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The little group of intellectuals who hang out in my email box are a fascinating lot.  I’m fortunate to be among them, though I don’t have near the brain power and knowledge of world history these guys do.  I mean, they really are amazing.  I learn something new every time I open the mail. One of them dropped this in tonight, noting that as far as he’s concerned, he says it sums up what he’s feeling, so he thought he would share.

Fort Sumter, Wisconsin

February 18, 2011 by John Feeny
Filed under Featured Commentary

Glenn Beck has referred to the recent events in Egypt as a possible “Prince Ferdinand Moment” in our rapidly unfolding global events.  The events in Wisconsin on Thursday, February 17th, could well be America’s modern Fort Sumter.

I’m not breaking any real news flash when I point out and characterize the political pressure cooker that has gripped this nation generally over the course of the past five years and more specifically during the past two-and-a-half as tantamount to civil war.  It would take far too long and require a requisite degree of historical tedium to explain the root of this ideological conflict, something that, at this point, has become “besides the point”.  Suffice it to say that in a free country that  has always been ideologically center-right, the sometimes subtle, sometimes maniacal efforts of the political Left in America have brought themselves to the point at which all of their goals are reasonably within their grasp.  After investing nearly a century into their efforts, we should not expect them to go quietly.  We do, indeed, have a fight on our hands, even more so as a result of the November elections.   True to form, whenever it seems that their fortunes have turned for the worse and that they’ve been backed into the proverbial corner, that is their cue to collectively – pardon the pun – come out swinging even harder.

The ongoing events in Wisconsin may well be “The Point” on which this country’s future hinges.  Indeed, history is in and of itself replete with turning points, but the entire country is watching the manner in which this will play out.  If the Wisconsin Republicans stand strong – and I say “if” merely because I don’t think we’ve seen anything yet with regard to the lengths to which these people are prepared to go – they may do the single greatest service this country has seen in at least the last generation.  If the power of their public-sector unions is effectively diminished, there will no doubt be a cascade of similar results in states across the country as the dominoes begin to fall.  If, however, they cave to the unrelenting pressure – which will no doubt be psychological, emotional, and physical (threats to themselves and their families, if not downright physical attacks) – then the “unionization” that is so much at the foundation of a socialist/communist infrastructure may well be at least the immediate future of our nation.

There are a few things about what we’re seeing and hearing in and about the Wisconsin events that trouble me.  The first is simply a question:weren’t these officials elected by the people of Wisconsin? I ask this merely because Liberals, apparently, always claim that they’re “for the people”.  If that’s true, then why don’t they acknowledge the will of the people?  The fact that Republicans took majority standing in the Wisconsin legislature is a testament to the fact that the people want the economic situation in their state to be seriously addressed and reflects the general will of the people nationally.  Further, the Democrats that were elected by the people were chosen to do a job – represent their constituents.  So, I ask, therefore: which party was up to the task on the 17^th?  One took their places like adults, the other ran away at the first sign of conflict, which is exactly what we’re seeing from the behavior of our young people across the country these days.  In fact, as I’ve pointed out on many occasions during my time as a contributor here at America’s Right , the Liberal mindset is so characteristic of an adolescent child that I find it very, very disturbing.  We essentially have an entire bloc of our populace who simply refuse to deal with turning points in their lives.

The second part of these events that troubles me is that the Democrats’ blanket refusal to report to work and to accept personal responsibility is somehow, someway, being spun as a show of strength and unity by the Progressives in Wisconsin and by the media more generally.  Look, at this point, practically every politically-astute person in the nation with a modicum of common sense long ago gave up on the purported “objectivity” of the national media.  That ship has sailed.  Beyond that, though, I’m forced to wonder: are there actually people around the country that believe that what the Democrats did  – run away – was the right thing to do? If so, the cultural shift that has taken place in this country may have left a fissure that is far and away too deep for us to completely repair.  No matter how this all shakes out, there are going to be real scars.

There’s even a third idea that completely flabbergasts not only me but also, undoubtedly, millions of everyday Americans nation-wide: what is it that these people don’t understand about the fact  that there is simply no money?  Should we disband the entire military and leave ourselves defenseless to global lunatics?

I’m also forced to wonder about the manner in which these events are going to affect two other projects: the construction of the Freedom Tower and the Ground Zero Mosque.  By all accounts, the Freedom Tower currently under construction by unionized labor is and will be a fantastic sight to see; on the other hand, until the 17^th, I would’ve gone to any casino in the country and bet everything I own that those trying desperately to have the Mosque constructed would never, ever have a scintilla of a chance of getting unionized American labor to work on that project.  After watching the clips of the Wisconsin events, noting the degree of solidarity shared amongst not only the teachers but also the many other state and local municipalities, I couldn’t help but wonder how long it might be until union laborers across the country either feel compelled to support or begin to feel sympathy for their brethren.  Further, how long might it be until they’re potentially threatened with their livelihood, or worse?  Is it possible that unionized workers might refuse to continue working on the Freedom Tower and to uniformly agree to construct the Mosque?  Either decision would be a flat-faced decision to turn one’s back on his or her country.

However these events unfold, we are quickly approaching a time when those in the lower echelons of their respective unions are going to have to make what may well be literal, life-altering decisions, decisions that simply come down to this:

Do I want to do what’s good for my union or what’s right for my country and my children?

I’m not sure I want to know their answers.

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