Guest Opinion | Hoyt Hilsman: Democracy and America’s Culture Wars

We hear a lot in the media about America’s nation’s culture wars – how they have divided us into endlessly battling camps, distracting us from the important business of the country.  But in some ways, the current culture wars are a sign of our democracy’s strengths.  For years, and in fact through much of our history, there have been enormous divisions in the country – between urban and rural dwellers, between rich and poor, between black and white, between the religious and non-religious, and so on.

For the most part, America’s culture wars have been resolved without widespread violence that can threaten to destroy our democratic republic.  Unfortunately, during some periods of American history, these divisions in society have broken into open, even violent, conflict.  While the Civil War is the most obvious example, there are many more examples, from the populist ascendancy of Andrew Jackson to the Progressive Era to the unrest of the labor movements and the civil rights movements.

However, it is important to remember that culture wars are fought over issues that are central to society.  Today’s culture wars – from civil rights to abortion, from gun rights to gay rights – are over significant questions for any democratic nation.  For example, the question “When does life begin?” is literally an existential question which society must wrestle with.  “What is the definition of marriage?” is likewise a central issue for any society.  “Who is eligible to be a citizen?” couldn’t be more important for any nation.  “What is the role of police?” – another fundamental question.

While Americans may have vastly differing answers to these questions, there is no doubt that these are fundamental issues that we must deal with.  The abolition of slavery, the right of women to vote and the struggle for civil rights have all been contentious and sometimes violent.  However, they were part of the struggle for a more perfect union.  Culture wars are integral to any healthy democratic society.

The real threat to democracy arises when one side in the culture wars loses faith in the democratic process and stages an end-run around democratic norms.  In 1919, a supermajority in Congress and 46 of 48 states passed the 18th Amendment, which prohibited the sale or use of alcoholic beverages. Widespread opposition and flaunting of the law by criminals led to the repeal of Prohibition fourteen years later.  However, what if the advocates for Prohibition had refused to accept the repeal by rejecting the democratic processes and ultimately the verdict of the people?  Would we still be living in an era of speakeasys and bootleggers? Or would we be fighting with violent Prohibition extremists or threats to liquor stores or elected officials who opposed Prohibition?  The same might be said about the battles over desegregation or women’s suffrage.

Fortunately, we averted these scenarios by adhering to democratic norms.  Millions of people who believed deeply in Prohibition for religious, moral or political reasons may have been outraged, but in the end, they decided to stick with the democratic process and abide by not only the rules, but the spirit of democracy.  No matter how deeply felt their beliefs, they valued the continuation of the American experiment in democracy enough to find a peaceful compromise with those that had adamantly opposed.

It is vital to our society that we engage the fundamental questions that confront our nation, despite the widespread divisions over those questions.  However, when we abandon democracy in the face of those divisions is when the American dream truly begins to die.

Hoyt Hilsman is Chair of the United Democratic Headquarters and a former trustee of Pasadena City College.  The opinions expressed herein are his own and do not represent the views of any organization.