A man in the arena

Before my recent sickness, I found myself in a wonderful apartment located in the Adams-Morgan neighborhood of DC having a few drinks. Somehow, who knows how, I got cornered by two women into a gay marriage debate. I promise you I did nothing to encourage the exchange.

Well, my basic point was that we should be very cautious when changing a social institution that has been around for 5,000 years. They put forth the “Greeks Did It” point. This was promptly dispatched by pointing out that the Greeks saw sex in a drastically different way than we do and did not have gay “marriages.” I then ready myself for the polygamy argument, the gays in history argument, etc. They never came.

The discussion quickly shifted to: why does tradition matter? It was a singular moment for your humble author. Tradition or this is how we have always done it, held no water. This feisty young woman wanted to know how the stuff of cobwebs could possibly be a reason for not giving two people a chance to live happily together. In that moment I had a glimpse of the American character.

We live in a society of innovation, from the Model T to Microsoft Windows and from the Constitution to the Civil Rights Act. It is in many ways a revolutionary society. Even the religious impulse that manifests itself in waves is a revolt against the materialism of this free-market society. An innovation society is not bound by a romantic view of the past. This society needs reasons not to change.

One who wishes to conserve, needs to explain in concrete terms why conserving is to the benefit of all. This being the case, Libertarians should feel hope. Theirs is a positive agenda. Change is inevitable; in this country it is encouraged. Of the Founders, Jefferson, the only true revolutionary, would probably smile at the precociousness of his Republic.

# posted by D. W. Eifert @ 9:51 AM