overreaction

 

We are a nation of reactors.  No, I take that back.  We are a nation of over-reactors.

One person misuses something, so the something must be put out of use.  Another person says something awful, so we all must omit the word.  Still one more misuses some sort of liberty, so the government then feels the need to legislate the entire liberty.  Why must so many liberties be legislated?  Why does the government feel a need to restrict and control?  Are we not capable of deciding for ourselves?  Do we each not have the opportunity to be convicted by the same spirit of truth?  We continue to overreact…

 

In the ’20’s people drank too much, so we outlawed alcohol.

In the ’40’s Japan attacked us, so we interned the Japanese.

Still today…

A person utilizes patriotic symbols for slander, so a court bars wearing the American flag to school.

Another says he’s offended by his peer’s mention of Jesus, so all public prayer is banned.

At an Idaho high school, the cheers for some kids were more than others and some of the cheers were rude, so the high school prohibited cheering.  (I’m not kidding.)

 

A person is offended, so we must erase any source of the offense.

A person is rude, so we must eradicate the source of the rudeness.

A person responds to a situation foolishly, so we must diminish any possibility of the situation occurring again.

Yes, we are a nation of over-reactors.

 

Like many of you, I watched closely as the events in Arizona unfolded last week.  We watched them wrestle with Arizona S.B. 1062.

 

This was hard.  Cycling through emotional, rhetorical circles, on all sides of the issue, people became understandably passionate.  And instead of debating any actual wisdom or waste in the legislation, the discussion evolved into a debate of “religious freedom” vs. “gay rights.”  Freedom vs. Discrimination…. a “lose/lose situation,” if you ask me.  Aspects of each of those perspectives seemed true; other aspects were not.  The hype on both sides became bigger than the bill itself, skewing public perspective.

 

Arizona S.B. 1062 amended an existing state law, giving individuals and/or legal entities an exemption from any state law if it substantially burdened their exercise of religion.  I’m not quite sure why some felt such a law was necessary.  The First Amendment gives each of us the right to the free exercise of religion.

My sense is such was an over-reaction to situations that manifested themselves in Colorado and Oregon last year, where a judge in each state ordered a respective bakery to provide their services for a gay wedding, even though each baker was uncomfortable being a part of a ceremony which they believed was inappropriate due to their faith.  In a capitalist democracy, business entities have the right to choose with whom they will work.  Such happens daily, routinely, and without offense.  With multiple other bakeries available — bakers who would welcome and appreciate participating in any special ceremony — I also believe the judge and plaintiff over-reacted.  I don’t mean to be disrespectful, friends.  I simply believe we need to respect and honor all people — from those who wish to marry and those who wish not to partake.  We each have the opportunity to be convicted by the same spirit of truth.

Amid then the backdrop of massive, polarized publicity, late last week Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed the controversial law.  From the Intramuralist’s perspective, her decision was appropriate.

I wonder who will say what next, though.  Someone.  Somewhere… as we are a nation of over-reactors.

 

Respectfully,

AR