The problem is, many Republicans and more than a few Democrats have lost sight of what this nation is: a works in progress. While the 'strict constructionists' would love to see the Constitution back track to 1780, that is not going to happen.
We are not the same country we were 220 years ago. We have grown, matured. And in that maturation process we have learned that this country can only survive if we hold on to our principles and learn to compromise with those who do not believe as we do.
Contrary to what many think, God did not hand the Holy Grail to the founders of the nation and elevate them to sainthood. The founders of this nation were rebels, free thinkers—and, yes, they full well understood the dangers of religious extremism.
They knew the history of the world. They knew about the British Civil War, the battle between England and France, the wars between Catholics and Protestants, the enmity between the Church of England and Presbyterians and other Protestant sects, not to mention the Crusades, which pitted Christians against Moslems.
The fact that one compromises does not make him spineless or tratorious, although more than one critic has accused Senator Spector of being untrustworthy and of “going on the side which benefits him.” We live in the real world, not some black and white fairyland, where there are only two sides: right and wrong.
The American political scene has proven time and again that this world is too small to be uncompromising. Witness today's swine flu outbreak, which many say is a biowar test, another “shot heard around the world.” History has repeatedly proven that when people have no chance of having their views heard or respected because the majority culture or “more advanced” country refuses to listen, the world becomes “a very dangerous place.”
Nations lord power over weaker countries. The powerless look for equalizers in the form of chemical biological weapons and piracy. All of this speaks to a massive breakdown in the rule of law and the appreciation for polite discourse and compromise.
If Spector compromises, does this mean he is an opportunist? If he changes his mind, or alters his position, does this mean he wallows in self-interest? If a person looks at the lay of the land and decides it is time to go to the table and compromise to get things done, does this mean he is untrustworthy?
Just because one believes in compromising, does not mean one has no principles. The reality of this world is that there are a lot of people living on it and we can't always have our own way. The only way we're ever going to progress and mature as a species and as a nation is to learn to compromise and respect the views of other people.
We may not always agree with others, but we should respect and defend their right to believe as they do. Senator Spector's change of parties may well be the breath of fresh air both parties need, but it still isn't going to be all sweetness and light. In an AP interview, Spector says don't expect him to sign off on everything the Democrats put on the table.
Perhaps this will shake up both parties for the better. Spector has given up the ghost on the Republican Party. The question is: is the Republican Party realistic to weather the storm without fracturing or becoming even more reactionary?
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