Published: October 05, 2008 01:01 am            

Stop listening to narrow-minded people

A poll by organizations including the Harris polls, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Harvard University, ABC News and even Fox News reveals that Americans are a liberal-thinking people. Fifty seven percent believe abortion should be a matter between a woman and her doctor; 86 percent agree with the Civil Rights Movement; 83 percent agree with the goals of the environmental movement; 94 percent want more stringent regulations on handguns; 80 percent believe all Americans should have access to adequate healthcare; 58 percent believe unions are a good thing and 72 percent believe Washington favors corporations over working people. So according to the dictionary most Americans are "not narrow or contracted in mind; not selfish; independent in opinion; not conservative; implies largeness of spirit in giving, judging, acting, etc." Then why do they vote the way they do?

It is not because those in power keep repeating the mantra: "Liberal bad, conservative good," until it is burned into the general consciousness. The powerful and wealthy few who "call good evil, and evil good" believe they deserve the whole pie and the rest of us should be glad to get a few crumbs; they call "darkness light and light darkness" and have so confused the voters that when they start to vote their convictions they hear this voice, "No, no, he/she is liberal and evil" and so they not only vote contrary to their convictions but vote against their own self-interest.

My challenge to all victims of the radical right and religious fundamentalists is to stop listening to those narrow minded, selfish and mean-spirited people and vote their conscience and reclaim their country.



C.E. Swain

Carthage

World War II veteran and retired United Methodist minister

        

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