The Principle of Universality 1

Noam Chomsky points to a few very simple conservative principles for political action. The principle of universality is one. Noam states, "apply to ourselves the same standards that we do to others."

Recently there was a statement released by the ultra-right which referred to Washington D.C. as being safer in all regards than Baghdad. Leading the news on Sunday July 9, 2006, is a report that dozens of people were killed today in Baghdad, as a result of civil war related violence. As we know, this is a typical daily headline coming from Iraq.

If we apply the principle of universality in reverse, we have to ask ourselves how would we feel here in America if 40 people were killed in bombing attacks each day in Dallas, or Portland, or Boston, or Miami, or Little Rock, or Phoenix, or Kansas City as a result of ethnic or religious violence. Simply stated we would be beside ourselves with fear, afraid to go about our ordinary business, drive to work, or even attempt to relax our mind from the explosive violence that could erupt around us at any time.

Tremendous outrage is being expressed by the majority of Americans over Iraq. These Americans oppose the continued occupation of Iraq by American soldiers. Many like myself, opposed the war from the beginning, aware that there was not a stitch of truth to the reasons given to justify war. These same Americans now in the majority of opinion, are seeking to elect officials that reflect their war opposition.

The Lieberman - Lamont Democratic race for the Senate is perhaps the paradigm election in this regard. Lieberman is a Democrat who has voted directly in favor of the Bush Administration. Ned Lamont stands behind the need for the US to pull out and not stay the course. Lieberman has become a lightning rod for attracting the palpable outrage of the anti-war sentiment.

Lieberman is endorsed by Coulter, O'Reilly, and David Brooks as well as other right wing extremists. Curiously David Brooks has taken on the task of attempting to demonize and marginalize those expressing the genuine outrage that has built over the Bush Administration's disastrous policies. This is nothing more than the same tactic used by Coulter in attempting to demonize and marginalize 9-11 widows. The idea to to place the blame far far away from the source of the problem and then to negate its importance and throw manufactured question marks at its validity to boot.

How does the right wing media defend the Bush Administration and all of its war waging policies? Simply put, it doesn't. It attacks dissent over the failure of the Bush Administration and marginalizes the dissenter. Here the principle of marginalization supplants the principle of universality. You don't negotiate, you try to obliterate. You don't look for commonalities and grounds of similarity, you heighten the slightest perceived difference and demonize. You do not appeal to humanity, you create an unwitting enemy perhaps even one that has no offensive capability. We are witnessing the journalism of fear mongering simultaneously as we witness unilateral warring policy.