So, I've alluded to this before on the blog and had a few conversations with various friends and relatives about the subject, but it seems as though our country, although dominated by a media that portrays a Politically Correct (albeit disproportionately white) Version of Society is "unpopular" among that of the voting more conservative public. I say this because if one were to believe "WILL & GRACE", "MURPHY BROWN", ELLAN DEGERNEROS", "OPRAH", or "FRIENDS" one would believe that our country is ok with single mothers, promiscuous straight sex, gays, unwed family units and various non-dominant religious groups (jew/muslims).
I don't think this is the case. I think that only Hollywood and NYC are ok with it. I think South Beach, Austin, Seattle are ok with the "Live and Let Live" motif but it would seem to me that the majority of the country is not too keen on the Hester's of the world walking amongst us guilt free.
We were talking about this last night and the one thing (that I recall) that we decided is that it was fear and ignorance that promoted this discord. That is to mean, fear of the unknown and unfamiliar that draw people to conservatism. And the ignorance we decided was of the impact of the issues relative to the outcomes of most decisions. For instance, my friend Chris was certain that his father had no idea that his vote for Bush was in direct opposition to his own daughter. His Daughter who has been in a monogamous relationship with a woman for the past 9 years with woman, a woman whom she wants to marry but can't.
I don't know of a "LIBERAL" who wants to stop the Ten Commandments, heterosexual monogamy, prayer, bible school or Sunday services, but I do know "CONSERVATIVES" who want to enforce the tenants of their religion, impose them on others, kill GLTG persons and require, hindu's - budhists - muslims and Jews to put their head down while the "normal" kids pray.
Bottom line, your kid wants to prey, bow or otherwise salute anything or anyone, she better be prepared to do it as a personal expression at home. She wants to wear a helmet, hat, robe or cross – power to you but we are at school now, much like going to work (lest we forget what school is supposed to educate us for) and we require a minimum of order.
Its 2004 - we survived (for now) the cold war, the nuclear winter and the fall of communism. Dig in folks, the battle with religious and secular terrorist looks to be a bumpy ride. This is a war in which your neighbors and friend are potentially as suspect as those brown people across town or that queer couple who have been together for 10 years (or just met - like your son and his girlfriend for the next 2 months). But I want to make a suggestion that it would be a huge benifit if the following would happen:
1. Keep your god to yourself and your own personal social contacts. Don’t proselytize or tell me how to be.
2. Be as straight or gay as you want to be on you own time, but we’re working, learning and walking here so I don’t care who you bang. If you got a problem with me being “into” garden knomes, maybe you shouldn’t have asked and if you did ask, don’t be offended, even if you're a garden knome.
3. Everyone, even the hooker how kills her baby in a pool of crack, thought she was right while doing it. I’m sure you think you’re right too; you’re entitled to that.
4. You’re not always right (see above).
5. Shut up and Listen more.
6. There is more than one way.
7. and probably most important is that eveything I've just said is also probably wrong but thats ok. It doesn't make me a horrible person.
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