The Secular Progressives vs. The Traditionalists Essay Example for Free

The blasphemous Progressives vs. The Traditionalists EssayIn the New York Times beat out selling intelligence from Fox News Commentator and mediator for The OReilly factor, Bill OReilly in his book Culture Warrior, defines and separates the two main competitors for the floriculture of America The Secular Progressives vs. The Traditionalists. OReilly sees this battle as practically more important than the more known and easily recognized traditionalists vs. liberals and consequently sees the stakes as being that much more important as well with the winner deciding the fate of America policies, both foreign and especially domestic, for generations to come. As a self announced culture warrior, OReilly puts himself center stage in this debate as he boasts that he sees himself as one of the most hated men in America as a result of his views on the media and new(prenominal) secular progressives and what he views as their destruction of the core values that has helped to make Am erica great. The culture war has also made me perhaps the most controversial broadcaster in the solid ground. That hot-button label controversial gives my enemies, they think, the right to attack me and my enterprises ceaselessly, unfairly, even dementedly.I really drive the opposing force nuts As you may know, Im engaged in fighting them on a daily basis, and that warf ar is the subject of this book. ( OReilly, 5) And regardless of ones opinions on Mr. OReilly, that is exactly what he does since he points out that one of the most important aspects of being a diehard is keeping your word. OReilly shows how the culture war has played out in such high profile cases as The Passion of the Christ, Fahrenheit 9/11 and the battle against religion in public life story.OReilly also touches on race, education, the protection of children, the ACLU and the war against Christmas which according to OReilly has seen an escalation in recent years in favor of political correctness which has run out of control. Bill OReilly enjoys high ratings and stellar book sales because he pinpoints the moral decline in America that millions of Ameri coffin nails agree is happening in America. At the same time, the name Bill OReilly also invokes more an impassioned opinion with many Americans hating what he has to say and according to OReilly, have levied death threats against himself and his family for his outspoken views.As someone who has read this book and is well aware of the impact that OReilly has on American media, either in an affective way, either positive or negative, the opinions of the author always do invoke a response from individuals. Whatever controversies are the hot topic in the news, OReilly fearlessly con foregoings them and the reader, regardless of his political affiliation, is not left wondering what side of the isle OReilly is on. He sees many aspects of life in black and white and is both revered and hated for such beliefs.The culture war moldiness be won quic kly and definitively, and the best way to do that is to expose the secular-progressive movement in our country for exactly what it is, to explain why it is so harmful for America, and to identify the movements top leaders. So present we go ( OReilly, 6) OReilly, towards the end of the book concedes that this give be a tough fight and that they winner is not set in stone. Therefore, waitress more books of the same genre in the future from Bill OReilly.In the 200 pages of Culture Warrior, OReilly wastes no time in showtime his unapologetic attacks on a wide variety of interests in America. For a variety of causations that I will explain, I have chosen to jump into the bust and become a warrior in the vicious culture war that is currently under way in the United States of America. And war is exactly the right term. On one side of the battlefield are the armies of the traditionalists like me, people who believe the United States was well founded and has take one enormous good fo r the world. (OReilly, 10)According to OReilly, an showcase of the influence of the secular progressives power and influence in American culture is the war on Christmas perpetuated by the chief of all secular progressives The ACLU. Gradually, Christmas trees did become pass trees, Christmas vacation became winter vacation and Christmas parades became Festival of Lights. (OReilly, 45) In America, between 80-85% of its citizens define themselves as Christians. Yet, OReilly points out the push by the secular progressives on the country towards a more religiously neutral celebration of the holidays.The word Christmas and Merry Christmas is no longer politically correct to say, but the more neutral riant Holidays. Christmas trees are being re enterd by Holiday trees even though their resemblance is the same. Using the term Christmas to describe the 25th of December as the birth of Jesus, and subsequently, the reason for the celebration is seen as oppressive to the minority in Ameri ca that do not celebrate Christmas and therefore feel out of place during the Christmas season.On the other side of the isle are the traditionalists who see this as an assault on Christmas and political correctness gone too far and is out of touch with the legal age of American in this country. OReilly identifies the actions of the secular progressives as efforts to move America into being identified as neutral when it comes to religious issues. In doing so, OReilly sees this dash as being in opposition to the motivations of the countrys founding fathers that, the majority were very religious and their mention of God can frequently be found in their personal writings.OReilly outs the ACLU as center stage in his fight against the secular progressives. OReilly gives them credit for the lambasting of Christmas, the neutralization of religion in public life and for all sorts of moral degradations in American culture. This fight against the ACLU will not be completed any time soon and will most likely be seen in OReillys next book to be sure. OReilly points out in another example of the ideological differences between the secular progressives and