There have been a slew of articles in The State News discussing the disappointments over the recent bans of gay marriage in Florida, Arizona and California.
The writers (the State News editorial board included) go further than expressing disappointment; they accuse those who choose not to support gay marriage of intolerance and bigotry. However, their arguments rest on a creed of universal tolerance. There is an obvious contradiction in these arguments: While claiming that we must all be tolerant of alternative lifestyle choices, the writers of these articles are unquestioningly intolerant of, and bigoted toward those among us who do not support gay marriage.
As children, we were all taught that some things are right and some things are wrong. We hope we were all also taught to praise right actions and condemn wrong actions. To suggest, on the basis of tolerance, that one is supposed to actively support actions that they believe to be inherently immoral is an absurdity.
It’s easy to see the consequences if we have to be tolerant of every lifestyle choice. Polygamy and bestiality immediately come to mind — and although as a country we believe these things are wrong, if we are to be tolerant of everyone’s lifestyle choice, we must also embrace these things. Where does it end?
The one thing we do agree with in the recent articles is that this country has a long way to go. So many of us have bought in, at one time or another, to the lies about sexuality. Premarital sex, contraception, abortion, homosexuality, stem cell research, pornography — we’ve embraced these things in our culture and have thus lost sight of the true beauty and glory of human life and sexuality.
Matt Masarik
mathematics graduate student
Jaylan Jones
mathematics graduate student
Audrey De Guire
mathematics graduate student
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