Selling Out Your Beliefs Due to Culture Pressure

One of the main social lessons they tell you as a child is not to give in to peer pressure. If your friends tell you to do something you know is wrong (i.e. Drink, take drugs, lie, cheat, steal) then you don’t give in to the peer pressure. Recently, there was an article I read on CNN.com about how Gay Republicans are telling the GOP they are on the wrong side of history. That if the GOP doesn’t get on board with legislation for gay marriage, they will basically be considered the bad and evil party that oppressed and pushed against civil rights.

We are facing an entirely new and dangerous problem in our country today. It is the conflict of morality. Morally, many Republicans feel that marriage is for a man and a woman, to say otherwise would mean destroying the institution of marriage. Culturally this view is under attack and it is growingly becoming a majority. In our increasing post-modern, morally relativist culture the idea of absolute morals is diminishing and the pressure to follow the culturally moral wave is ever present. In other words, whatever culture says is morally right is right at that time. To say otherwise is being considered “out-dated” and “naive”, and thus we are back to the pressure against the Republican party.

These conservatives have moral convictions against these practices. What happens when immorality becomes the majority and thus culturally pressures those to follow suit? We have our current dilema. One group is firmly against it. One group is firmly for it. Now, however, the group that is for it is culturally pressuring the other group to give up their beliefs, convictions, and values because they are “wrong” and will be on the “wrong side of history”. What if the wrong side of history is the right side? In other words, they are saying it is the wrong side of history because currently it is becoming a less and less popular view, but what if it is right morally? I remember when I was in school they had a banner that said, “What is popular is not always right, and what is right is not always popular”. A great and relevant school proverb. We could argue our faces blue on the moral philosophy. I suppose I am just making an observation about our cultural change in philosophy, our current dilema, and also expressing extreme empathy and support to conservatives who are standing firm for what they believe in under tremendous pressure to do otherwise.

Posted by Alcamadus

Obama Popularity A Mixed Bag

A phenomneon like Obama-mania hasn’t happened since JKF, and now with the capability of the internet and technology, it spreads even faster. However, for all the people that are extremely ecstatic about Barack Obama, there are just as many people who aren’t. The polls since even before Obama got the nomination have shown that many voters are wary of Obama. In fact, there are a lot of people out there that can’t stand the guy, nor would trust him to be the President.

With this being a clear and present danger to the Obama campaign, the Democrats and Obama are scrambling to turn that around. I think they are all shocked at how close the polls are, especially with so many factors that should be used in their favor. Everyone is making excuses, especially as if McCain is just getting lucky. But, I have a good theory to why things are not a sure thing for the Democrats and Obama.

Listen very carefully: THE NATION IS DIVIDED.

Never since the Civil War has the nation been so divided on polarizing issues. Abortion, Homosexual Marriage, Universal Healthcare, and Foreign Policy are just a few of the hardcore issues that both Democrats and Republicans are not willing to be swayed on. This makes it difficult for anyone to come to a bipartisan common ground, which means that one side is going to get their way eventually. That power struggle is what we are seeing right now in the polls. It is what we saw with how close the elections were with Bush and Gore and Bush and Kerry. Somehow, I think the Democrats are underestimating the resolve that hardcore Republicans have toward these issues. They aren’t just going to say “mercy” and let go. This means that this election is going to be just as close as it was in 2000 and 2004.

With that said, do not be surprised if either of the candidates barely squeak by in this election. Until one side gains an overwhelming majority (which won’t happen), this nation will be divided for a long time and political struggle like this will be a constant.

Posted by Alcamadus