SSRS, a research and polling organization, published a report yesterday that shows that many Americans are sharply divided on what we call the culture war issues. First, the telephone poll of 2,480 persons by phone indicate that just about half of us follow the news through using internet news sources, but not necessarily from sources like CNN or news organizations like the BBC, or traditional network news, so you have to wonder what their sources are.
Almost half believe that society “has gone too far in accepting” different cultures, gender identities or sexual orientation, and over a third think that we should revert to traditional roles. Having worked for the Census Bureau and its old community survey, long before the more sophisticated survey methods were developed, I think one question is how SSRS chose its “representative sample.”
Although SSRS doesn’t say so in its introduction to the survey results, noting that non-English news sources are low on the list, the interviews were probably in English, so the sample might be skewed. But it does say something significant about the divide. Radical extremes on both sides push the middle into a defensive position, making them feel like they are being attacked. It says that those of us who want a more inclusive society must find a better way to argue for our cause.
Prayer for the Day
Your creation is infinite, O God,
Encompassing a wide variety of life;
But many of us can only see those like us,
And what we are mot comfortable with.
Open the eyes of our hearts to accept varieties,
Those different from us in appearance and language.
In the name of the One who opens our eyes,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
The best part about being an American is that we stand up for each other. You fight for the little guy, you stand up for the person that’s being shitted on, you stand up for the person that needs their rights protected. Right now, it doesn’t seem like we’re doing that.
Danny Minaya, New York Democrat, survey response
Things you’d never think twice about saying 2, 3, 4, 5 years ago, now people are suddenly saying, ‘Oh you can’t say that.’” Some people will cancel people for something so insignificant it’s not even worth having a conversation with them.
Ed Shedlock, a Louisiana Republican, survey response
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15.1