The More Things Change...

The more things change, the more they stay the same. In the last 24 hours, I read two very interesting but unrelated news items: the first is the rising number of gay divorces as reported by CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/12/10/gay.divorces.ap/index.html). I wrote an article on this topic only 24 hours ago – check out http://houseofboogie.blogspot.com/2004/12/dubya-gay-marriage-and-amazing.html if you are so inclined). The second news items of merit is Bernard Kerik’s withdrawal of his name for consideration to lead the Department of Homeland Security (http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/12/10/kerik.withdraws/index.html).

The former story noted the increasing number of gay divorces and contrasted two differing opinions: the first held that gay divorces were a typical offshoot of marriage and no different than heterosexual divorces. Essentially, the first opinion suggested that people are people and marriage (and the failures thereof) are part of the human, not homosexual, condition. The second opinion pointed to the promiscuity of homosexuals as a causal root for the gay divorce rate.

It might just be me, but I’m not sure how anyone, in 2004, can state, with a straight face, that homosexuals are more promiscuous than heterosexuals, and that said promiscuity is the reason why homosexual couples are divorcing. There are a great many homosexuals, I am certain, who behave promiscuously. I am sure there are a great many heterosexuals who behave equally promiscuously (I wish I had dated more thereof). To blindly and broadly label a group of people as behaving in a certain manner, while pounding a Bible and calling upon the Lord for guidance, is akin to these same minds suggesting that all Jews are cheap, all African-Americans are tall and all people of Irish heritage are alcoholics. If this example seems a bit extreme, consider then that the fastest-rising group in new AIDS cases are heterosexual women, at least as of the time of this writing. Except in rare cases, AIDS cannot be transferred by kissing; sexual contact without a condom is generally the most typical way the AIDS virus is contracted from one person to another. So why are heterosexual women contracting the virus so quickly? Because people are promiscuous: some more than others, some less than others. To suggest that one group is moreso than another is antiquated, offensive and foolish. I am far from a Pride Parade marcher; I am, however, repulsed by blind, ridiculous statements being passed around like fact from people who are uneducated, obsolete imbeciles.

The second article reports that Bernard Kerik, the former New York City Police Commissioner who was appointed by Rudy Giuliani in 2000, withdrew his name for consideration of Head of Homeland Security. Why? Because he once employed in his home a nanny whose immigration status is “unclear.” What this means, of course, is he hired an illegal alien to look after his children.

There are crimes without victims that are, nonetheless, crimes; if Mr. Kerik knew the individual in question was indeed an illegal alien and hired said alien knowingly to avoid paying taxes, then he technically defrauded the Federal Government from tax revenues to which it is entitled. But whether he knew or didn’t know his nanny was of questionable immigration status, does this – and more importantly, should this – prevent him from serving as Head of Homeland Security if he is the best person for the job?

According to Abraham Lincoln, the government of this nation is of the people, by the people and for the people; we, as people, are human beings, and human beings cannot and should not be held to such a ridiculously high standard so as to prevent those best suited for a job to be barred from said job. I’m not advocating using gang members to lead our nation's army, nor am I suggesting that incompetent individuals be permitted to slide into positions as a reward for their vote or contribution to, respectively, a measure or campaign. But it seems to me that we scour the past of our elected and appointed officials in order to prove they’re human, and upon doing so, ignore the fact that they are not much different, in most cases, than you or I. It’s staggering to me that our government holds itself to such a high standard that many of our elected officials, if subjected to the same scrutiny that nominees undergo, would fail to win their places in Congress or elsewhere. It’s simply and utterly staggering.

In order to be brief and to conclude this diatribe with as little fanfare as possible, I submit to you, the reader, these two quotes which I am confident more effectively convey my reactions than I have above.

"God, please save me from your followers!"
Bumper Sticker, circa 2001

"A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both."
Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890-1969)
Inaugural Address, January 20, 1953

I hope we as people someday change. I am also aware, unfortunately, of this final quote which, I believe, clarifies my thoughts hereon.

The optimist proclaims that we live in the best of all possible worlds; the pessimist fears this is true.
James Branch Cabell (1879 - 1958), The Silver Stallion, 1926