Culture War!

So in the packet it says, "Then- write a short explanation (no more than a page) as" and just leaves off there, so I decided it meant to write a summary! :)  yyyaaaaaaaayyyy

Mr. Schill- I tried

Culture Wars

Summary of the article:

Critics look for conflict where it is the weakest.  The average American is not dealing with very much conflict and most people live their life “away from the front lines”.   Sometimes something will happen, for example a daughter getting pregnant before marriage or a son coming out of the closet and these normal people will be caught up in drama and conflict.  Based on public opinion surveys, it seems that you end up with five to seven percent of the American population on each side who represent the white hot core of opposition.  When one starts to exclude people, culture wars tend to become violent.  The power of culture is symbolic.  When in a time of war, the culture aspect of it is the center-most part of the war.  The bloodiest conflicts seem to be fought over symbols.  There is a debate between those who take the politics of culture perspective and some who take the politics the culture of politics perspective.  America is divided between traditionalists and some who are and in a way libertarian in their social views.  The traditionalists want to get back to the “old-time” religion and more old moral values whereas the libertarian type are more modern and individualistic.  Some of the most divisive conflicts in America are within particular religions.  Issues involving gay marriage, abortion and other issues that involve the body seen huge in comparison the issues like torture and economic inequality.  Abortion had been the longest standing and most  contentious.  Culture wars lurk beneath the surface of public life.  Some events act like triggers that bring the conflict to the surface and politicalize it in ways that recognize the most.  


Sources and Answer:

http://campaignstops.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/07/the-persistence-of-the-culture-war/
http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/worlds-best-selling-book/2012/may/17/culture-war-obama-endorses-same-sex-marriage/
http://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2009/02/ending-the-culture-wars/205348/

Is there really a culture war?

There is a culture war, but the majority of Americans do not participate in it.  The average American does not pay much attention to or deal with this “war” on a day to day basis.  The media makes it to be as if the culture war will turn into an actual bloody war, but in reality they make it seem bigger than it truly is. This debate is divided between traditionalists and some who are and in a way libertarian in their social views.  American politics are no longer about class or race, but rather the body and values, moral codes and lifestyles are the primary objects of disagreement.