Over the last 25 years, I advocated for absolute truth, Biblical standards, and family values. For 25 years, I fought the narrative coming from the mainstream media, the academic clerisy, and the leftists in government who told me that values just don’t matter anymore, that we “sure as hell don’t want” Biblical standards in our culture, and truth depends on what the definition of the word “is” is. They tell me to call this “progressivism.”
After the 2016 general election, when it seems that the rise of the American heartland has organized itself enough to push back and reject this so-called popular cultural narrative, I’ve found it safe to venture over into their news websites and check them out leading up to the coming inauguration.
“Fake news is wrong.” Ok, sure. “Publishing leaked e-mails is wrong.” Yep. I’m left to determine for myself that “fake news” means any information or news that places a sinkhole in the roadbed of their Utopian Way, because I’ve watched fake news emerge from editorial boards and faculty offices and halls of government for 25 years now. And because I cared about what I said and who read them, I was giving my e-mails the “Washington Post Leak Test” when I was working at the Pentagon . . . in 1998. They could be leaked and published, but who would care?
But then there are the more expected headlines. “Schumer: Dems will resist Trump on ‘Stolen’ SCOTUS seat.” Dems “Borking” Republican Supreme Court nominees is hardly breaking news. “Trump struggling to get stars to inauguration.” Why? Not the struggle, but why would you want stars there? “How Dems can improve messaging in the new term.” I think I can help you with that one.
I really feel for the Urban Left because they’re really struggling with reality. Check this out from Os Guinness:
“Many post-modern thinkers are refugees fleeing from the collapse of Marxism. While hankering after its radical critique of society, they are reluctant to face up to its bankruptcy. David Horowitz, a former socialist radical himself, argues that ‘Leftism is a crypto-religion.’ Indeed, it is bad faith in the classic sense of believers believing because of fear of the alternative. But left-wingers refuse to acknowledge the fact because ‘to the Left, the alternative is unthinkable. They are inside a community of faith and to leave it would mean leaving every friend you had, and joining the people you thought were evil. It would drain your life of all meaning. So the Left has deep blinders’ that stop it facing reality.”
For the Left, the unthinkable has happened. Where was the Donald Trump character-type in The West Wing series? He was nowhere to be found. Just bumbling Republicans unable to beat Jed Bartlet. And if the Left is wearing deep blinders, then they are likely not finding any solace in absolute truth, Biblical standards and family values. And yet, in the privacy of their own homes, those in the Urban Left will still lock their doors at night because there are “bad” people out there. But what standards are they using to define “bad?” Let me think. Biblical? No. Then what?
Here’s a freebie for the Urban Left. If you want to improve your messaging in the new term, determine something—anything—for which you’d lay down your life, and go do that. Perhaps volunteer in a fire department, ride with your local police, or sign up for duty in the Armed Forces reserve component. Then, you have standing with me and likely more of the heartland to talk moral imperatives of right and wrong, good and bad. And in case you’re wondering, for me that includes the outgoing and incoming presidents who have never served in uniform. I don’t begrudge them their civilian status as Commander-in-Chief, but you learn certain absolute truths, pray a lot more, and suddenly think of things you could have said to your family that morning when confronted by bad guys who want you dead and they have bullets.
Until then, go back to your government jobs, and classrooms, and editorial desks. If Horowitz is right, take off those blinders and look around. Try to figure out why the American heartland rejected your cultural narrative. It’s likely because we’ve already figured out who draws the lines for our families and circles of influence. And, it’s not you guys.
Look for more about absolute truth, Biblical standards and family values as the inauguration approaches. There now. Returning to the obscurity of the heartland from whence I came.