Why is it so darn hard to come up with something to blog about? For me, the whole point was to write about anything ("...the process is more important than the subject"). Instead of just writing, though, I find myself labeling every idea that comes along as "too mundane," "too pop-culture," "too specific,"or "too personal." So in the interest of writing something — anything — here goes....
Why is there such a double standard in this country? At what point did "tolerance" become code for "intolerance" or "tolerance, so long as you believe like we do..."? The whole Carrie Prejean saga playing out in California is sickening. First off, why does it matter what she believes?!? It's a BEAUTY PAGEANT for goodness sakes. What ever happened to the days of just saying, "I like butterflies, the color purple, and I'd really, really like World Peace for Christmas this year"? Why must we politicize everything?
Secondly, but more to the point, since when is it okay to pillory someone and demand that they be stripped of their BEAUTY PAGEANT crown because their beliefs are aligned with VAST majority of Americans rather than Hollywood? The really frustrating thing is that she espoused nearly the identical opinion as President Obama ("The One").
On an interview with MTV, President Obama stated: "I believe marriage is between a man and a woman. I am not in favor of gay marriage. But when you start playing around with constitutions, just to prohibit somebody who cares about another person, it just seems to me that's not what America's about."
Compare that with Ms. Prejean's statement: "Well I think that it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. Umm, we live in a land that you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And, you know what, in my country, and in my family, I think that a marriage should be between a man and a woman—no offense to anyone out there..."
Other than the fact that everyone with decoder rings knew that Obama was fudging it a bit, how is this different? Both say that they're personally against gay marriage; both say that they believe that marriage is between a man and a woman. Yet one is praised for his omniscient ability to bring people together in a "sort of God" like way — Thank you, Evan Thomas and Newsweek for your unbiased journalism — and the other is ridiculed and, ultimately, fired(Did I mention that she was fired from a BEAUTY PAGEANT?!?!?!?!) for holding "antiquated" or "bigoted" views.
Where are the "Voltaire" progressives of times past? Those who could engage in vigorous debate, yet stand strong with the clarion mantra, "I disagree strongly with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
I'm with you, Tim. You highlight one of the core problems with our society these days: rational debate and reason are dead. Most Americans are completely incapable of elaborating their own opinions much less discussing them rationally with someone of a differing viewpoint.
ReplyDeleteThere are no more debate clubs in our public schools and as a result, we have adults who are neither objective when forming an opinion nor capable of testing that opinion in the marketplace of ideas. We need a new "enlightenment" era with new Voltaires and John Lockes.
Keep blogging!