The dictionary defines pluralism like this:

Main Entry: plu•ral•ism

Pronunciation: ‘plur-&-“li-z&m

Function: noun

1 : the holding of two or more offices or positions (as benefices) at the same time

2 : the quality or state of being plural

3 a : a theory

that there are more than one or more than two kinds of ultimate reality b : a

theory that reality is composed of a plurality of entities

4 a : a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, or social groups maintain an autonomous participation in and development of their traditional culture or special interest within the confines of a common civilization b : a concept, doctrine, or policy advocating this state.

I like to think of it as the willingness to accept different ideas; to tolerate, accept and respect different people. When we – meaning the effective electoral votes of Americans – elected Mr. Bush to stay in the White House, we dealt a blow to pluralism. When we voted like a pack of reactionary homophobes in eleven states, we dealt a blow to pluralism. In every splotch of red on the map, we voted against pluralism and for autocracy.

Why is this a problem? Because a vote against pluralism is a vote for fundamentalism. You get it, don’t you? Our pluralism is what pisses them (Islamic Extremists) off about us. A vote against pluralism is a vote against what we all said we stood for after 9/11 – what we flew flags off our porches for, vowing that they would never see us change. A vote for Bush & Cheney was a vote to give Osama bin Laden exactly what he wanted all along – the capitulation of our American ideals, our American identity.

Osama’s video was the quintessential October Surprise. It drove the sheep to the wolf, and Osama didn’t have to expend a single “martyr” to get his November prize. A house divided against itself cannot stand; we are weaker now. And our leaders’ arrogance continues to stoke the fires of war.

a fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi