Multiculturalism, tolerance separate us from enemies

By Eric Mathison

Ralph Nichols' column last week, headlined "It's Christmas in July means PC censorship," seriously veered off the rails from the start.

He began by quoting Dr. Bruce Thornton from a California university declaring, "Multiculturalism is an ideology, and at its heart it's anti-Western Civilization."

I didn't know what the heck Dr. Thornton was talking about, so I looked up his writings.

The professor basically complains that recent immigrants are not being rapidly assimilated into a single national identity, and some are allowed to criticize the United States while embracing their native cultures.

He wistfully notes this behavior "would not be tolerated in non-Western countries for five seconds...."

I can imagine a conservative member of a Native American tribe grumbling as the Pilgrims came ashore at Plymouth Rock, "Why don't they learn our language and worship the right religion?"

While we celebrate the cultural richness of our varied immigrant communities, nobody is suggesting we change our democratic political system.

Ironically, the only ones in our country calling for suspension of such Western Civilization democratic principles as court warrants for wiretaps, habeas corpus rights and a non-imperial presidency do so in the name of defending us from those who attacked us.

Let's pause for a minute and get away from the simplistic red-meat slogans of fright-wing radio to ponder how America is really different from our enemies.

Our openness and multiculturalism is one way.

Even Dr. Thornton waxes nostalgic about the fraternal organizations, religious guilds, holiday festivals, recipes and native costumes of prior immigrants. Some of those live on in current celebrations and cuisine-adding, not subtracting, to the American experience.

On the other hand, those who oppose us cannot adjust to a modern multicultural world.

They even kill members of their own religion who belong to the wrong sect.

That's another difference.

The radical religious fundamentalists want their narrow brand of religion and their theological leaders to rule.

Over there, religion is the state. Here, we separate church and state.

That means when you go to a public place like an airport, you shouldn't see giant posters of the theocratic leader or religious symbols hung on a Christmas tree-even if 80 percent of the people celebrate the holiday.

In America, you are free to celebrate Christmas as a religious or secular holiday or not celebrate it at all.

RALPH IS correct that some liberals incorrectly shy away from fully celebrating the Fourth of July.

They focus on instances when America stumbled in living up to its ideals.

But the American values of equality, fairness and democracy are values liberals enthusiastically embrace.

Progressives may also be intimidated because conservatives claim their fervor for the Fourth is wrapped up in standing by our men and women in uniform.

But "Support Our Troops" should be more than a bumper sticker made in China. We should stop and think about what the slogan means.

The most important way to support our troops is to make very sure when we decide to send them into harm's way, the war is justified.

They must have a rational battle plan and receive adequate supplies including armor.

Once they have won the war and captured the dictator, get them out of harm's way. Don't turn them into occupiers stuck in the crossfire of a civil war.

Finally, if they are injured in the line of duty, give them continuing medical care, and don't treat them like welfare cheats.

Some may say we must blindly support their mission. It is not the troops' mission; it is George Bush's mission.

Conservatives certainly did not give up their free speech rights to question President Bill Clinton when he was commander in chief, no more than they will remain silent under President Hilary Clinton.

Of course members of both political parties back the troops.

But as long as more Republicans don't stand up to Bush on the war, the Democrats stand on the higher ground when it comes to supporting the troops.

Eric Mathison can be reached at hteditor@robinsonnews.com or 206-388-1855.