Victimology, the Republican Party, and doing the dishes

I'm long-winded, full of sea stories and as Dad's go, I probably am in the top ten pantheon all time in my ability to bore the crap out of my kids when I try to make a point. It happened tonight, but as a result of ANOTHER of my lectures, I am starting to get some insight into things...either that or maybe just reading too many political blogs these days.

It all started with "The Other McCain"...a blog by Robert Stacy McCain on a variety of right-wing issues, and political thoughts. One of his more recent ventures is as a producer / supporter of documentaries. The one that caught my eye today was a discussion against slavery reparations - http://rsmccain.blogspot.com/2009/02/new-video-who-should-pay.html Overall an excellent piece but about halfway through the 30 minute "clip" it went in a direction that lost my interest - granted focused on it's core thesis - who should pay? But my mind wandered....How did it happen that after breaking down how the party of Lincoln and the so-called "radical Republicans" railed against slavery as an evil institution unworthy of support, did Republicans manage to lose the African American vote?

Now without sounding like ANOTHER anti-welfare diatribe and going off in a rathole of a discussion thread, I managed to hold on to at least one idea from the video. Be it anti-slavery in the post Civil War and Reconstruction period, the amazing growth period of Eisenhower, or the Reagan Revolution one thing was consistent - a Republican party that didn't bang away at one and only one issue, but struck out as the party of morals and beliefs. Reagan was anti-tax, pro-freedom, strong national defense and was not afraid to call the Soviet Union the "evil empire". Don't get me wrong - Alan Keyes is an excellent example of a well grounded, articulate, morally sound "one issue" candidate - discussion of morals for the sake of discussing morals is a one issue candidacy into and of itself. But what we saw in the "Great Republican Presidents" was an election of a man, and a system of beliefs - not one issue. President Obama managed to pull that one on us this cycle - "hopey change" was an ideal - a "be anything" sort of belief. People were able to project their own hopes and desires into the candidacy and hear whatever they wanted to coming out of his mouth. Brilliant coup, but a recipe for disaster as well as a one-term presidency because of the nagging little issue that results count. Those people who believed that they would get a house and a car for free if Obama was elected will be fairly disappointed when they are out on the street and still walking four years from now. Here is my FIRST point however - When the Republican Party drafts a core set of undeniable principles that are based on an ideal and a moral basis, they lead and expand the party. When they explicitly try to "expand the party" by backing off of those ideals to appease the "moderates", they lose.

(By the way - what is a "moderate"??? You either believe something or you don't. By saying you are a moderate, you are admitting to the fact that you firmly are committed to being wishy-washy)

Which brings me to being a victim. The video made an excellent point - many african american former slaves took their 40 acres and a mule and made something of it. There were thousands of Black-owned farms in the years following the end of the Civil War. Gradually their numbers decreased as a function of the spread of the Klu Klux Klan, the advent of the southern Democrat lobby and Jim Crow laws. This tension and fight continued throughout the early part of the 20th century right up until the 60's and the Civil Rights Movement. Keep in mind that the "Evil Republican Party" of today - that can't hold 1% of the black vote was the same party that 100% supported passage of the Civil Rights act. George W. Bush's grandfather voted for Civil Rights, and Al Gore's father voted against it. A funny thing happened however on the way to the forum....Johnson's "Great Society" expanded on the 40 acres and a mule. Prior to this time, the civil rights movement was one of equal rights and the value of a man's labor and effort. Then came quotas, set asides, government welfare, and the expansion of "benefits" to the downtrodden. A new culture grew, and the fire in their bellies was fueled by the civil rights movement. It was no longer good enough that all men had equal opportunities - those "less fortunate" needed "expanded" opportunity just to catch up. But just like open markets, darwinism and water seeking the lowest ground level - when something is made easier to accomplish it is less valued. The creation of the "victim" class guaranteed that the Republican Party would never again get the african american vote, and that the age of class warfare had begun. How far we march down this road to socialism remains to be seen....

So later on in the night, I get into a discussion with our 15 year old, angst ridden, "victim" of a teenager. Simple issue - doing the dishes. Everyone does their own, he is responsible to start the dishwasher when full, and empty it when it is done. This with the understanding that if he fails to empty it, the rest of us can't help load it, therefore he has the additional responsibility of doing the "backed up" dishes......So I get the bright idea of going off on another rant and tangent (Yeah, I know - you are all falling off your chairs in utter shock) and approaching this from the point of eliminating the "victimology". His main point against my logical approach to how we should clean our eating implements was "well what about last night - the dishwasher wasn't full, but everyone just put their dishes in the sink..." I counter "did you say anything?".....then the shoulders slump, the lower lip comes out and a heavy sigh fills the room..... We have met the enemy and they are us....

Yes folks, even the biggest supporter, most ardent follower of St. Ronaldus the Great, original card carrying reactionary Republican can create their own victimology state. Maybe it has been the military in me - it is a hard habit to break - you issue orders and expect enthusiastic responses. For too many years I have confronted this failure to take responsibility with the all-too-familiar "boot camp" mentality. Not that I am naturally a screamer...heck there are plenty of my "former plebes" from the class of '94 that would be happy to tell you that they fought valiantly not to laugh at me as I tried to be intimidating....

I am trying to use it as a learning tool however - I try to point out to him that "feeling bad" and shying away from responsibility - be it in doing homework, chores, or studying - because it was too hard, I was too late in starting, or I didn't understand things - is a copout. Whenever excuses are made, it is an abdication of responsibility and a leap into the role of a victim. A victim has nothing expected of them except the reception of our pity and support. And when that support and pity comes - in the form of government handouts, or dear-old-dad fighting the "evil school administration" for makeup work, extra time or a better grade - the motivation to work harder dies. While I have been thinking that by instilling order and discipline that I have been building confidence, it has been a faulty confidence - one based upon following certain rules. When those rules, standards or bars have been missed - as they often are in the face of adversity, the only recourse is to play the victim card.

So, thanks to James Lehman's "total transformation", a BUNCH of internet research and a whole load of self censorship, I am trying desperately to back away from the cliff of "immediate and unthinking following of an order" into more of a discussion of responsibility and accountability for our actions. Maybe something the party can do as well - some issues we face today are black and white (no pun intended on the racial issue) but they don't require 100% and total allegiance from all members of the party - take abortion, teen pregnancy, and religion just to name a few... But a broader discussion of what is right, what is good - naming our principles and asking people to follow our lead instead of demanding that they take our position on Roe v. Wade....maybe then the party of Lincoln and Reagan can have a hand on the tiller of our ship of state once again....and maybe I can get the dishes done with less drama!