Changes in Democratic leadership -- the readers write!

Concerned reader Anonymous made this witty comment to my entry regarding the possible changes in Democrat leadership.

I suppose I have a couple of things to say about that. I'm not really sure if the GOP would love that, in fact I don't think they would really notice. They wouldn't notice until the new leaders actually do something different.

And, as far as the "amendment against homosexuals," I suspect you are referring to the Federal Marriage Amendment, which Karl Rove said the President is recommitted to passing. I just don't think this will ever pass. First off, neither house will ever muster the 2/3 needed to get it to the states, and there is no way that 3/4 of all the state assemblies will ever ratify it. There just isn't that much party-line political support. Right now Democrats control both the state senate and state assembly in 16 states, and in it is split in another 17. There is no way it would ever pass if, and this is an important if, the elected officials stuck to their party.

As for the rest of the statement, well, what I can I say? I'd quickly dismiss the writer and other's of that ilk as if it didn't mean dismissing so many people. But the hate filled anti-gay movement in the United States has reached such a level that one cannot simply dismiss its followers. The followers have one thing in common: they are weak in the mind. They have no arguments, just rhetoric. And, it isn't even good rhetoric (although I must admit to chuckling at the the slogan "God made Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.").

It is lazy and mindless, just like those who believe it.

I do believe that Anonymous is outnumbered, that most people in the United States are caring, open individuals. They aren't taken in by the empty, amoral rhetoric of the religious right. Anonymous, and others like him, are not qualified for life in a liberal democracy that thrives on a plurality of experience, like the United States does. That statement is paradoxical -- liberal democracy actually needs hate filled social war mongerers like Anonymous. It is people like him who galvanize decent citizens with tolerant and virtuous beliefs, turning them from the silent majority to a political force that will undoubtedly defeat the politics of people like Anonymous.