A SPECIAL REPORT - PART II - 062413 - DUSTYBEAR MUSES ON SOCIAL MEDIA

We have had a decade or so of rapidly accelerating acceptance of gay people, up to and including marriage equality.

Yes, even marriage equality is gaining ground. THAT is a GOOD thing, right?

 

In America, we have a Bill of Rights and the U.S. Constitution that FROM THE GIT GO has virtually assured EVERY SINGLE AMERICAN equal protection and treatment UNDER THE LAW.

 

Ostensibly. Purportedly. Supposedly.

Sadly, while our founders stated UNEQUIVOCABLY that ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, the follow-through

In practice has been MORE than a bit spotty to say the least. YETHY..>LESS THAN STELLAR. Stella was a bit SLACK, methinks.

 

Women FINALLY got equal protection under the law in 1920. Bit later on than 1776, methinks.

 

African-Americans, 1965. YEP. Took even longer for blacks.

 

NOW we worky on gays and sexual orientation, and while it has taken A LOT longer to get there than it took for those other groups, the process is now going MUCH faster.

 

WHY I WONDER? HMMM? DO YOU KNOW?

 

Women fought tooth and nail for their rights. So did Blacks. Gays have as well, but something has changed.

Is it that American and Americans have SUDDENLY seen the light? Become much more enlightened? Tolerant?

 

Perhaps but I happen to think it is something else.

Americans are becoming far more accepting and tolerant of Gays BECAUSE it just doesn't matter anymore.

 

HUH? YEH. It just doesn't matter. I mean. What the hell. The stark (pun intended) truth is, Americans are becoming more tolerant out of convenience in many respects. We have figured out that Bigotry is WORK. It takes ENERGY.

You have to get out there and stand on principle and that means NO FOOTBALL, or your fave easy chair and a beer.

EEEK. POKER GAME CANCELLED! Merthee.

 

The sad truth is, not all but MANY Americans are becoming FAR LESS PRINCIPLED than their forebears, far lazier and far more apathetic.

We are slowly but surely more accepting of many more things that we didn't use to be accepting of. GOOD? In some respects yes...but its the reason that we are that troubles me.

 

Way back in the bad old days not that long ago, those who espoused discrimination and bigotry did so out of their core beliefs. Doesn't matter whether or not I agreed with them or you did or not. They believed. Stood on their principled values, right or wrong. NOW?

 

WE are FAR MORE inclined to operate out of expedience than out of principle and THAT is NOT a good thing. It never is and if that is true, then what does that mean for where we are headed as a society?

 

Already, almost half the country is going along stuff they wouldn't have 50 years ago, or hell. Even 30 years ago. But they are now, so what has changed? Hmmm?

 

 

TO BE CONTINUED:

 

Funny: I wanted to be a storm chaser but am afraid of lightning.D