Walking to classes in Coates Hall, people will come across a door and wall covered with anti-Bush and generally anti-establishment material. It excited a group of students enough that they made their own poster board and duct-taped it to the wall to respond to the faculty member’s postings.
I recognize the professor who posted these things is well within in his rights and his motives simply may be to encourage free thought and a greater dialogue on subjects such as the possible war with Iraq. And the fact that he kept the students’ response on the wall speaks for itself. But a few of the things he posted on his wall are quite disturbing, and I fear they are representative of a growing trend.
One paper depicts President George W. Bush with horns bulging out of his head with the words “the anti-Christ” above his image. Another places Bush in front of a Nazi flag giving the traditional “hail Hitler” salute. While many of the articles contain criticism on issues, others continue to use personal attacks. One such headline from a Toronto Star article reads, “Is Bush a moron? No, it’s worse, he’s a sociopath.”
If these articles and pictures were simply isolated fringe material it would be disturbing enough. But many liberal leaders have chosen to pick up such rhetoric through the years in an attempt to create fear and demonize conservatives. When you consider much of today’s liberalism developed out of the “peace and love” counter-culture movement of the 1960s, while “tolerance” is a banner message for liberals today, it would seem odd they would use such intolerant and mean-spirited personal attacks.
Some may try to make the case that the President is acting like Hitler and deserves such criticism. But I would like to see proof of planned mass genocides and complete world domination before I ever would agree that such criticism is fair. No such proof exists because these charges are ridiculous at best. The Hitler comparisons are an old tactic of liberal politicians.
After the Republicans took control of Congress in 1995, Congressman Major Owens (D-N.Y.) told the Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus: “These [Republican Congressman] are people who are practicing genocide with a smile; they’re worse than Hitler.”
I have yet to see any reports of genocide taking place after Republicans took control of Congress.
It seems racism is a frequent charge made by Democrats. They even bring racism into a debate over tax cuts.
“It’s not ‘spic’ or ‘nigger’ anymore. They say, ‘Let’s cut taxes,'” said Congressman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).
Should racist slang and tax cuts be put in the same category? Wouldn’t the nation be better served with a debate on the issue instead of charging racism?
With all their charges of racism, Democrats have many in their camp using racist terms when referring to prominent black Republican leaders.
Al Gore’s campaign manager Donna Brazile referred to Secretary of State Colin Powell as an “Uncle Tom” while vowing she would not “let the white boys [George W. Bush] win in this election.” She also remarked that Powell and former Republican Congressman J.C. Watts “have no love and no joy” and would “rather take pictures with black children than feed them.”
Apparently not only was Brazile confused as to Gore’s race, but she also failed to validate any of her criticism of Powell or Watts.
Liberal attacks have gone far beyond race baiting and demonizing. They even have resulted to attacking physical characteristics.
Former Clinton staff member and Crossfire co-host Paul Begala called Rush Limbaugh a “fat boy” and “lard butt.”
Recently, it was made public that National Rifle Association president Charlton Heston was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Hollywood leftist George Clooney found this a prime opportunity to make a cruel joke of Heston. Although his comments drew considerable criticism, Clooney refused to apologize.
All in all liberals have compared a sitting president to the anti-Christ, compared conservatives to children afflicted with Down’s syndrome, attacked women such as Paula Jones and Katherine Harris for their looks and called Republicans racist while using racist names to refer to conservative leaders such as Clarence Thomas, Powell and Watts.
None of which seems in the spirit of tolerance. It appears many liberals want people to be tolerant of everyone except those they disagree with.