Want to know how to win a culture war? Don't fight one. The soul of our nation has been marred from a perpetual state of culture war. In an Orwellian twist, each camp relies on conflict with their supposed enemies for the perpetuation of their own existence. The culture warrior's clout, influence, fundraising, and organizing is based upon real or perceived attacks from the other side. These "threats" and boogeymen are their oxygen, and without them, they die.
The biggest fear of those leading the culture wars is not an attack from the other side or the threat of losing ground on their issues -- it is common ground. Culture wars require a clash of incompatible ideologies; common ground acknowledges differences but finds practical shared goals. Practical shared goals mean people and parties with different ideologies can both "win." When culture wars are fought, the only people who win are those who build their careers off them.
Culture wars inevitably have causalities, and if those leading the charge have their way, the next casualty will be meaningful health-care reform. In a nation as prosperous as ours, all Americans should have access to quality, affordable health care. Reasonable people may differ on how best to accomplish this goal, and I welcome a rigorous policy debate about it, but it should be a moral priority for all of us. We must work together to find common ground that will provide quality, affordable health care to all Americans.
At this point in the debate, abortion should not become a wedge issue that could doom the chances of any legislation passing. For too long the issue of abortion in our country has been a contentious and ultimately divisive debate between simplified and polarizing positions of "life" and "choice." It has been an ideological clash in which each side has sought dominance through shouting their position out louder and longer than the other side. There are code words, buzz words, and shibboleths to identify those on your team and to protect your side from intrusions by the enemy. The trenches have grown deeper and the barbed wire fences higher while little has been done to advance any solutions or provide opportunity for real dialogue.
Federal funding of abortions is prohibited by current law, and that prohibition should be maintained. Any final legislation should make clear that no private insurance company will be mandated to pay for an abortion, nor should they be prohibited from paying for an abortion. These provisions would maintain the current status quo, and demonstrate how sensible common ground can bring people together.
On the issue of abortion itself, Reps. Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan's "Preventing Unintended Pregnancies, Reducing the Need for Abortion and Supporting Parents Act" addresses how best to both prevent unwanted pregnancies and support pregnant women who desire to carry their baby to term. It makes adoption easier, expands tax credits for those who choose to adopt, and increases access to pre-natal ultrasounds, maternity coverage, and health care for low-income women and children.
The bill demonstrates how searching for common ground can lead to higher ground, in ways that both sides of the debate can embrace without compromising their core principles. It could lead to genuine progress in reducing the number of abortions and improving the quality of life for women and children -- all by addressing the real issues that often lead to abortion. Abortion is legal in the United States, and although Americans are divided on its moral status, most feel the tragedy of abortion and believe that we currently have far too many for a healthy society.
Tim Ryan and Rosa DeLauro are wise public servants who are trying to unite us around the new common ground of abortion reduction, a place that people on both sides of the debate can agree to. Helping young people to delay sexual activity, preventing the pregnancies that people don't want, economically supporting low-income women to give them real choices about having a child, and encouraging adoption all will reduce abortion in America. Who could be against any of that? Sojourners and I strongly support this good and wise piece of legislation and applaud the creative solutions it offers for real action.
Jim Wallis is the author of The Great Awakening
Follow Jim Wallis on Twitter: www.twitter.com/jimwallis
I am NOT on your side, nor is there is no common ground between us EVER.
Any public health care plan MUST include comprehensive reproductive health care, including abortion and contraception , or I make a nice size contribution to NARAL so their lobbyists and lawyers can shoot it down.
Your side gets the blame for all those who die or lose everything because they couldn't afford proper health care, my they take comfort in knowing they are suffering to ensure that your will be done.
I've read and treasure your words about the dilemma Sojourners faces balancing treasuring womens rights versus the valuing God's gift of life.
The argument is pointless since the middle ground position could actually reduce abortions more than outlawing the practice and will save Christianity in the US. Reputable organizations (like WHO) have stated that outlawing abortion has only reduced overall rate by about 20percent. President Obama has stated a desired to set up conditions where abortions drop by 50%.
I feel compelled to say that I feel that one of the main targets of the spiritual forces behind the "Pro-Life" movement is the Christian Church! Once outlawed, due to this misdirected "Christian" doctrine, the resulting trauma could be hardening the hearts of millions of people each year against the Gospel Message. Why would they be interested in listening to anything said by the organization that fostered the negative life-changing intrusion on them.
I would be completely glad to see Abortionists advertising for clients because noone wants an ABORTION!
That is what the middle Rev. Wallis advocates could lead to and it is GOOD.
GOOD FOR YOU Reverend!!!
One way to draw down the culture war is to legalize ALL DRUGS. (The government hasn't legitimacy banning 4 plants their extracts: poppy, ephedra, coca, cannabis. That is the root, number one weapon, "weapons" testing ground for culture warriors, i.e., The Prohibitionist.
Two days ago we, Americans, FIGHTING in Afghanistan (CNN): "The military dropped a series of 1,000-pound bombs from planes on the mounds of poppy seeds and then followed with strikes from helicopters."
Szasz: "It is a fatal weakness of prudential critiques of drug policy that they ignore the 'religious' character of the war on drugs."
"...you and I may proudly expect to see this America of ours, victorious and
Christianized, become not only the savior but the model and the
monitor of the reconstructed civilization of the world in the future. ....
Personal Liberty is at last an uncrowned king, with no one to do him
reverence. ...We are no longer frightened by that ancient
bogey...."The Reverend Josiah Strong, "The
Gospel of the Kingdom," 1914.
First Lady Nancy Reagan said, "Any user of illicit drugs is an accomplice to murder."
Former U. S. government drug czar William Bennett said, "It [drug abuse] is a product of the
Great Deceiver.... We need to bring these people in need the God who heals."
Indeed, in need of an education.