Choice and Accountability
Last week, I had an open and respectful conversation with a dear friend who has drastically different views from my own. I thoroughly enjoy conversations like this, I think they’re vitally important to the forward motion of society in general. As I pondered more on what was said in our conversation and the views that were expressed, I realized something about myself. I could nearly get on board with what the liberal agenda is, if it wasn’t executed in the way that it is executed.
Do I believe in the fundamental right to choose? Yes.
Agency is a fundamental right. However, I also believe that every choice has consequences. I believe that we get to choose our actions, thoughts, beliefs and orientations, but not the consequences of such. You may choose to place your hand on a hot stove, but your desire to avoid a burn will not prevent the heat from blistering your skin. I may choose to go rock climbing without any safety restraints, but my desire to stay safe will not prevent me from being injured if I do not take the necessary actions to prevent injury.
Do I believe in the fundamental right to choose? Yes.
Agency is a fundamental right. However, I also believe that every choice has consequences. I believe that we get to choose our actions, thoughts, beliefs and orientations, but not the consequences of such. You may choose to place your hand on a hot stove, but your desire to avoid a burn will not prevent the heat from blistering your skin. I may choose to go rock climbing without any safety restraints, but my desire to stay safe will not prevent me from being injured if I do not take the necessary actions to prevent injury.
"My right to swing my fist ends where your nose begins"
In short, your rights end when they start to inhibit mine.
Do I believe that a woman should have the right to choose abortion? Yes. I do not believe that my tax dollars should fund that totally optional and non-mandatory procedure, and I do not believe that a medical professional should have their license revoked if they choose to not participate in the procedure if it violates their personal beliefs about the sanctity of life. That would be inhibiting his rights and mine.
Do I believe that a gay couple should have the right to choose adoption? Yes. I do not believe that a privately owned or religiously affiliated adoption agency should be forced to officiate in adoptions that violate their personal and religious beliefs about the nature of families. That would be inhibiting their rights.
Do I believe that gay couples should have the right to perform wedding ceremonies? Yes. I do not believe that privately owned businesses should be forced to provide their services to such ceremonies if it violates their personal and religious beliefs about the sanctity of marriage. That would be inhibiting their rights.
Do I believe that a gay couple should have the right to choose adoption? Yes. I do not believe that a privately owned or religiously affiliated adoption agency should be forced to officiate in adoptions that violate their personal and religious beliefs about the nature of families. That would be inhibiting their rights.
Do I believe that gay couples should have the right to perform wedding ceremonies? Yes. I do not believe that privately owned businesses should be forced to provide their services to such ceremonies if it violates their personal and religious beliefs about the sanctity of marriage. That would be inhibiting their rights.
You Reap What You Sow
If you want everyone to stop talking about your private parts, maybe you should keep them private or even stop wearing them around on your head like a decoration. Be upset about what trump said. You should be. But what about Bill and his string of offenses, while he was in office? At least rather than denying his actions, or rather- words, Trump apologized for them.
And if you're so mad about rape culture, then on the way home from your march you’re going to want to stop listening to Beyoncé telling you to go “f*ck me up a bi*ch up". And when you stop promoting a culture of casual sex, then you can stop complaining about the citizens that culture produces. Why should Trump, or any other human for that matter, be expected to be untouched by a culture that preaches that “nice guys finish last”, as Drake so simply states it.
Don't continue on telling me that there is no room for my morals in government when someone's lack of morals has apparently stirred you to so much anger that hundreds of thousands of you marched in protest. Don’t tell me that there’s no room for morals unless, of course, the absence of such offends you.
So, I'll march for you. I'll march to city hall and Capitol Hill, defending my morals because they'll protect you from assault and degradation. I'll protect your unborn children from a society that wants to be rid of them before they've even arrived. I'll march for my right to filter movies in my home so that my sons don't learn that it's acceptable to harass your daughters as you continue to promote media that deems it acceptable.
And if you're so mad about rape culture, then on the way home from your march you’re going to want to stop listening to Beyoncé telling you to go “f*ck me up a bi*ch up". And when you stop promoting a culture of casual sex, then you can stop complaining about the citizens that culture produces. Why should Trump, or any other human for that matter, be expected to be untouched by a culture that preaches that “nice guys finish last”, as Drake so simply states it.
Don't continue on telling me that there is no room for my morals in government when someone's lack of morals has apparently stirred you to so much anger that hundreds of thousands of you marched in protest. Don’t tell me that there’s no room for morals unless, of course, the absence of such offends you.
So, I'll march for you. I'll march to city hall and Capitol Hill, defending my morals because they'll protect you from assault and degradation. I'll protect your unborn children from a society that wants to be rid of them before they've even arrived. I'll march for my right to filter movies in my home so that my sons don't learn that it's acceptable to harass your daughters as you continue to promote media that deems it acceptable.
Compromise
Are you picking up what I’m laying down? You absolutely should have the ability to make any choice at all. But you don’t have a right to choose the consequences of your actions. And you absolutely should not have the right to make choices at my expense, to harm me, my rights, my freedom of belief, or practice of religion. I am in no way, shape or form forcing you to worship with me, believe as I believe, or live as I live. I am asking you to respect my right to choose.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, a right is that which justly belongs to someone. Quite honestly, none of the previously mentioned things are rights, they are privileges. I should not be required to provide your privileges at the expense of my own God-given right to believe as I believe and live as I live. There are multiple adoption agencies, doctor’s offices and bakery’s that would be more than happy to provide the services mentioned. Because of that fact, someone’s privilege of receiving those services is not being taken away.
I think that each “side”, in fear of losing the battle altogether, “goes for the jugular” as it were.
Just because you're pro-choice doesn't mean I think you're a baby killer, and just because I'm religious doesn't mean you think I'm a homophobe. We need to stop compartmentalizing each other, it defeats our purpose and is counterproductive.
We absolutely can meet in the middle and find common ground, rather than going for an all or nothing approach that isn't moving us forward at all. I completely believe that there is a way to compromise. Is that so drastic? I think that people should be given choices that don’t inhibit the rights of others. So, as strongly as you believe that you should be able to choose the consequences of your actions, I believe that my rights should not be sacrificed to make way for that privilege.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, a right is that which justly belongs to someone. Quite honestly, none of the previously mentioned things are rights, they are privileges. I should not be required to provide your privileges at the expense of my own God-given right to believe as I believe and live as I live. There are multiple adoption agencies, doctor’s offices and bakery’s that would be more than happy to provide the services mentioned. Because of that fact, someone’s privilege of receiving those services is not being taken away.
I think that each “side”, in fear of losing the battle altogether, “goes for the jugular” as it were.
Just because you're pro-choice doesn't mean I think you're a baby killer, and just because I'm religious doesn't mean you think I'm a homophobe. We need to stop compartmentalizing each other, it defeats our purpose and is counterproductive.
We absolutely can meet in the middle and find common ground, rather than going for an all or nothing approach that isn't moving us forward at all. I completely believe that there is a way to compromise. Is that so drastic? I think that people should be given choices that don’t inhibit the rights of others. So, as strongly as you believe that you should be able to choose the consequences of your actions, I believe that my rights should not be sacrificed to make way for that privilege.