I really don't want to weigh in on the latest culture wars--No one thinks or reflects. No one considers the other side; the whole thing is full of
empty, meaningless gestures that pander to their intended audience. It's sad and silly.
But I will say that liberals would do well to remember the speech by Michael Douglas in The American President:
He is not free, however, from repercussions, which is what liberals and dumb mayors are seeking to do w/ official sanctions and restrictions rather than the organic decisions and actions of the citizenry. Instead, much like an album that gets slapped w/ a parental advisory or when a religious group denounces or boycotts an "offensive" movie, its success far exceeds what it should have. It's free publicity. Liberals have now helped the chick-fil-a owner make and contribute more money to extremist groups than if they just kept their mouths shut and ate at the local diner (which is where I'm going w/ this piece).
Personally, I find the anti-gay stance repellent and would like to see a society where nobody held these views in the first place. The bigotry is outdated and offensive to all citizens. But you don't legislate morality, as much as some groups would like to. Our country, since the days of the puritans--persecuted themselves before coming to America--has routinely oppressed minorities. Groups that are marginalized then return the favor when they gain power. So, if your religious group is anti-gay, that's your choice, but an attempt to codify an anti-gay agenda is as oppressive and discriminatory as what was once done to your group.
OK, that is more than I wanted to say on the matter; our time can be better spent. You want a better solution? Dine locally. Better yet, shop locally. Roughly 25% more of the dollars spent at a local business stay in the community rather than back to far-flung corporate offices.
Don't boycott, don't protest; don't grandstand, don't stay stuck in the dark ages. Support your local economy and buy locally. Let the pundits and others spit into the wind and declare the "winner" of this round of the culture wars.
But I will say that liberals would do well to remember the speech by Michael Douglas in The American President:
"You want free speech? Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours." You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms.If the owner of a business wants to contribute to whatever group, it is his prerogative. It's called free speech.
He is not free, however, from repercussions, which is what liberals and dumb mayors are seeking to do w/ official sanctions and restrictions rather than the organic decisions and actions of the citizenry. Instead, much like an album that gets slapped w/ a parental advisory or when a religious group denounces or boycotts an "offensive" movie, its success far exceeds what it should have. It's free publicity. Liberals have now helped the chick-fil-a owner make and contribute more money to extremist groups than if they just kept their mouths shut and ate at the local diner (which is where I'm going w/ this piece).
Personally, I find the anti-gay stance repellent and would like to see a society where nobody held these views in the first place. The bigotry is outdated and offensive to all citizens. But you don't legislate morality, as much as some groups would like to. Our country, since the days of the puritans--persecuted themselves before coming to America--has routinely oppressed minorities. Groups that are marginalized then return the favor when they gain power. So, if your religious group is anti-gay, that's your choice, but an attempt to codify an anti-gay agenda is as oppressive and discriminatory as what was once done to your group.
OK, that is more than I wanted to say on the matter; our time can be better spent. You want a better solution? Dine locally. Better yet, shop locally. Roughly 25% more of the dollars spent at a local business stay in the community rather than back to far-flung corporate offices.
Don't boycott, don't protest; don't grandstand, don't stay stuck in the dark ages. Support your local economy and buy locally. Let the pundits and others spit into the wind and declare the "winner" of this round of the culture wars.
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