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Culture War

            Despite the prevalence of partisan politics and the ever-present debates on certain high profile subjects—abortion, gay rights, gun control, etc.—I would hesitate to say that there is a culture war.  The “armies” are not numerous enough and the issues are too few to constitute a full-blown war.  Rather, I suggest that currently the United States is feeling the effects of a number of extreme cultural skirmishes.  These skirmishes, however, result more from extreme fringe groups running amok than the general American public choosing sides.

            It may appear as though there is a complete culture war simply because these fringe groups are so visible in American politics today.  Both Wolfe and Hunter seem to agree that the majority of Americans fall towards the middle of the spectrum on most controversial issues.  Wolfe in particular makes an excellent point about the “incoherent center” that basically sums up the problem—nothing represents the middle.  He mentions the decline of “neutral kinds of institutions” that could represent the middle’s policies, using the Supreme Court’s recent predilection towards 5-4 splits as an example of the polarization evident in American politics today.

            Nonetheless, we must make an important distinction between American politics and the American people.  The American people are not involved in a culture war—at least, not to the extent that the media portrays.  American politics is, and American politics gets the attention of the media.  Thus, the extreme sides of politics appear to take over instead of the general views of the public.  This restriction of cultural battles to the political arena signifies the absence of a total war.  Though Americans are certainly politically divided, the division is not pervasive enough to merit the label “war.”

Further reading:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/opinion/06douthat.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1362891471-Ktz+T47pT6E8szCwmkeyiw&_r=0

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/30/us/politics/from-the-fringe-in-1992-patrick-j-buchanans-words-now-seem-mainstream.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/us/04iht-letter04.html?pagewanted=all

It turns out that all three of these articles take for granted the idea of a culture war existing in American society.  Go figure.

Rand Paul

I thought this was an interesting link on the filibuster lead by Rand Paul on Wednesday.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/06/rand-paul-filibuster_n_2819740.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cmain5%7Cdl1%7Csec1_lnk3%26pLid%3D279762&utm_hp_ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

Interesting Video, Watch IT!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPKKQnijnsM

This video explains the distribution of wealth in America. Pretty eye opening stuff yo! Makes you wish you lived in Sweden - see link below.

http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2011/03/25/~/media/Images/Inline/2011/03/03242011_sweden1_charts.ashx?w=570&h=358&as=1

Political Stance Quiz, Take IT!!!

http://www.politicalcompass.org/

Take this Quiz it's really cool and shows where you stand politically.

You can see where I placed on this quiz in the link below!

http://www.politicalcompass.org/printablegraph?ec=-4.50&soc=-3.90

Culture War?

I believe that in modern America there is a difference in opinion, because I feel that the term culture war blows the situation out of proportion. The reason that today’s arguments seem to be a “war” is that through the internet there is now a large medium for the super left wing and super right wing people to ramble of about whatever issue the wish to discuss with relative anonymity. No matter what, we are always going to have two extreme opinions with a majority of the people being moderates stuck in the middle. The people who do consider this a war are usually the people trying to defend traditional beliefs while on the other side the people pushing for progress and modernization tend to not see a war but common sense reforms. Also with modern political parties having such broad platforms many people are sucked into one of the two sides in our glorious two party system. This is because there is no room in our two party system for single issue third parties and when one becomes successful their ideas are sucked up by one side or another. The members of that third party either join one of the two big parties or have no vote. To me the irony of the whole idea of “is there a culture war?” is that it has sparked a war of its own.

http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/the-persistence-of-the-culture-war/

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/opinion/06douthat.html?_r=0

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/01/why-the-culture-war-is-the-wrong-war/304502/?single_page=true

Culture War

In my opinion, I do not believe that there is a culture war. Though I do believe that there are greatly argued opposing views on different matters, but that all has to do with an individual’s beliefs. I think it is unfair to divide our country into red vs. blue, because many people have opinions based on their beliefs that are always shifting. I personally know many people who are not against abortion in any means, but they vote for the Republican party, as well as people who are for gun rights who decide to vote for the Democratic party. Especially today having so many different huge issues that are focused on and either being for or against it, not in the middle, makes it very difficult for voters to choose where to be. I can easily say that we are forced to choose sides, and this is where the issue of the culture war comes into play. I do not believe culture war is the correct way to put it. I don’t know what it should be called, or if it should even be given a title because it all has to do with an individual’s opinion on the matter at hand. I think it is also unfair to bring religious beliefs into ones decision on whether or not something is right and that is why we have the separation of church and state. I do believe that this will continue on forever until some sort of agreement is reached on issues. But for now, we can see that all we are looking at is progressing our country in a positive direction, one where the people’s rights are most important. It is like the issue with gay marriage, blue America is for it while red America is against it. But, many of the red Americans can now see that it is necessary, and it’s not something they can stop because it has become such a powerful issue. In summary, I do not think that there is a culture war going on. I’m not saying that there aren’t hugely apparent differences among beliefs of both parties, because there are. I think calling it a “culture war” is bringing a whole different issue up that is very unnecessary when we know they exist in the first place. 


