Going with the Flow. By Mark Steyn

Going with the Flow. By Mark Steyn

http://www.steynonline.com/7032/going-with-the-flow

Excerpt: Claudine had the better of the argument, I think. Most of us are not cut out to swim against the tide. For one thing, it's exhausting. Tides ebb and flow, and it's easier just to go with it. In Germany, maybe if your very best pal was Jewish, you'd say something. But, if it's just the greengrocer or the elderly couple in the second-floor flat that you nod to on the stairs, do you really want to make a fuss and have arguments with your family and friends all the time? Isn't it easier just to say nothing? In the end, most people want to be like most people. That's why they tell you the weekend movie grosses on the Monday morning news and put the Top Ten bestsellers at the front of Barnes & Noble - so that you can like what everybody else likes. So I find the idea that tens of millions of American "traditionalist" conservatives are going to lead their own lives immune to the broader culture somewhat unlikely. (Because we've undergone about 20 years or so of indoctrination that says everyone really, really needs to get with the program, and if PC thought says that it's so important to recognize the rights of gays that destroying the Boy Scouts is a good thing to do, then go with it.  If we can't hurt anyone's feelings, or at least anyone in certain groups, then yes, put florists and bakers out of business if their own feelings say they can't support the celebrations of some others.  If PC thought says that certain kinds of behaviors are intolerable, then the whole idea of tolerance goes out the window, and those who in any way are seen to violate some kind of recently promoted moral cause must become pariahs, subject to as much insult, disgust, and penalizing as can be arranged. So even at a Catholic college Christmas is about general good feelings, no mention of the incredible gift of God to Man, the redemption of all, any of that silly religious stuff. And those of us who are still out there resisting the flow, at best we get looked down on, maybe even pitied a little, but more often we're written off as those knuckle-dragging, hopelessly biased, racist, misogynist, homophobic semi-Nazis, clinging to guns and religion.  Of course that makes perfect sense to the Modern Ultraliberal/Leftist, they are the RIGHTEOUS ones, and that's such a great, comfortable feeling to have about yourself, and it lets you dismiss and look down on anyone who isn't with you all the way.  You are relieved from thinking about those other people and the possibility that they might have some facts and logic going for them, you are running on a great emotional high about yourself and your Causes.  As I said, it must be nice.  The rest of us mere human beings are stuck with thinking about things, history, ethics, principles (like tolerance) and our own struggle to see what is the right path to take.  And we go with that, we don't just go with the flow. --Del)