Contrasting images from Maine. On the left, the people who had their rights taken away by a majority vote. And on the right, the people who happily celebrated, and put their hard work, time, and money into taking away the rights of their fellow human beings. (Images via Daylife)
There’s something ugly about the inclination to celebrate the revocation of another’s rights. Mind you, the right to marry does not come at the expense of another. It is not like affirmative action, whereby one candidate for a slot displaces another. It is not like welfare, whereby money is taken from one to give to another. If anything, it is like speech … another person’s exercise of it may offend your sensibilities, but it does not deprive you of anything. The people above on the right are celebrating something that has no effect on their lives, and a huge effect on the lives of those on the left. Tomorrow, they will give little thought to the initiative they passed; those on the left will feel it every day.
We would be a happier and better people if we learned to let people do things we don’t like.
