Republicans were able to dodge Hurricane Isaac last week, but could not dodge the moot criticisms of Syracuse’s own, Mayor Stephanie Miner.

Namely, as the Republicans were wrapping up in Florida, Miner and hundreds of Democrats gathered at the Palace Theater in the Syracuse neighborhood Eastwood. There, Miner called the Republican Party “a party of hatred that wraps up their hatred in clever 30-second sound bites,” according to The Post-Standard.

The only 30-second sound bite of hatred last week was the one produced by Miner — that is to say, demonization is a form of hatred, and Miner was clearly demonizing the Republican Party. Miner also complained about Republicans’ stance on gender equity.

The Post-Standard did not have a specific quote from her on this. Nevertheless, regardless of what Miner specifically said about Republicans and women, it is safe to say she is wrong because Republicans are not against women.

Had Miner actually viewed the Republican National Convention, preferably via Fox News, she would have seen how she is wrong. Specifically, Miner would have seen women speakers at the convention, including Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin, South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, New Hampshire Sen. Kelly Ayotte and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

At face value, having a large number of female speakers discredits left-wing claims that Republicans seek to bar women from status, but that is not what is important about the convention.

The main point is these women spoke at the RNC because they are people with abilities. This is what most Democrats do not understand. It is a Republican ideal not to hold gender as a virtue or a detriment.

This ideal extends to any other group designation that can be used to divide. Regardless of race, religion or gender, Republicans choose to view people not as members of groups but as individuals. The Republican ideal is to weigh people by their abilities alone. In terms of race, this ideal runs parallel to the words of Martin Luther King Jr.

Namely, Republicans also seek a world where people “will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” So, it is not the case, as Syracuse’s mayor might say, that the Democratic Party is the party of women and the GOP is the party against women.

Rather, it is the case that the Democrats are the party of group identity and the Republicans are the party of individual merit. For example, regarding the birth control mandate, Republicans see women as capable individuals, not as a group in need of government help.

So instead of saying the Democrats are the party of women because they want the government to force companies to give women something for free, it is more accurate to say the Democrats are the “women-need-government-help” party, and the Republicans are the “women-can-do-this-independently” party.

Despite what Miner and others on the left might say, belief in individual ability is not opposition, and empowerment is not a detriment.

Michael Stikkel is a junior computer engineering major. His column appears online weekly. He can be reached at mcstikke@syr.edu.

Published on September 5, 2012 at 1:00 am