The Mission
Neil A. Lewis writes in the NEW YORK TIMES today ("Justice Dept. Reshapes Its Civil Rights Mission") that the Bush administration has cut back on prosecuting cases based on racial discrimination or police abuse, and instead pushed an agenda of throwing its weight behind religious organizations. Example: defending the right of the Child Evangelism Fellowship to distribute candy canes in the Massachusetts public schools along with materials claiming that their "j" shape refers to Jesus, and their red stripes symbolize Jesus' blood. And Justice Department hires and promotions are tilting in favor of lawyers with ties to religious institutions.
It makes liberals uneasy, but the Bush Administration is only acting according to the heartfelt wishes of many of the nearly half of Americans who preferred him as president. Equal rights for people of color has never really caught on in this country with a lot of folks, but those in opposition must keep their mouths shut. Our government and mainstream culture have adopted a public posture of disgust toward racism. Those who speak in favor of racism publicly, pay for the privilege. Don Imus.
So those who want to act according to those feelings have to find surrogate issues. One is abortion. Pro-choice advocates (in favor of a woman's right to decide about abortion without criminal penalty) are also overwhelmingly strong supporters of equal rights. So those with racist leanings can still vigorously oppose their opponents, but safely do it on "pro-life" grounds. Knock out all the vigorous defenders of a woman's right to choice, and you'll take out most of those who make trouble over race discrimination, too.
Likewise those who vigorously support a strong religious influence in public institutions - their opponents are those same damn liberals who want people of color to receive equal opportunity. Not surprisingly, those who are pro-life, are pro-state support for religion, not super pro-equal rights enforcement - and pro-George Bush.
So the Bush Administration can use the Justice Department to win support for the Republican Party among secret racists by fighting opponents of racism - since they also oppose teaching about Jesus' blood in the public schools - and even claim to be defending the 1st Amendment.
That's how it works.
It makes liberals uneasy, but the Bush Administration is only acting according to the heartfelt wishes of many of the nearly half of Americans who preferred him as president. Equal rights for people of color has never really caught on in this country with a lot of folks, but those in opposition must keep their mouths shut. Our government and mainstream culture have adopted a public posture of disgust toward racism. Those who speak in favor of racism publicly, pay for the privilege. Don Imus.
So those who want to act according to those feelings have to find surrogate issues. One is abortion. Pro-choice advocates (in favor of a woman's right to decide about abortion without criminal penalty) are also overwhelmingly strong supporters of equal rights. So those with racist leanings can still vigorously oppose their opponents, but safely do it on "pro-life" grounds. Knock out all the vigorous defenders of a woman's right to choice, and you'll take out most of those who make trouble over race discrimination, too.
Likewise those who vigorously support a strong religious influence in public institutions - their opponents are those same damn liberals who want people of color to receive equal opportunity. Not surprisingly, those who are pro-life, are pro-state support for religion, not super pro-equal rights enforcement - and pro-George Bush.
So the Bush Administration can use the Justice Department to win support for the Republican Party among secret racists by fighting opponents of racism - since they also oppose teaching about Jesus' blood in the public schools - and even claim to be defending the 1st Amendment.
That's how it works.
Labels: Bush, civil rights, First Amendment, human rights, Justice Department, Neil A. Lewis
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