The Bundy Questions

What is one to make of Cliven Bundy? To rational thinking people, he is a circus
freak, overstaying his 15 minutes of fame. For republicans, he held the promise
of being the next Marlboro Man -- a self-made tough guy, combining the best
qualities of Joe the Plumber and Sarah Palin. After opening his mouth,
however, it appears he is best suited to be a minister of the militia-minded,
or the theologian of the rabid tea partiers.

Humor can be found in the watching of many of the republican political
and media stars who, after praising Bundy on bended knee, are now
seeking to distance themselves from him. However, there is really nothing
funny about the man, nor the disturbance he is causing. It's not simply because
he is a tapeworm that has grown wealthy by stealing from the public. He really
should have been held responsible for that theft, long ago.

What is particularly troubling is that American society continues to produce
diseased individuals such as him. Surely, it is not new. It is good that he has not
been elected to the U.S. Senate, in the manner of Strom Thurman. But it is not
enough to think that he is old, representative of a shameful chapter in the nation's past, and will be dead soon. If only it were that simple.

Bundy is the nucleus of a malignant cell that has grown into a cluster of armed,
angry, and ignorant people who are seeking a violent confrontation. His racist
remarks will not decrease his appeal to the militia- and fringe tea party-types.
As established republicans and Fox News hosts publicly reject him, he will not
hesitate to take up the mantle of extremism.

The extremist element views the Bundy conflict as being a fuse that could
cause a powder keg to explode. That they are, by definition, "terrorists" seems
crystal clear. They openly identify the federal government as the enemy. The
holding of this opinion is not, in and of itself, a problem. Their willingness to
take up arms, to defend a dead-beat, is definitely a problem.

Most of the young people I encounter do not carry on the hatreds
of their parents and grandparents -- the hating of "others," based on race,
religion, sexual identity, ethic background, etc. Yet in other regions of the
nation, these hatreds are handed down like valued heirlooms. Rooted in
fears and anxieties, they threaten the fabric of our society. And because these
irrational belief systems will not be buried when Cliven Bundy goes to his
grave, we must deal with them before they explode.

Two questions: First, what would you recommend the federal government do
now, to deal with this particular stand-off? And second, how do you think that
the larger society should confront the problems with the extremists on the
right-wing?

Thank you for your consideration.

Peace,
H2O Man