Democracy is a funny thing - very fluid - very open to interpretation apparently......
I always assumed that though relatively subjective, Democracy should somehow reflect the common values and philosophies of the community it represents and though there is room for movement it is a unifying form of governance.
Australia's form of democracy appears ever evolving and flexible.
We can vote someone into the senate who froths vitriol and hate as a maiden speech yet everyday in the paper we read that our government extols 'inclusivity and open mindedness'.
The very speakers of this grandiose claim then argue that gay marriage is not part of the Australian way of life!!??
Sometimes I wonder if democracy works for us as we are always able to just go with the flow and knee jerk with whatever the 'flavour of the month' dictates - hate Muslims this month - ok sounds good??
Free detainees this month - ok - sounds good....
Confusing for those who keep up with the news , brain numbing for those who don't even look at a newspaper but positively contradictory for those who seek some sense of refuge and support on our shores.
I' m not sure about a democracy that allows such a rant about Muslims and their cultural dress when those in authority know that similar rants in Europe have contributed to terrorist attacks.
Do we think our democracy is secured by the fact that our shores are isolated!?
The argument forwarded about equal marriage rights seems to be lead by the extreme right who appear to use the notion that 'gay love is not normal and should be reconditioned'
I could go on forever about the unfortunate word 'normal' and list the number of disastrous potentials of heterosexual partnering but ultimately how do we even listen to this facile way of thinking - maybe the bible bashing right have big wallets and an even bigger influence in government - but hey that' s just the cynic in me 😀
I know that when I met my heterosexual partner with whom I went on to have 4 children there was a chemical attraction - I'm pretty sure that the initial attraction was motivated by libido and not any cerebral activity.
I know that we talk about and value personality and humour but let's be honest if we don't 'fancy' our partner we're aren't going to couple and truly it's that law of attraction and 'coupling' that makes offspring😀
To argue that we should condition our young people to 'grow' out of their homosexuality is ridiculous. Who would choose to be part of a marginalised minority that has to constantly be scrutinised and fight for acceptance and basic rights - what - are all gays people just massive attention seekers!!!!
If I'd been allowed to think about my sexual partner in a sensible fashion driven by matters other than the flesh I'd have to say things may have been different - we can't choose how we feel.
Feelings are loose and flexible and different for everyone otherwise the same things would anger, sadden and uplift everyone - we'd be one amorphous lump of humanity.
I'm not sure if this democracy works for me - I value freedom - the intrinsic core of democracy but that freedom has to encompass speech, religion and the basic right to marry and have a family. Isn't that what it is all about - isn't it why people flock to our shores for this very reason -free of poverty, war and hardship to find love and happiness.
It is everyone's basic right and I don't think democracy should be used to dictate what is right and wrong for its citizens especially when it allows it's democratic process to elect people who seek to quash basic rights.
Maybe if gay people are going to be treated as second class citizens they should take out some kind of class action - after all they're still good enough to pay taxes and keep this wonderful democracy afloat.
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