traditionalists are their respective views on government and the desired role that each side tenderes would play in their life.On the home front in America, traditional forces strongly believe that their hard- causeed money is not the property of the government, to be distributed as largesse to others who, perhaps, are not willing to work to earn their prosperity. ( OReilly, 75) OReilly points to Europe and the stagnation of the economy that many of the nations are enduring. There is little motivation to work and to get ahead in life because of the high level of taxation and the desire of the secular progressives to copy Americas government involvement after that of Europes.OReilly says that the secular progressives wish to drastically increase taxes and therefore, kill the incentives that many Americans have to be in dependent and to work for what they have instead of high taxations creating a cradle for people who do not wish to work. OReilly wishes to avoid America moving in that direction and that Americas economy remain independent of high taxes which would inventory such social programs like handing out clean needles to drug addicts, condoms to students and free money to people who do not wish to work.Such ideas firmly place OReilly among the traditionalists of America and that is where he is likely to stay. Among one of OReillys most impassioned rants he saved towards the end of the book. It is against the people who seem to rant against America and all that is supposed to be wrong with her. In the chapter entitled Hating America, OReilly lists the people in the spotlight that seem to do their best to lay America and the greatness that OReilly sees on a daily basis. OReilly, who is in opposition to the ideology of Norman Mailer but one who respects him, expand the differences in their thinking concerning conservatives vs.liberals and for OReilly traditionalists vs. secular progressives and their opinion on America. A good example of the useful face-off between polar opposites was my interview with Norma Mailer in March of 2006. One of Americas great writers, mailer doesnt hate America but he finds it seriously flawed-as you know, a core secular progressive tenet. precisely mailer separates himself from the S-P garrison because he sees its weaknesses, selfishness and relativism. . . . Mailer says A great war is going on here, larger even that we realize, between liberals and the conservatives.The conservatives are saying in egress You guys are trying to wreck macrocosm by becoming too vain, too godless. And liberals are replying, Your obsession that God is judgmental looks to force all of unselfishness into rigid patterns that wont work any longer. (OReilly, 120) OReilly thinks that Mailer is incorrect but unlike his personal detractors, does so in a respect ful manner. But Mailer is wrong. Traditional and conservative thinkers who determine their country do not put God at the head of public policy, nor do we point fingers at the opposition and label them sinners.Traditionalists believe that secular-progressive policies will weaken America and lead to societal chaos. While we see no reason to banish God from the public square, we dont expect Him to be writing social policy on tablets and handing them to us in the Sinai. ( OReilly, 193) OReilly does state the importance of the Bible and that it must be on the reading list of every true traditionalist but that a traditionalist will not be zealots in their search of establishing a theocracy in America.In the second phase of secular progressives view that America is seriously flawed is their desire for America to no longer be the lone superpower in the world. The secular progressive movement wants the United States to decline in power. It wants a new world order where global consensus wo uld detect and the superpower model for our time would recede into obsolescence. (OReilly, 194) But OReilly accurately points out a different side towards Americas effect in the world and an effect that is central to traditionalists opinion of America and of her greatness. By contrast, the T-warrior will fight to keep, even increase Americas vast power. Why? Because T-warriors understand that the United States is a righteous country that has in our brief history freed billions of people from political enslavement. It is our might and money that brought down Tojo, Hitler and the Soviet Union If we go into decline, the world would be a much more dangerous place. Can you picture Russia and communist China dominating the world? How about the combined Arab states? (OReilly, 194 journalist as defined by OReilly, the answer is a resounding NO The greatest strength of OReilly and the strength that makes him so successful can sometimes be one of his weaknesses arrogance. Many of his points go beyond liberal or conservative, secularist or conservative but for the others, it might be seen as congeneric as it depends on the reader to make the final decision since the decline of morals or whether ignoring Americas religious foundations is a good or bad thing may never fully answered in this lifetime and in this country.But such topics are always good for material since millions of Americans do closely follow OReilly on the radio and on television. The readers view on the Culture Warrior depends upon their religious and political leanings. If one feels that the existence of a liberal media that wishes Americas influence in the world to be curtailed is greatly exaggerated and Americas declining morals either doesnt exist or is not important, Culture Warrior will evoke a strong and negative response.However, on the other hand, if one defines himself as a conservative and/or traditionalist, then the topics that OReilly details will hit its mark. And for millions of American s, it does just that. This is an important and entertaining book that, like much of what OReilly does and says, will move many needed discussions around the classrooms and water coolers of America. OReilly is effective when it comes to seeing and articulating issues of importance in todays ever changing society and most importantly, it is a window into the mindset of millions of Americans.