The Secular Progressives vs. The Traditionalists Essay Example for Free

The Secular Progressives vs. The Traditiona makes EssayIn the New York Times top hat change hold in from Fox News Com throwforcetator and mediator for The OReilly factor, Bill OReilly in his book Culture Warrior, defines and separates the two main competitors for the culture of the States The Secular Progressives vs. The Traditionalists. OReilly ticks this battle as oft more important than the more known and easily recognized conservatives vs. liberals and consequently sees the stakes as world that some(prenominal) more important as well with the winner deciding the fate of America policies, both foreign and especially domestic, for generations to come. As a self proclaimed culture warrior, OReilly puts himself center format in this debate as he boasts that he sees himself as one of the most hated men in America as a result of his absorbs on the media and other layman progressives and what he views as their destruction of the core values that has helped to make America great. The culture war has also made me mayhap the most controversial broadcaster in the country. That hot-solelyton label controversial gives my enemies, they think, the right to attack me and my enterprises ceaselessly, unfairly, even dementedly.I truly drive the opposing force nuts As you may know, Im engaged in engagement them on a daily basis, and that warf be is the subject of this book. ( OReilly, 5) And regardless of ones sagacitys on Mr. OReilly, that is exactly what he does since he points come forward that one of the most important aspects of being a traditionalist is keeping your word. OReilly shows how the culture war has played out in such superior profile cases as The Passion of the Christ, Fahrenheit 9/11 and the battle against religion in usual life.OReilly also arousees on race, education, the protection of children, the ACLU and the war against Christmas which according to OReilly has seen an escalation in recent long time in favor of semipolitical correct ness which has run out of control. Bill OReilly enjoys high ratings and starring(p) book sales because he pinpoints the moral decline in America that millions of Americans agree is happening in America. At the same time, the name Bill OReilly also invokes numerous an flaming opinion with umteen Americans hating what he has to say and according to OReilly, have levied death threats against himself and his family for his outspoken views.As someone who has get wind this book and is well aw ar of the impact that OReilly has on American media, either in an affective air, either positive or ostracize, the opinions of the author always do invoke a response from individuals. any(prenominal) controversies are the hot topic in the news, OReilly fearlessly confronts them and the reader, regardless of his political affiliation, is not left(p) wondering what side of the isle OReilly is on. He sees many aspects of life in black and clean and is both revered and hated for such beliefs.T he culture war must be won right away and definitively, and the best way to do that is to expose the laic-progressive movement in our country for exactly what it is, to explain why it is so harmful for America, and to identify the movements top leaders. So here we go ( OReilly, 6) OReilly, towards the nullify of the book concedes that this pass on be a tough affair and that they winner is not set in stone. Therefore, expect more books of the same genre in the future from Bill OReilly.In the two hundred pages of Culture Warrior, OReilly wastes no time in starting his unapologetic attacks on a immense variety of interests in America. For a variety of reasons that I will explain, I have chosen to take shape into the fray and become a warrior in the vicious culture war that is currently under way in the United States of America. And war is exactly the right term. On one side of the battlefield are the armies of the traditionalists like me, people who believe the United States was well founded and has done enormous good for the world. (OReilly, 10)According to OReilly, an example of the influence of the secular progressives power and influence in American culture is the war on Christmas perpetuated by the chief of all secular progressives The ACLU. Gradually, Christmas trees did become holiday trees, Christmas vacation became winter vacation and Christmas parades became fete of Lights. (OReilly, 45) In America, between 80-85% of its citizens define themselves as Christians. Yet, OReilly points out the push by the secular progressives on the country towards a more religiously neutral celebration of the holidays.The word Christmas and Merry Christmas is no longstanding politically correct to say, but the more neutral Happy vacations. Christmas trees are being replaced by Holiday trees even though their resemblance is the same. Using the term Christmas to describe the 25th of December as the stand of Jesus, and subsequently, the reason for the celebrati on is seen as oppressive to the minority in America that do not watch over Christmas and therefore feel out of place during the Christmas season.On the other side of the isle are the traditionalists who see this as an assault on Christmas and political correctness gone too far and is out of touch with the majority of American in this country. OReilly identifies the actions of the secular progressives as efforts to move America into being set as neutral when it comes to religious issues. In doing so, OReilly sees this trend as being in opposer to the motivations of the countrys founding fathers that, the majority were very religious and their mention of God can much be found in their personal writings.OReilly outs the ACLU as center stage in his fight against the secular progressives. OReilly gives them credit for the lambasting of Christmas, the neutralization of religion in universe life and for all sorts of moral degradations in American culture. This fight against the ACLU w ill not be completed any time in short and will most likely be seen in OReillys next book to be sure. OReilly points out in another example of the ideological differences between the secular progressives