http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/edsall-the-culture-war-and-the-jobs-crisis/

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/us/04iht-letter04.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/11/national/11fulton.html?pagewanted=all

Culture War

It's hard for me to believe that some sort of culture war exists considering I had not of heard the phrase "culture war" until Friday. I'm pretty sure I'd be able to tell if a war was going on in the United States with all of this social media nonsense and errthang we got going on these days. Anyways, I think these claims, saying that there has been an increase in tensions among Americans over past couple decades over social issues, are a bit off. We have always been a country of arguments and division. It's impossible to have a nation of this size and not have any disagreements over certain polices or what traditional morals we should follow. It's in our nature as we are just one big melting pot. To call it a war is being overdramatic. The only culture war we've ever truly had was the civil war. Everything else is just our political system playing out the way it's supposed to. I don't understand the debate either. Both of the guys said they basically agree on everything except how we label culture and how the feelings of Americans are expressed, be it through the individual or through the elite. It just comes down to your definition of war and what you want to call culture. I don't like the debate.




http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/the-persistence-of-the-culture-war/
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/04/us/04iht-letter04.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/28/weekinreview/28tanenhaus.html

Is There a Culture War

Elise Blust

3/3/12

Ap Gov

Culture War.

            Yes I believe that there is a culture war occurring in the United States of America. I agree with the first article that we read,   “One Nation, Slightly Divisible” because I believe that the United States is divided between red and blue states. The red states being traditional, religious, disciplined, and patriotic and the blue state being modern, self-expressive, and not patriotic. These adjectives used by David Brooks help me conclude that the divide in America isn’t just political it is the differences in culture that cause the political split. I agree with Hunter that culture affects politics and not the other way around like Wolfe believes. Individual’s religion and culture affect what they believe to be politically correct. Although I believe there is a culture divide I don’t believe that the divide is as drastic as the media tries to make it out to be. I believe that there has always been a culture divide and will continue to be a culture divide because no one person running for office can please everyone. Hunter defines culture as “norms, values, and moral preferences of individuals”. Voters tend to vote for someone that shares the same values and moral preference as they do, thus people are voting based on their culture. We have such a bipolar America because Americans aren’t soley voting based on politics, but are voting based on their culture.

http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/11/edsall-the-culture-war-and-the-jobs-crisis/

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124104689179070747.html

http://www.tylerpaper.com/article/20130107/OPINION01/130109860/-1/OPINION033001

Is there a culture war

Is there a culture war?

The article basically says that Alan Wolfe and James Hunter agree that a culture wars have existed in American politics. They disagree on whether or not one exists today and whether it has any affect on the conduct of modern politics. Wolfe insists that this culture war is purely individualistic with minimal influence on today’s politics. Hunter believes public conflict is derived from the beliefs of the elite and that culture controls politics.

While I believe that there is a cultural rift in our society, the term culture war is far too harsh to define the divide that exists. I cannot call this conflictive division a war because a large number of Americans don’t care all too much about some of the issues that “has the country firmly divided” according to the media. The whole notion of there being a culture war today is thanks to sensationalist journalism that blows issues out of proportion. There is cultural divide within America, but it is pretty much artificially created by the strong two party systems, which dominates our politics. People are forced to conform to the beliefs of the party or vote for some third party guy who has no chance.  The individual beliefs of people today are far too broad and intertwined to draw any real distinction aside from Democrat or Republican.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/opinion/06douthat.html?_r=0

http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/the-persistence-of-the-culture-war/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052101854.html?sid=ST2010052103072

Is there a Culture War?

