Civil War forever and ever
by Dr. John M. Hicks
I smell another civil war coming out of the woodwork. Like a line from the
film "Fools Rush In," the signs are everywhere, and they started
appearing prior to 2008. Speaking of signs, here's a doozy from the Rome (Georgia)
News Tribune about a funeral home announcement: "In lieu of flowers the
family respectfully asks money be given to whomever is selected to run against
President Obama." Here's another: An Iowa friend stopped for gas in rural
Mississippi. As the tank was filling, the proprietor said to the driver, "If
I were you, I'd get the hell out of Mississippi as fast as you can. Iowans
are not liked here in Mississippi."
I'm slow on the uptake, but then it hit me. The Civil War, our Civil War,
always has been in the woodwork. Our good-ol' Civil War never ended, did
it? Sort of slid along without too much friction, but since 2008 the friction
has increased not only noticeably but more like a tsunami - a racial tsunami.
Signs for upgrading our everlasting Civil War are much more prominent when
you look at Republican legislatures. Republican governors are providing one
sign after another, as are Republicans who have announced they are running
for president. The signs ARE all over the place. Lizette Alvarez of The New
York Times, wrote about the GOP leadership rewriting election laws for the
upcoming 2012 election. New election rules already have advanced in 13 states
including northern states like Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania. If the Republicans
can turn away minority voters, just think about how easy it will be to vote
for a resurrection of real, (dis)honest-to-goodness slavery.
Let's look at more signs. First, social programs are being cut like they
are going out of style, which they are not. Just the opposite is true in
the current financial crisis. Social programs include poor whites but the
attack is focused on African Americans and Latinos. Keep in mind that the
money cut from social programs goes to the rich - lily-white males of course.
When I say that I smell our Civil War simmering, the burners on the stove
are red hot.
A major sign is how public school education is being treated. Public schools
are required to take all children and that includes African Americans and
Latinos. Now, think about it. If we take money away from public education,
which is happening throughout the country, then education for African Americans
and Latinos becomes even less qualitative than it is already, less effective,
perhaps even nonexistent. This is why more money is being poured into private
schools and Catholic schools. Guess what? Charter schools and voucher programs
can make money for investors. Home schooling? Money! Public schools are labeled
as socialistic because they don't make money, and they help minorities. Money
only can be made by greedy capitalists changing the rules to help with the
Civil War.
You probably have heard that in a few years the population of the U.S. will
have more minorities than whites - one big OUCH for many whites. Their thinking
is that we must do something. Republicans in power, white of course, are
trying their best. Hey! The National Rifle Association is jumping up and
down with glee as our Civil War returns. Guns are being bought by the truckload.
The gun shops can't keep up with the demand for ammunition. Guns are important
for whites as our Civil War is updated.
Republican politicians, almost in total, want to get rid of government. If
we get rid of government, we really can have an enlarged Civil War - put
those minorities back in their place… and keep them there. Since 2008,
hate organizations in the United States have increased dramatically, now
numbering more than 1,000. Tell me why there has been such a large increase
lately. Oh, yes, I forgot. We have an African American in the White House.
Brian T. Kaylor wrote about how God-rhetoric wins elections. The candidate
who talks about God the most wins. "When we create a system where candidates
have to talk about their faith in order to have a chance to win, then there
are serious democratic implications." You can bet that with white evangelical
Christians in power, minorities won't have a chance.
Oh, I know what you're thinking. This is just another conspiracy theory.
I tell you what. You check with Pat Robertson, Sarah Palin, Michele Bachmann,
Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich or Karl Rove. I'm sure they will be more than
glad to give you the straight skinny about all kinds of things, including
our Civil War. CV
Dr. John M. Hicks is a resident of Des Moines and Professor Emeritus
at Drake University. He occasionally offers commentaries for Cityview.
