Democrats have become deeply intolerant of opposing views. Not every Democrat, but many of them. I know many Republicans who feel they have to hide their politicos censor themselves around family, friends, and colleagues -- while Democrats often feel it is their prerogative to force their ideological beliefs onto everyone else, and call them "racist" if they dare to disagree.
A new survey by Axios confirms earlier, similar polls that show conservatives are afraid to share their views, and liberals are not. The new poll, among young Americans, shows that many Democrats don't want to have anything to do with people who have different views, while most Republicans are okay with diversity. 37% of Democrats in the survey would not have a friend with Republican views; only 5% of Republicans said the same about Democrats.
When people talk about the divide in American politics, it is becoming increasingly clear where that divide comes from, and who is driving it. It's not a "divide"; it's a constant, relentless attack by the left on the right, and on the rare occasion when the right pushes back, that's called "divisive" by the media. That's why Joe Biden can't unify the country, as promised: his policies, and his rhetoric, and his party, are fully committed to a divisive agenda.
https://www.axios.com/poll-political-polarization-students-a31e9888-9987-4715-9a2e-b5c448ed3e5a.html
This week’s portion launches the great story of Abraham, who is told to leave everything of his life behind — except his immediate family — and to leave for “the Land that I shall show you.”
There’s something interesting in the fact that Abraham is told to leave his father’s house, as if breaking away from his father’s life — but his father, in fact, began the journey, moving from Ur to Haran (in last week’s portion). His father set a positive example — why should Abraham leave him?
Some obvious answers suggest themselves — adulthood, needing to make one’s own choices, his father not going far enough, etc.
But I think there is another answer. Abraham (known for the moment as Abram) needs to establish his own household. This is not just about making one’s own choice, but really about choosing one’s own starting point. It’s starting over.
Sometimes we start over in fundamental ways even if much that surrounds us remains the same. Sometimes the journey we have to ...
The story of Noah is familiar; the details, less so.
Noah is often seen as an ambivalent figure. He was righteous -- but only for his generation. What was his deficiency?
One answer suggests itself: knowing that the world was about to be flooded, he built an Ark for the animals and for his own family -- but did not try to save anyone else or to convince them to repent and change their ways (the prophet Jonah, later, would share that reluctance).
Abraham, later, would set himself apart by arguing with God -- with the Lord Himself! -- against the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, saying that they should be saved if there were enough righteous people to be found (there were not).
Still, Noah was good enough -- and sometimes, that really is sufficient to save the world. We don't need heroes every time -- just ordinary decency.
Hi all -- as I noted last month, I'm going to be closing down my Locals page, at least for tips and subscriptions -- I may keep the page up and the posts as well, but I'm no longer going to be accepting any kind of payment.
Look for cancelation in the very near future. Thank you for your support!