I believe that currently in America, a Culture War is running rampant. Although many are not involved, there is a constant clash in mainstream media and poltics between, most prominently, the Radical Right and the Liberal Left. Many members of the Radical Right resist progress and reform, regarding Abortion and Gay Marriage. This resistence would not matter if many members of the convervative right were members of the Economic Elite. Therefore, the economic leverage which the Radical Right posseses then gives them political stregnth which costantly clashes witht the liberal, leftist, progressives. Traditional beliefs and progressive goals are in conflict, as they are seperatly supported by distinctly different groups. Although msot Americans do not fall in either catagory of extremest, the influence of mainstream politics and money drowns out the middle, forcing the country into two catagories. Neither liberals nor conservatives can accomplish their goals due to resistence from either side, reaching as far as the Federal Government, who is at a stalemate on many legislative issues due to the even amounts of both Liberals and Conservatives in Congress. This stalemate, without a possiblity of negotiation is causing a political and cultural war to be stronger than ever.

http://ideas.time.com/2012/10/08/the-new-culture-war-ove-fairness/

http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/the-persistence-of-the-culture-war/

http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/class-and-the-culture-war-ii/

Culture War in America?! Nah

Culture War in America?! Nah

When attempting to answer the question about whether a culture war really exists or not, one must first attempt to figure out what a culture war really is.  Is it a term to show separate entities disagreeing with one another, or does this literally mean full-fledged warfare between two culturally distinguished parties?  Does this so called “culture war” revolve around origin, race, religion, or beliefs?  From what I understand, the answer to whether a culture war exists is no.  Modern America is based on the foundation of equality and celebrates its diversity.  A common argument that there is a culture war in America uses politics as the point of debate.  As a nation comprised of many different cultures each with a different belief set, disagreements should be expected.  While a catholic might believe that abortion is wrong, that directly conflicts with a pro-choice activist.  Someone on welfare might feel differently about tax policy then a member of the “one percent.”  Until a literal culture war erupts (Shiites V. Sunnis for example…) I would argue that the so-called “culture war” in America is natural and relatively minimal.

In case you want to further your ever-expanding knowledge on culture wars, refer to:

1. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/opinion/06douthat.html?_r=0
2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stuart-muszynski/culture-wars-values_b_1271751.html
3.  http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/the-persistence-of-the-culture-war/

Is there really a culture war?

            In the Pew forum debate, Professors Alan Wolfe and James Hunter debate both James Hunter and Alan Wolfe agreed that there is a divide amongst the people of our nation. The major disagreement lies in how influential the divide is in our society and to what extent it affects political decisions. The divide, as suggested by Hunter, affects every single political decision in the United States. More simply, Hunter believes that culture controls politics to an enormous degree. In contrast, Wolfe deems that the culture war is a thing of the past and the very vestige of it that is left over does not have a very large impact on politics. Wolfe perceives that the political division remains at the personal point rather then a national level.

            There is definitely is a cultural war and it does a play a vast role in politics in the United States. As Professor Hunter suggests and that I concur, culture controls politics. The wealthy elite does have much political power and does sway a large portion of voters in the United States. In a strong, two party political system, it is nearly impossible for the two groups to counter and fight one another. Voters are forced to choose between two completely polarized political parties and therefore, they are forced to upheld the party’s beliefs as a whole. Changes in society do not greatly affect the war because we will continuously have no different parties on complete opposite sides of the political spectrum.

http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/the-persistence-of-the-culture-war/

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052101854.html?sid=ST2010052103072

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/01/why-the-culture-war-is-the-wrong-war/304502/?single_page=true

Culture War

I do believe that a sort of culture clash exists, but I think that the name "culture war" connotes a meaning that isn't supported by what's been going on in society. I think the formation of a so-called culture war has been the result of extreme partisan politics playing a role in the federalism debate (with the help of spotlight from the national media).
Most people at what James Hunter calls "the polar extremes of society" aren't actively fighting with each other. Instead, these people are mostly surrounded by people who hold the same views. Little pockets of different, and possibly extreme, cultures exist throughout the United States. David Brooks, in his article "One Nation, Slightly Indivisible," highlights that differences are numerous between places like Montgomery and Franklin County; the Red and Blue Americas differ hugely in ethnicity, wealth, education, and many other spheres of life. But just because their respective cultures clash doesn't mean that they are engaged in a culture war. Often, people living in one of the two aforementioned counties can't even imagine life in the other county - it's a foreign culture to them. The two counties have virtually no effect on each other, and they can't relate to each other. It simply doesn't make sense for them to care strongly about what each other thinks or does.
So, since many people in fundamentally different cultures don't really seem interested in fighting a "culture war" with each other, why does the idea of a culture war take the national spotlight? The answer lies in the politics of federalism, or the federal government's imposition of policy on the entire nation. Franklin and Montgomery Counties will only clash when pitted against each other for dominance in the national society. I think it's fair to say that each would prefer to live in their own microcosms and create laws and social standards for themselves. But when policy for social issues are presented on a national scale, problems arise because each wants to uninhibitedly carry on its own way of life. Ultimately, one culture will have to be the loser of the national political war.

 http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/the-persistence-of-the-culture-war/
 http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/opinion/06douthat.html?_r=0
 http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/class-and-the-culture-war-ii/

Is There Really A Culture War?

