In a recent article, someone pointed out that during the 1940s and '50s, there were Democrats and Republicans but all were unquestionably Americans.

As a child in those days, my impressions were probably unclear but I recall one thing for certain: no one would dare talk bad about America. People were unabashedly pleased that they were lucky enough to be Americans.

Immigrants strove to be as American as they could be, to speak the language, to participate in the uniquely American culture. Rich or poor, Americanism was never lacking.

I no longer get that sense, particularly from politicians who seem to believe that winning politically is more important whether or not it harms America's image to its own people or to foreigners.

It's true that "the ugly American" image was born during my kid years. Still it was not an image that America had itself done anything dastardly but rather stemming from the lack of humility exhibited by only a few, as they traveled abroad. Not really a big deal.

Today, America-bashing borders on treasonous acts, and comes from those who enjoy her protection and highest standard of living on the planet.

The older wannabe revolutionaries of the 1960s and '70s now pump their young full of the same vitriol previously found only in organizations such as the Weather Underground, who were the front-running terrorists of those days.

Their self-righteous moral indignation over the Viet Nam war was no different than what we see today except in those days they were considered extremists.

Today, it has become acceptable behavior on the left. Rioting in the streets is allowed...even encouraged by the failure to prosecute those who do. The left's misguided sense is that setting fires and breaking windows is protected by the First Amendment.

Now, conservatives are throwing in the towel by arguing over who's conservative enough to represent Republicans in the 2008 election.

I urge conservatives to stop worrying about what is on TV -- we have on/off switches -- and attend to ending the practice of accepting antisocial behavior. Please stop harping on the G-d issues to the point of sounding absurdly self righteous.

And pardon me for saying so but could we prioritize and give more weight to the death of someone killed in a drive-by shooting than that of a fertilized embryo?

Abortion is also an important issue, but I submit that there are far more important issues to address that affect all of us. Besides, families are still the first line of defense against abortion. Insist on parental responsibility and involvement and watch abortions in this country diminish.

Instead of worrying about G-d and prayer in the schools, how about more concern about education in the schools.

And what about law and order? Does that require a church affiliation?

Could we maybe put more energy into going after parents who don't stop their teenage kids from smoking pot? Their enlightened mentality rationalizes that "at least they're not into cigarettes." Yeah, okay.

I'm far more concerned about being attacked by either gang-bangers or by some wound-to-tight road-raging jerk in traffic. In either case, the attacker would probably die of his injuries while I'd become the evil gun-totin' cowboy, in a courtroom either fighting for my freedom, or against a civil suit.

If some Islamic terrorist decides to go on a shooting spree in a mall, I can deal with that. Let's just concentrate on my right to carry.

We blame everything and everyone but the person who exhibits bad behavior. Can we turn that around?

We have come to this because we incrementally let civility slip away. We shrugged instead of condemning and standing against bad behavior.

American Idol, which I don't watch, celebrates rudeness, condescension and outright stupidity; mirroring the behavior of our society.

I agree with conservative pundit J.B. Williams, who states that there can be no reconciliation with liberals. The gulf is too wide.

But conservatives, regardless of spiritual beliefs, can damned sure focus on restoring a civil society. Until we do that, we won't ever have a decent discussion with those of differing views.

© 2007 Nonin Stone— All rights reserved