thurdl's take on...

...Legislating comfort

There's something about the modern era of politics that always interests me. It's when people from opposite ends of the spectrum start to make the same arguements for seemingly (and actually) completely different issues. I just noticed one of these today.

There are those on the far right who are uncomfortable with the idea of homosexuals getting married. Oh please, like you know this is the real reason behind most of the legislation. Sure, it gets trumped up as protecting families, thinking of the children, and hiding behind the Bible. However, I think what it really comes down to is that a lot of the people against gay marriage are just thinking to themselves "well...ick!" They don't want it to happen, they'd be uncomfortable with it happening, so by God, the government needs to do something about it.

I think even most of those saying "But look! Leviticus!" are just using that as a way around saying, "oh come on, just look at that, I don't want to see that!" Sure, there might be some out there who view it purely from a liturgical point of view, but I bet if you polled them, most would say they're uncomfortable around a homosexual couple.

They're uncomfortable. Laws get passed.

Now, look at the other side of the spectrum, my fellow liberals, where most of the fight for banning smoking in public places comes from. Because they're protecting health, thinking of the children, and hiding behind suspect medical studies. However, what it comes down to is that they're uncomfortable being in the same are with a smoker. They think to themselves, "well...ick!" And so, by God, the government needs to do something about it.

It's all the same thing, though, this idea that the government should create and enforce laws based on people's comfort level. And it's not just these issues. Look at the FCC's crusade to "clean up" television and radio. Why? Cause people are uncomfortable about having seen 0.3 seconds of Janet Jackson's boob, or hearing Howard Stern.

Now, I'll admit... Howard Stern does make me uncomfortable. Being around smokers makes me uncomfortable. Being around ANY overly affectionate couple, whether it be male-female, male-male, and (in spite of stereotypes of my gender) female-female. I'm not as uncomfortable around swearing, but that's just one of the four. And yet... And yet I manage to just avoid situations where I am uncomfortable. I don't go to smoky bars. I ignore couples. I don't listen to Stern. Quite amazingly, I can manage to do these things, and still live a very happy life, and not think that it is the role of the government to legislate based on my comfort level. If it was, I could damn well think of a lot of things that would be illegal, including pushy crowds, Hummers (the cars...sicko), female body builders, and Maryland drivers. But apparently I'm just one voice, and there's a much louder one out there yelling "I don't like this! There should be a law!"

posted by thurdl @ 10:10:00 AM