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Essays, Opinion, & Commentary |
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February 21, 2006
by Carol Hoenig
It appears that the issue of free speech, which is becoming rather costly, is being challenged by fundamentalists who insinuate their beliefs in every aspect of their community's life. In 1977 James Dobson began his organization Focus on the Family in response to his increasing concern for the demise of the American family, but it appears that lately Dobson has kicked his concerns up a notch or two, having been empowered by both his faith and the present administration, in spite of the fact that our country's initial leaders felt strongly about the separation of church and state. So why then does the Christian right need to enforce their beliefs on everyone else? Why are they so afraid that civil liberties and the opinions of others will affect their way of worshipping? Could they possibly be worried that the joy and harmony they proclaim to be an offshoot of their faith will be tested if people watch a musical where there is a curse word or sexual innuendoes? True, we humans often hunger for something that can bring us to new heights. It seems we were packaged that way from day one. Perhaps it is why drug and alcohol use is so prevalent. Perhaps it is why the driving beat of rock and roll in the late 1950's took off like wildfire. And, perhaps it is why sexual activity, even with its threat of disease when unprotected, prevails -- the orgiastic state fills a primitive hunger that bears repeating…again and again. Bowing one's head to pray does not usually provide that sort of emotion and we are a people fueled by emotion. I say "usually," because there are those whose praying can grow into flailing, frenzied speaking in tongues under the influence of a spirit. If that works for them, who am I to question it? But there are questions that have troubled me for quite some time. For instance, I wonder how someone's faith or lack of faith should affect another person's. Will my neighbor's prayers to Buddha cause interference with another neighbor's prayers to Jesus? Will the communication to heaven be scrambled and the Christian God receive mixed messages, having little idea how to answer or to whom? Parents have a responsibility to their children. They must protect them from harm and bad judgment. There is no question. But this is not about children or their protection. This is about adults making their own decisions without the unwanted meddling of others. No doubt, there is an evil in this world, but I would dare say that it has more to do with intolerance and hate and less to do with each person's conscientious decisions. But is it possible that those who are taking up the banner for their god find it to be an emotionally charged situation? What a high, what a rush, to challenge others on behalf of the Almighty. In essence, they are saying, "My god can beat up your god" while daring adversaries to defy them." Unfortunately, if we want to live in a free society where music and theatre inspires us, gives us pause to realize that the world is a vast land of varied opinions and thoughts, we will need to take up that challenge. Unless, of course, the right, the left and anything in between chooses to stand out of the way and let the gods duke it out on their own. This essay is copyright (c) 2006 by Carol Hoenig. Published here by permission of the author.
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I
find it sadly interesting the direction we as a
people are taking. Or maybe we aren't going in any
direction at all, but remaining static. There was
that blip on the cultural chart some thirty or so
years ago, but if anything, the enlightened meter
has shifted downward. Of course, there is a select
group who believe the direction is upward and a
positive sign for mankind in light of the
ubiquitous shopping center known as Wal-Mart
refusing to fill prescriptions for the day-after
pill because it encourages "risky sexual behavior."
There is also a high school in Fulton, Missouri
that was pressured to stop performances of the
musical Grease because some felt it encouraged
immoral behavior. And, even though there is more
and more reason to question the political, if not
autocratic, actions of President Bush, a
self-proclaimed born again Christian, the questions
are considered unpatriotic and profane for
some.
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