Sometimes my penchant for sarcasm must be suppressed.\u00a0 Sorry.\u00a0 I believe in transparency.\u00a0 Can someone please share with me why in the last 2-3 years, our nation continues to go to war?\u00a0 We keep engaging in brand new \u201cmilitary conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n
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There is the war on drugs, war on labor, war on terror, and war on teachers.\u00a0 Not to mention the war on education, war on guns, war on Catholics, and war on Christmas.\u00a0 Lest we forget the war on poverty, war on Wall Street, war on faith, and war on freedom.\u00a0 Ladies and gentleman, we are a nation at war!<\/p>\n
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I have wondered for some time why the verbiage has regressed to such sensational standards.\u00a0 Interestingly, after the shooting of the congressional representative in Arizona 15 months ago, many called for the ceasing of rhetorical combat; however, many of those who called for the cessation have quickly learned to reload and refire.\u00a0 I therefore conclude that there exists something unique in the utilization of war terminology that stirs the emotions to a level that prompts action.\u00a0 In particular, it prompts votes.\u00a0 Sadly in this society \u2014 more than adhering to a nonporous standard of integrity \u2014 when words prompt votes, the appropriateness and exaggeration of the words seem irrelevant.<\/p>\n
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Our newest war?\u00a0 A war on women.<\/p>\n
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My sarcasm is again tempted, folks.\u00a0 A war on women?\u00a0 A war?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Last I knew a \u201cwar\u201d was when 2 different nations or states picked up their arms, attempting to blow one another up, because they had different desires for what the end result should look like.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The roots in the latest round in this feminine \u201cwar\u201d began months ago with talk of contraception.\u00a0 Should the government provide it for free?\u00a0 Should one taxpayer subsidize it for another?\u00a0 Women were divided.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The \u201cwar\u201d advanced again this week when one powerful pundit, strategist Hillary Rosen, referred to Gov. Mitt Romney\u2019s wife, Ann, as having \u201cactually never worked a day in her life.\u00a0 She’s never really dealt with the kinds of economic issues that a majority of the women in this country are facing in terms of how do we feed our kids, how do we send them to school and why do we worry about their future.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Ann Romney, a survivor of both multiple sclerosis and breast cancer, was a stay-at-home mom, raising 5 boys.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Let it be known that Rosen later apologized for her \u201cpoorly chosen\u201d words.\u00a0 Prior to that apology, however, she initially reaffirmed her claims via the world of Twitter.\u00a0 (My keen sense is that most likely, the pundit failed to initially recognize the unpopular military conflict she was just responsible for escalating.)<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thus, the Intramuralist is left with 2 questions:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n What are we doing?\u00a0 We are dividing people.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As best I can discern, we are challenged as a nation to respect those who are different than us.\u00a0 Hence, most either accept all difference as equally good and healthy (when it might not be)<\/em> \u2014 or we look down on others, thereby creating division.\u00a0 Rosen \u2014 albeit arguably unintentionally \u2014 was communicating in a way that gave the impression she looked down on Ann Romney.\u00a0 I don\u2019t know Rosen nor Romney\u2019s hearts, but we would be wiser if we wouldn\u2019t minimize the perspective of another primarily because their circumstances are different than our own.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So why do we keep acting as if this is \u201cwar\u201d?\u00a0 When Rosen apologized \u2014 no doubt also motivated to move past her personal role in the \u201cwar\u201d escalation \u2014 she said, \u201cLet’s declare peace in this phony war and go back to focus on the substance.”<\/em>\u00a0 Amen.\u00a0 I agree.\u00a0 There is no war against stay-at-home moms in this country.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n But there also is no war against poverty, against labor unions, against education, or Christmas.\u00a0 Remember that \u201cwar\u201d means picking up our arms and attempting to blow up one another.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n We could thus better \u201cfocus on the substance\u201d if people would quit acting as if this was war.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully,<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n Sometimes my penchant for sarcasm must be suppressed.\u00a0 Sorry.\u00a0 I believe in transparency.\u00a0 Can someone please share with me why in the last 2-3 years, our nation continues to go to war?\u00a0 We keep engaging in brand new \u201cmilitary conflict.\u201d There is the war on drugs, war on labor, war on terror, and war … <\/p>\n\n