And it is none other than the professed “holy” and “right(eous)” (read: Dobson, Perkins, DeLay, Frist, Falwell, et al.) who are seeing to it that that remains the case. All this concern over cultures and institutions; What about the individuals that make up those cultures and institutions?
Since this appears to be the true goal of any number of recent controversies, right off the bat, can we finally admit that abortion isn’t the problem?
Unwanted pregnancies are the problem. Abortion is simply one method of dealing with the problem. Unfortunately, those among us who are most adamant about eliminating that particular method also seem to be just as deeply opposed to attacking the problem in any meaningful manner, and thus, lessening the need/demand for abortion.
Outlawing abortion isn’t a solution.
Single-minded insistence on abstinence-only education isn’t a solution.
Establishing pharmacists’ “right” to refuse (and sometimes confiscate) lawful and necessary prescriptions isn’t a solution.
Comprehensive education is. That includes abstinence, contraception, risk factors, the whole nine yards. If you disagree, but still consider yourself a concerned parent, ask yourself why you’re abdicating responsibility and, yet, pushing schools to serve as your moral surrogate. YOU tell your kids what you want them to know. YOU explain to them what your beliefs about responsible sexuality are and why that’s the case. The rest of our children shouldn’t suffer incomplete education because of your lazy/timid parenting style.
Speaking of children… If you want them to be exposed to religion every day, then send them to a religious school that best represents your faith. Can’t afford one (as is often the case)? Here’s where I earn my merit badge for recycling: Once again, do it yourself. Sit with them. Talk with them. Teach them about your faith and how important it is in your life. Everyone wins. You’re giving of yourself to the most important people in your life. Your kids are getting the most valuable thing you can give them: the time and attention they need and deserve. And the rest of us are able to rest assured in the knowledge that you’re otherwise occupied. And that means you’re staying the hell away from our kids, affording them the opportunity of learning things that are accepted as “science” by the multitudes who don’t attend your weekly prayer meeting.
While on the topic of acceptance, if you don’t think men and women should marry within their own gender, check under the hood before you slip a ring on someone’s finger. It’s your decision. To my knowledge, no one’s trying to institute random, same-sex, arranged marriages. But do others the courtesy of letting it be their decision, as well. If an "institution" is your concern, you’ve got bigger fish to fry than Mike and Tom picking out china patterns. After all, when it comes to the “Things that destroy marriage” category on Broken Family Feud, you don’t need Richard Dawson to tell you that the survey says “divorce” is the number one answer. Promote the value of counseling, before and after vows are exchanged. Donate your time to, or help establish local support groups. It makes no sense to devote time and energy fighting those who want a marriage when 50% of people who already have them are throwing theirs away.
One of the only major points left is the notion that everyone is entitled to a gun. On this one point, I couldn’t agree more. Because if you’re going to follow the lead of some narrow-minded, backwater state legislatures, and try to take a child away from a loving parent because of who they love/fuck or how they love/fuck them, then they might just have to shoot you, and I’d hate to see them ill-prepared…
The long and the short of it is, everyone has the right to his/her own life and beliefs…until the point where you think your convictions should be compulsory for others. You’ll always be welcome to your beliefs, because we, sure as hell, don’t want any part of them.
