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Give me something to believe in
From the editor
I just watched the ending of a movie in which a teacher
apparently loved by his students had been ridiculed for being a homosexual.
In it a former student (turned actor) presented this teacher with his own
personal Oscar award but only after everyone in the auditorium proclaimed
themselves as being gay in order to drive the point home that they were
OK with his sexual preference. One of these persons who made this proclamation
was obviously against doing it, but did so out of peer pressure.
Although it would have probably ruined the movie
I wonder what would have happened if this one individual had stood ground
and stated that he was not gay and further more that he personally believed
it to be morally wrong and against the laws of nature as well as his God.
I honestly believe that he would be portrayed as
a racist pig with no brains and would no doubt receive overwhelming repercussions
for making such a decision.
The constitution grants us the rights to life
liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But does that bind our position of
personal beliefs, or protect them?
As of right now you can't be tried and convicted
for having personal beliefs. But it can definitely be used against you.
If I as a white male were to report the missing the
required mental capability of a particular coworker who is black. I would
be attacked not only for slander, and creating a negative working environment,
but also I would be labeled forever as a racist who believes anyone different
from me to be lacking in intelligence. The fact that my remark was aimed
at one specific person would be ignored to portray a juicier image of racism.
My thoughts began to return to the once
required reading of Orwell, "1984", in which it was a crime to speak or
even think differently from the "Big Brother" who was always watching over
you.
Now in a time that we are to be more open minded
about things that differ from our beliefs, we are actually more limited
in what is acceptable beliefs.
If we stand against gun control, we are in
favor of killing children.
If we stand for it, we are in favor of criminals
still owning guns.
If we are Pro Life, we believe that a woman
does not have the right to her own body.
If we are Pro Choice, we believe in killing
children
If believe homosexuality is natural, we believe
every thing sexual is natural and nothing is perverted.
If we believe homosexuality is wrong, we are prejudice
and racist as well.
If we believe in the death penalty, we are
no better than those who kill.
If we are against it, we don't believe in punishment
for crime.
If we believe in leagalizing marijuana, we
are pot heads who don't care about the well-being of our children.
If we are against it, we don't care about glaucoma
victims or we are mad because it can't be taxed.
If we smoke, we are trying to kill everyone
with second hand smoke.
If we place no smoking signs, we are interfering
with someone else's rights.
It goes on.
I went to people and asked them. "What do you think
about making a stand?" The answer was alarming!! Most felt that not only
did it do no good to stand up for anything these days, but we shouldn't
speak up at all and just mind our own business. The general feeling was
to let it lie and do what you feel is right as long as it doesn't bother
anyone else. When asked what to do when it bothered them they said. "Turn
around, walk away."
Readers, this is horrifying. If we don't continue to
discuss what is right or wrong can you imagine the breakdown in moral structure.
Laws would be useless because there would be no moral standing to tell
us that murder is wrong. The argument was made that no one would let
some basic laws like murder go unpunished, and that is true. But, on the
road to passiveness we would soon be governed by a dictator who would tell
us exactly what to do and say and think.
Protests!? That would be long bred out of a nation
who was too lazy to stand up and be heard in the first place.
It's a scary world I'm leaving to my daughter someday.
I hope that she at least will not be lulled into passivity and has that
strength to stand for what she believes in or she might have to answer
to "Big Brother" for our crimes.
Robin Hood

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