On the Daily Show last night, Jon Stewart had a killer bit about the conservative commentators who are shrieking about America’s descent into tyranny. His central point: they’re confused; what they’re experiencing isn’t tyranny, it’s simply the very uncomfortable experience of being in the minority. When the federal government is doing all sorts of things that you disagree with, it doesn’t mean that America is becoming a fascist state. It just means you lost.
Looking at the Christian Right’s response to the Vermont gay marriage legislation and the Iowa gay marriage court ruling, I can’t help but feel like Stewart’s wisdom applies. Heads are exploding over this thing, folks. Think Progress rounds it up.
Tony Perkins, Family Research Council: “Same-sex ‘marriage’ is a movement driven by wealthy homosexual activists and a liberal elite determined to destroy not only the institution of marriage, but democracy as well.”
Mathew Staver, Liberty Counsel: “By redefining marriage, the Vermont legislature removed the cornerstone of society and the foundation of government. The consequences will rest on their shoulders and upon those passive objectors who know what to do but lack the courage to stand against this form of tyranny.”
And so on. Someone needs to explain to these people that the creeping acceptance of gay rights isn’t the end of democracy. It isn’t the onset of tyranny. It’s simply a byproduct of a society’s slow crawl toward tolerance. And please, let’s drop this idea that if you stand against gay rights somehow you stand with democracy and liberty. You can be a devout Christian and on the right side of progress. It’s not impossible. If you stand in opposition to the expansion of rights, you’re far closer to tyranny than anyone on the American left.
