Dolchstosslegende.
In German it means "stab in the back," and it was a common phrase after WWI when German citizens began to blame their losing the war on an overall lack of patriotism throughout the country. Looking for non-Germans to target as anti-patriots, Aryan pride and anti-Semitism headed the forefront for the mass murder of millions, and yet another wartime loss.
With similar actions taking place on college campuses today, America may be in danger of becoming the next Third Reich.
Today, liberalism is almost everywhere in youth culture. Anti-war rallies are commonly held on college campuses - propaganda is proudly displayed and anything institutionalized is protested.
In contrast, conservativism is portrayed as an ideology for war hawks and generations of a bygone era. There is even a popular old saying; "you're liberal until you grow up."
There's a difference between being liberal, being conservative and not knowing what you're talking about.
I'm not looking to directly challenge those who embrace a liberal point of view. I do, however, hold a major issue with those who haven't bothered to educate themselves on the beliefs and principles behind the politics they support.
Much like neo-Nazis are not given much more attention than an occasional time slot on "Maury," new-age hippie liberals who embrace anti-war ideologies and fly around college campuses with "bombs for oil" bumper stickers and call for the impeachment of Bush do nothing but hurt moral for those who actually attempt to make a difference in politics.
Realistic and attainable plans always trump the uneducated, right or wrong as they may be.
Today, so many "free thinkers" plague communities with protests, challenging institutions obviously out to get the better of us all. Higher education, government agencies, the S.P.C.A. - all have a secret agenda that need be rebelled against at all costs.
A lack of patriotism must be the cool thing for American youth; most throw up a little at the idea of conservative beliefs. Leaning right, however, doesn't have to mean being anti-gay marriage, opposing woman's right to choose, or embracing other extremists' creeds.
Protesting and standing behind a cause when you don't even know the facts does not make you an avid political free thinker. In fact, it makes you a blind follower.
If you don't understand and truly believe the core of what you adhere to, don't expect your opinions to be taken seriously or even recognized as anything more than a nuisance. Being a liberal today means to conform to the looks and styles, opinions and political viewpoints of fellow leftists, no matter what they believe - unless, that is, you have true fact and reasoning to base your own ideas on.
If too many people fall into liberalism (or any set of beliefs) without realizing it, we might have WWIII on our hands.
Crack a newspaper. Read a book. Take a political science class. Then if you choose to approach politics with a liberal viewpoint, more power to you.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
