalities, such as Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, who routinely feed their listeners blatant falsehoods. The success of these demagogues was revealed in a March 23rdLouis Harris poll of Republicans: 67 percent "believe that Obama is a socialist." 57 percent "believe that Obama is a Muslim." 45 percent believe that Obama "was not born in the United States and so is not eligible to be president." 38 percent of Republicans say the President is "doing many of the things that Hitler did." And, 24 percent believe Obama "may be the Antichrist."

Increasingly strident rhetoric from Republican leaders is helping to tend and stir this witches brew. House minority leader John Boehner compared healthcare reform to "Armageddon" and declared the GOP to the Party of "Hell no." To this hyperbole McCain and Palin added their voices, with Palin citing "God given rights".

As rating soar for the Fox News Channel, commentators and pundits such as Glenn Beck and Bill O'Reilly continue to identify for hysterical minds Hitler with Obama, and assert to these unhinged masses that the US "is headed into socialism".

No Desire to Avert the Coming Anarchy

When conservative think-tank intellectual David Frum dared to lay blame at the door of Beck, Limbaugh, and Fox, he was booted out of his salaried position.

Burnett is correct when he says that Beck and his cronies at Fox are deliberately adopting militia movement talk. This goes for Palin as well. Just watch history repeat itself.

The increase in sales of firearms and ammunition since Obama was sworn in coupled by the leap in "patriot" fringe groups should raise the alarm that America is threatened with relative splitting. Enough for a civil war, if things combine at the right combustible moment. The defiance of the Birther movement added to the mix is just another sign in the grim unfolding of facts.

As the GOP continues to lose members, it is ever more ready to allow extremism into its fold. This is setting the stage for another McVeigh lunatic or something worse. A second Civil War is brewing, and Fox News is ready to jump on the train for the ratings the ride brings.

In 1860, the onset of the Civil War could have been averted. Dispassionate observers saw that the Confederacy did not have the resources required to defeat the Union. In 2010, the impending Civil War should be averted. Right-wing zealots are a minority and do not have the resources to commandeer America. Nonetheless, they can cause needless bloodshood.

This story raises an essential issue and that is for what is the battle about? Some would have it that it is about states’ rights, others say wealth versus poverty. More say it is about free enterprise versus socialism.

This is but another stage in the development of a very young nation.

I say, the battle is about change or entrenchment. People may not like the way they have it now, and believe that it can only get worse. Change is threatening to the status quo, yet some will fight for what they have.

Uneducated, bigoted people will hide under the flag and Constitution at the encouragement of wealthy elitists as the wealthy must find a constituency to boost their minority status. Exploiting the ignorant with fear mongering is what they have in mind.

A revolution based on that strategy isn’t sustainable.

It has literally been shocking to see the oatmeal so many un-educated and-educated folks have bought with the likes of Beck Hannibal (Hannity) and Limbaugh, and of course the Ghoul called Sarah Palin.. Add to that so called respected Leaders of Congress who have given up their right to represent anyone in America. People are itching for a fight. I greatly fear they are going to get just that. They may think its fun marching around with Obama and democratic leaders being demonized by them. When the Fires of Hell arrive at their towns and doorsteps I hate to see the outcome. For many of these people, the so called right to Liberty and the Pursuit of happiness will be their nightmare. What can save them is if they begin educating themselves to what that pursuit is really all about Stop believing the Lies of the extreme fringe and begin believe in yourself as a worthwhile human person.

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OpEd News' Bob Burnett: Can the Looming Civil War be Averted?

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