Your Weekly editorial: Agreeing to Disagree

[valarltd]

I got to thinking about the concept of "agreeing to disagree." There are times when it's appropriate. Pizza toppings, music tastes, even perceptions of people. The problem comes when people "agree to disagree" on subjects that should be self-evident.

It's one of the problems I have with the President. He thinks people of good will can agree to disagree on gay rights. Read that again. He thinks people of good will can be against civil rights for a minority group!

In my opinion, if you're against civil rights for a group of Americans, you are no longer a person of good will.

It comes back to the question I raised last November with some conservatives who considered me a friend: You just voted against everything I am. You voted away my ability to marry or adopt. You voted away my reproductive health care and my physical safety from bias crimes. HOW DARE YOU CALL YOURSELF MY FRIEND?

I think there comes a point when "agreeing to disagree" is no longer a viable position.

This rant brought to you by a discussion of whether or not to prosecute Americans for committing and ordering torture. Torture is a war-crime. Period. "Just following orders" does not and never has cut the mustard in that situation.

Comments

[mother2012.livejournal.com]

Did you know that when Teh Shrub was Gov of Texas, he upheld a guilty verdict for someone who had used waterboarding?

Just depends on what Bush wants, y'know.

I think Obama is walking a very delicate line. He has to slowly lead this country back from the brink of fanatical Christianity, with the same planned care that Bush led us into it. One by one, the States are seeing the light, and I expect more rapid progress after Iowa.

some conservatives who considered me a friend

Uh, yeah. But then 'conservatives' right now kinda equals 'people incapable of rational thought.'

[jmie.livejournal.com]

I often want to hug you, even though I'm just a stranger that probably few people like. ♥

One day, I don't know how long, but I honest-to-God feel like every state will have gay marriage. I know "one day" is one hell of a phrase, but I see it in the decades to come, lot of good that will do some of us, but it's a sure-fire progression in my opinion; women's rights didn't come swiftly enough either. I just see Obama as someone trying to unite/soothe two sides of a severely pissed off country, and we know who's right, but you can't just lop off the other half, as much as you want to. And I have faith in the man. Granted I don't know what bunny he's going to pull out of his hat, but we all know Bush was adamantly anti-gay. I feel like Obama has compassion, you know?

I have to have faith that my fellow Americans will stop being stupid.

You know, I almost lost a conservative friend over this election. Actually... I probably did. Oddly enough, the only issue we saw eye-to-eye on was progression and advocation of equal rights for sexuality.

[mert-mt-bc.livejournal.com]

FWIW: I did my research between the two candidates before choosing who I would vote for and on the subject of gay rights, they were pretty much even. Both thought it was a state issue. Being the fact that it's also more of a civil rights issue and more a matter for the Supreme Court or legislature than the president, I went with the candidate who I felt had more to offer on economic and war issues.

[valarltd.livejournal.com]

I didn't need to do any research. One party wants people like me to go away. The other wants to help us go away, by force if necessary.

Between a Christo-Taliban running-mate (as if a pagan is going to vote for someone whose spiritual mentor is a witchhunter!) and putting my health in airquotes, McCain lost me before I ever even listened his policies.

After all, 8 more years of "put money in the pockets of the rich and let everyon starve" and fighting the wrong damn country were all the GOP had to offer anyway. It's all they ever offer.