http://blogs.lancasteronline.com/smartremarks/2010/12/18/culture-war-misdirection/">Smart Remarks:
OK, can I call BS on this whole “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” business?
Don’t get me wrong: I think it’s wonderful that gay men and women will now be able to openly serve in the armed forces. I think the arguments against this were wrongheaded, on the wrong side of both history and common sense. It’s a step forward for civil society, it accords gay servicemen and women the respect they deserve, it’s a cultural milestone.
But all that said, I can’t help but feel that this amounts to a whole lot of sound and fury, signifying damned little.
What a great idea for Obama and the Democrats, who lost their base in the whole keep-the-Bush-tax-cuts-for-the-wealthy business. See - culturally, they’re on our side! So what if they continue to serve money and power at the expense of the average American? ...
--snip--Cultural issues, the culture war, was once of great importance to me. It no longer is, because it’s become clear to me that culture war is one way those in power - Republicans and Democrats - distract the electorate, so that the vacuum and the policies designed to suck the wealth upward keep on operating, even as you and I scream about gays or a “Ground Zero” mosque or abortion.
The biggest, most important issues in the life of this nation are economic. The great and widening inequality; the “austerity” to come, and who shall be saddled with it; our debt, both at the personal and federal level; and how all of this will affect our communities.
As noted, I think it’s great that Obama will now sign a bill allowing gays to serve openly in the military. Good for him; it’s the right thing to do.
But there are a lot of other right things that he needs to do. And soon, too.