Culture war being reshaped | San Francisco Chronicle

[Ediacara]

Culture war being reshaped
Conservatives lower expectations

James Sterngold, Chronicle Staff Writer
Sunday, February 29, 2004

Los Angeles -- America is stumbling headlong into a new political season bitterly divided -- once again -- by the updated version of "culture wars" over such issues as same-sex unions, abortion, religion and depictions of sex and violence in popular culture.

President Bush, with his call Tuesday for a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages, threw himself into the front lines, standing alongside those who insist they can turn back the tide of change.

Yet in a subtle if critical way, the terms of engagement have changed sharply from the bitter clashes of a decade ago. Even many who embrace so- called traditional values admit that the culture wars have been kept alive only because, in many instances, conservatives have lowered their expectations significantly. Based on the standards of even five years ago, the war would seem to be over.

The terms of the cultural battles for the coming presidential election have shifted -- in many instances dramatically -- but the intensity has not. For all the cultural victories that Democrats and progressives believe they have won, there could still be a harsh reaction from mainstream voters, who tend to respond differently to these issues when they are in a voting booth than when they are on their couches holding a remote control.

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[izzie]

1. Well I do not see the people of Europe so sinful and they do not....

seem to wish to put in all these laws on how to live. I frankly do not have to do or watch the things I do not wish to. I just do not see the need to make all these laws on what you can and cannot do. I live within sight of a group of Religion people and then leave me alone and I them yet from my window I can see the house lights. Why would either of us wish to make laws on each other?I guess it is just to hard to leave someone alone if they do not go along with your thinking.

[ScrewyRabbit]

2. Conservatives in America claim to be against gov't intrusion

unless it means having to take responsibility for knowing what your own children are doing, in which case they prefer a blanket ban on anything they don't like. Most of them are just hypocrites, pure and simple.

[saigon68]

4. Here are some children Preaching the Gospel

At Matthew Shepard's funeral





Note: the above is shown, to illustrate the extreme level the CHIMPANZEE and his loyal followers are willing to go on this issue

[w4rma]

3. It's the economy, stupid. (n/t)