The far left and far right compete to see who loathes America more

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"It's not just Bush, it's soldiers too! Fascist war is nothing new! It's not just Bush, it's soldiers too! Fascist war is nothing new! ..."

-- Chanted by the crowd at an antiwar demonstration in Portland, Ore.

"U.S. imperialists! No. 1 terrorists! U.S. imperialists! No. 1 terrorists! ..."

-- Chanted by a speaker Leah Obias and the crowd at the March 17 antiwar rally at the Pentagon

"We have always been proud to distinguish ourselves from nations that kidnapped, disappeared, and tortured people. Now, under the Bush administration, we are becoming like them."

-- Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, speaking at the above-mentioned March 17 antiwar rally.

"Why is it that when a soldier wears a uniform, travels thousands of miles away from U.S. soil, and kills by government decree that he is lauded as a hero defending our freedoms, instead of denounced as a hireling in service of the state?"

-- Laurence M. Vance, writing in the far-right e-magazine Pro Libertate

One of the great stabilizers of our nation is that most of us fall within the mainstream of political thought. Oh, we disagree on issues and we have our arguments. Some of us like Keith Olbermann. Others prefer Bill O'Reilly. Others listen to Rush Limbaugh. Others prefer Air America. Some watch Fox News. Others watch MSNBC.

Nevertheless, the vast majority of Americans share a belief in components of freedom: classical liberalism, capitalism, respect for the executive, legislative and judicial branches, respect for our military, a belief that the United States is a force for good in this world.

This correct consensus is healthy. It bonds us through difficult times. We never would have survived the Civil War or World War II without a firm belief in the righteousness of our cause.

To better understand our national political consensus, imagine political thought as a circle, rather than a straight line. At the left side of the top of the circle resides the far left. At the right side of the top of the circle is the far right. Both sides share a paranoid distrust of the U.S. government.

The far left's hatred for America is more visible. One example is International Answer, which sponsored the March 17 antiwar rally where Anderson spoke. Answer is part of the Workers World Party, a hard-line communist group founded in the mid-1950s to support the Soviet invasion of Hungary. The Workers World Party barely registers on election day, but its adherents are tireless organizers. They were the first to denounce the U.S. after Sept. 11. Its rallies always feature American-haters such as the above-mentioned Obias.

In fact, United for Peace & Justice, a socialist umbrella organization, finally got fed up with Answer's rhetoric and no longer shares its platform at rallies. The result -- much smaller crowds for Answer.

Utahns should be very ashamed that Mayor Anderson chose such a motley venue on March 17 to exercise his freedom of speech. His actions are no different than had a prominent conservative joined a platform of Nazis at a political rally.

Someone close to the mayor should advise him to take his "impeach Bush" tour to venues that at least regard the Constitution with some reverence. There are many, including The Nation Magazine, the Progressive Democrats of America, the Progressive Caucus of Congress and www.democrats.com.

The far right is less prominent, but its hatred of U.S. policy is no less intense. There is a netherworld of micro radio stations, online blogs and Web sites, such as the www.christianlibertyparty.com or www.chalcedon.edu. These organizations are too extreme for even the John Birch Society. One under-the-radar story is the split the Bush administration has provoked. Many former Birchers have left, wanting stronger action taken against Bush than the Birchers offer.

There are dozens of micro radio talkers on far-right networks. Many are Sept. 11 conspiracy theorists. Themes involve immigration, distrust of local police, hatred of Bush, dislike of our military, distrust of Israel and indifference to Islamofacism. I listened to one via the Net: The host worked himself up to such a lather that he opined that President Bush, Vice President Cheney and others should be hanged and tossed in swamps, as an example to others.

He also referred to President Bush's daughters in a vulgar manner. The host's only caller was an anti-Semite who insinuated President Bush is of Jewish descent.

If it hadn't been so ugly, it would have seemed a brutal parody of intolerance.

We will always have these types. They thrive in our country, where the most hateful messages can be uttered without fear of reprisal. Ironically, their freedom of speech is an example of American exceptionalism.

Gibson is the Standard-Examiner's assistant editorial page editor. He can be reached at dgibson@standard.net.

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