The phrase “Culture War” can have different meanings behind it to different people. To me it doesn’t represent a full on bloody war between different cultures with different beliefs. Instead, to me, it means that different cultures with different beliefs find conflict amongst themselves. In the three articles that I read, the main focus seemed to revolve around politics. Politics always seem to play some sort of role in today’s society when it comes to disagreements. Before, culture war used to revolve solemnly around subjects such as rap music, protecting the flag from “match-wielding protesters” (Haidt), and spanking in schools. These were all different subjects that different groups of people, with different beliefs, disagreed on. However, not all cultural issues have faded away. Issues such as gay marriage, abortion, and assistant suicide are still hot topics in today’s culture. There is no set battle field where cultures clash and fight. Instead, the disagreements between cultures tie themselves into politics and are touched upon at great lengths during presidential elections. When Romney and Obama ran against each other in 2012, topics such as abortion and gay marriage were spoken about a lot. Different cultures and beliefs clashing in disagreement are ultimately behind what is talked about in politics. Both presidential candidates had different opinions on gay marriage and abortion. Also, in today’s society the media plays a huge influence on clashes between cultures. With the media, opinions are heard louder and discussions are joined within political matters. Because of our new culture war, cultural stories now offer different tales. For example, fairy tales between a man and a woman are now changing with today’s culture war considering the loud cries from homosexual, thanks to the media and politics. Overall, with different era’s different culture wars come along. There is no blood filled battle field but instead different cultures and beliefs in disagreement.

http://ideas.time.com/2012/10/08/the-new-culture-war-ove-fairness/
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/aug/8/men-making-out-badly-in-culture-war-prince-charmin/
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/04/10/why-do-americans-balk-at-euthanasia-laws/euthanasia-and-the-power-of-the-culture-war

Is there really a culture war?

     In the Pew forum debate between professors Alan Wolfe and James Davison Hunter, there seemed to be a general consensus that a culture war existed in American politics. Where this divide exists and to what extent it affects political decisions is where the debate comes out. Wolfe believes that this culture war remains in the individual and is practically non-existent in modern politics. Any influence it may have in ultimately nominal. Overall, politics are more important that culture. This can be seen in the Roe v Wade court decision. This decision ultimately downcasts the views of the church, which formerly would have epitomized the American culture ideals. Instead, the ruling legalizes abortion, one thing most churches are strongly opposed to. Hunter has the stronger argument here though. He believes that this divide is drastic throughout the American culture as a whole. Culture dominates political decisions since people vote for politicians who support their personal beliefs, morals, and values.

     There is a culture war but it's not as widespread and drastic as the media makes it out to be. Of course there would be a cultural and political divide in a nation that allows its citizens to freely express their opinions. No one would ever think it would be possible for every single person to have the same opinion. There would be no need for government or a political system if that were true. This difference in opinions naturally creates a divide amongst the people. Those who agree on similar issues culminate together in order to more effectively have their voice heard.

Further reading on the topic:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/05/21/AR2010052101854.html?sid=ST2010052103072

http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/the-persistence-of-the-culture-war/

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/01/why-the-culture-war-is-the-wrong-war/304502/?single_page=true 

Culture War?

There is, without a doubt, a culture war in America.  Although some may say that it is only fought by politicians and the media, it is impossible for the everyday person not to be caught up in the struggle.  Whether with bumper stickers, Facebook statuses, or in normal conversation, almost everyone finds a way to express their political beliefs with pride.  In a strong two party system like the United States, when allied with one party it is impossible not to fight the other.    Voters are forced to choose between polar opposites and by doing so, no matter what they truly believe, are forced to oppose people who voted for the opposite party.  Some may say that a culture war does not exist because stereotypes of the “liberal” and “conservative” are changing.  Change does not affect the war because even though there may be shifts going on in who supports what cause, there still are opposing sides in the argument.  A culture war does not have to mean full out animosity for the other party, all that has to exist is a feeling that one is in some way superior to the other party.  These feelings are more than evident if one even talks briefly with a citizen of voting age.  Most people are eager to discuss their stance on birth control or any other controversial topic.  Music has also picked up political trends with artists often including a song or two on albums that discuss politics, often taking a stance on issues such as gay marriage.  Political struggle has enveloped the American people and, by doing so , has created a culture war.     

Chris Welker

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/opinion/06douthat.html?_r=0

http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-10-26/opinions/35501467_1_contraception-mandate-richard-mourdock-culture-war

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-201202151900--tms--ahuffcoltq--m-a20120215feb15,0,2531513.column