not waiting for the die-off

[rm]

The other day Frank Rich wrote a welcome op-ed in the New York Times that looked at how the resistance to marriage equality is both ludicrous and not likely to be significant enough to continue to control U.S. laws in another decade or so.

This piece, like many other essays, speeches, LJ posts and the like references the idea that younger people support marriage equality and, well, older people who don't will die off soon. Generational chance. Patience and we win.

I hate it. And not out of some spiritual enlightenment that thinks "waiting for the die-off" is both creepy and perhaps even morally suspect, although, I could certainly make those arguments with sincerity.

I'm also not pissed off about being asked to have patience. I don't have it, but I don't have it when I cook dinner either, so it's really neither here nor there.

No, I'm pissed off that minds will not be changed. That marriage equality will not be achieved through people admitting they were wrong, but through people just ceasing to be.

Yes, it's with a petty sense of vengeance that I loathe the die-off theory. I want bigots to change their minds. I want them to be ashamed.

It's pointless. And it's vicious.

But can you blame me, for also wanting to be vindicated?

But really, I should get over it.

And people should stop being creepy and talking about the damn die-off theory. It's not giving anyone the moral high ground.

Comments

[heron61.livejournal.com]

I have a different problem with the 'die-off' theory - it doesn't work. I see documentaries of kids in 'Jesus camps', and pictures and videos of the Westboro Baptist Church with kids as young as five singing about God's hate, and I get terrified. These memes are passed on and particularly when there's a religious element behind it, they will continue to be passed on.

Yes, but what we are seeing is a gradual die off of these ideas. Part of it is old bigots dying, but the more hopeful side is that these ideas don't stick with nearly as many young people as they used to. The fundys are terrified because they are exceedingly aware of the fact that a fair percentage of their children either leave their vile faiths entirely, or simply don't really care much about it. Yes, these ideas are being passed on, but the percentage of young people who accept these ideas is getting smaller every year. In 20 years, I'm certain that somewhere between 5-10% of the US will still be fundy fanatics, but I'm equally certain that their power will at most be limited to a few states, and possibly not even there.