So have any of you heard about Miss California's answer to a questions about same-sex marriage during the Miss USA pageant? The question came from Perez Hilton and was: Vermont recently became the 4th state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think every state should follow suit? Why or why not? Carrie Prejean's answer was: I think it is great that American's are able to choose one or the other. . . I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there. . . (You can watch the video clip below.)
If you are a faithful reader of this blog - which I'm sure you all are - you are aware that I disagree with her. I very strongly disagree. There are few issues I feel passionate about. Same-sex marriage. Gun control. Keeping libraries open. That's about it. The one thing I think is more important than these issues is freedom of speech. People have the right (or should have) to express what they believe. They absolutely do not have the right to force their beliefs on others but they do have the right to say it. So the people who believe she is so horrible for saying this think what? That she should have lied about what she thought? You can be offended by her answer, you can disagree, be glad she lost, whatever. At least understand this: if you deny her right to say what she believes, you jeopardize your own.
If all mankind minus one were of one opinion, mankind would be no more justified in silencing that one person than he, if he had the power, would be justified in silencing mankind.
~John Stuart Mill, On Liberty, 1859
No comments:
Post a Comment