and traditionalists are their individual views on authorities and the desired role that each side wishes would play in their life.On the base of operations front in America, traditional forces strongly believe that their hard-earned money is not the property of the government, to be distributed as largesse to others who, perhaps, are not willing to work to earn their prosperity. ( OReilly, 75) OReilly points to Europe and the stagnation of the economy that many of the nations are enduring. There is little motivation to work and to get ahead in life because of the high level of taxation and the desire of the secular progressives to copy Americas government involvement after that of Europes.OReilly says that the secular progressives wish to drastically increase taxes and therefore , kill the incentives that many Americans have to be independent and to work for what they have instead of high taxations creating a cradle for people who do not wish to work. OReilly wishes to avoid America moving in that direction and that Americas economy remain independent of high taxes which would fund such social programs like handing out clean needles to drug addicts, condoms to students and free money to people who do not wish to work.Such ideas firmly place OReilly among the traditionalists of America and that is where he is likely to stay. Among one of OReillys most impassioned rants he saved towards the end of the book. It is against the people who seem to rant against America and all that is supposed to be wrong with her. In the chapter entitled Hating America, OReilly lists the people in the spotlight that seem to do their best to degrade America and the greatness that OReilly sees on a daily basis. OReilly, who is in opposer to the ideology of Norman Mailer but one w ho respects him, inside information the differences in their thinking concerning conservatives vs.liberals and for OReilly traditionalists vs. secular progressives and their opinion on America. A good example of the useful face-off between polar opposites was my oppugn with Norma Mailer in March of 2006. One of Americas great writers, mailer doesnt hate America but he finds it mischievously flawed-as you know, a core secular progressive tenet. But mailer separates himself from the S-P garrison because he sees its weaknesses, selfishness and relativism. . . . Mailer says A great war is going on here, larger even that we realize, between liberals and the conservatives.The conservatives are saying in effect You guys are trying to wreck existence by becoming too vain, too godless. And liberals are replying, Your obsession that God is judgmental looks to force all of humanity into rigid patterns that wont work any longer. (OReilly, 120) OReilly thinks that Mailer is incorrect but unl ike his personal detractors, does so in a respectful manner. But Mailer is wrong. Traditional and conservative thinkers who understand their country do not put God at the head of public policy, nor do we point fingers at the opposition and label them sinners.Traditionalists believe that secular-progressive policies will give away America and lead to societal chaos. While we see no reason to banish God from the public square, we dont expect Him to be writing social policy on tablets and handing them to us in the Sinai. ( OReilly, 193) OReilly does state the importance of the Bible and that it must be on the reading list of every true traditionalist but that a traditionalist will not be zealots in their pursuit of establishing a theocracy in America.In the second phase of secular progressives view that America is seriously flawed is their desire for America to no longer be the lone superpower in the world. The secular progressive movement wants the United States to decline in power . It wants a new world order where planetary consensus would rule and the superpower model for our time would recede into obsolescence. (OReilly, 194) But OReilly accurately points out a different side towards Americas effect in the world and an effect that is central to traditionalists opinion of America and of her greatness. By contrast, the T-warrior will fight to keep, even increase Americas vast power. wherefore? Because T-warriors understand that the United States is a righteous country that has in our brief history freed billions of people from political enslavement. It is our might and money that brought down Tojo, Hitler and the Soviet Union If we go into decline, the world would be a much more dangerous place. Can you picture Russia and communist China dominating the world? How about the unite Arab states? (OReilly, 194 Journalist as defined by OReilly, the answer is a resounding NO The superior strength of OReilly and the strength that makes him so successful can somet imes be one of his weaknesses arrogance. many of his points go beyond liberal or conservative, secularist or conservative but for the others, it might be seen as relative as it depends on the reader to make the final decision since the decline of morals or whether ignoring Americas religious foundations is a good or bad thing may never fully answered in this lifetime and in this country.But such topics are always good for solid since millions of Americans do closely follow OReilly on the radio and on television. The readers view on the Culture Warrior depends upon their religious and political leanings. If one feels that the existence of a liberal media that wishes Americas influence in the world to be curtailed is greatly exaggerated and Americas declining morals either doesnt exist or is not important, Culture Warrior will evoke a strong and negative response.However, on the other hand, if one defines himself as a conservative and/or traditionalist, then the topics that OReilly d etails will hit its mark. And for millions of Americans, it does just that. This is an important and entertaining book that, like much of what OReilly does and says, will spark many needed discussions around the classrooms and water coolers of America. OReilly is effective when it comes to seeing and articulating issues of importance in todays ever changing society and most importantly, it is a window into the mindset of millions of Americans.