Saturday, August 15, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Sunday, August 2, 2009
(majority) Rules Were Made To Be Broken
How many times did you have to eat a dinner that you didn't want to eat simply because it was what the majority of the household wanted to eat? How many times have you wished there was something better on television? How many times has someone you did not vote for been elected to office? How many times have you had to experience or endure anything simply because there were more people who called for it than who had called against it? And how many times did it make you mad?
Can you imagine being told by a faceless group of strangers what television programs you're going to watch instead of being allowed to decide for yourself? Try to also imagine such a group telling you what movies you're going to see, which books you're going to read, and which bands you're going to listen to. Are you having trouble? You shouldn't be, because it's been happening since anyone can remember.
A television show gets cancelled because when those who enjoy it are outnumbered by those who would rather watch something else and the network bows to the ratings created by that larger group to satisfy its sponsors. A movie gets no commercial backing, advertising, or distribution in this country until it has first been given a rating by the MPAA that one of the six movie companies in our nation approve of. Basically, all your life, a group of faceless strangers have been 'telling" you what your entertainment options are. That group is called the majority and they rule.
I'm not trying to expose a conspiracy or anything like that. The concept of majority rule is the deciding factor in countless parts of your life and mine. It makes sense at first, doesn't it? I mean, it's basic function is to accentuate the positive, right? Maybe not. I'm going to get personal for a moment here.
My brother is gay and would like to marry the love of his life just like countless others have done throughout humanity's history. However, he was told he could not do so, because there were more "other" people who wanted to deny him that right than who wanted to grant him it. Now I'm begging you not to think of this in terms of "gay marriage," but think of it in terms of independence and privacy. My brother wants to be able to marry, but instead of simply being able to get the license, sign the document, and hold the ceremony, it was arbitrarily decided that those around him must first approve of it; that they must first approve of one of the most personal and private domestic matters of one's life.
The problem here is not just political or just social. Majority rule has it's clutches in all things great and small. The problem is this: You can't have a majority without also having a corresponding minority and when the majority rules, the minority is simply shit outta luck. The minority is left seemingly voiceless and without influence all because their numbers just weren't great enough.
I'm not trying to shock the system or "bust this thing wide open." It just occurred to me that the most common and seemingly fairest method of settling a decision actually seems pretty unfair if you think about it. There's way too many other situations than I can mention here. I'd like very much for you to tell me about a time when you felt you got screwed by the the rule of the majority. Really, absolutely anything. I'd love to hear it.
Can you imagine being told by a faceless group of strangers what television programs you're going to watch instead of being allowed to decide for yourself? Try to also imagine such a group telling you what movies you're going to see, which books you're going to read, and which bands you're going to listen to. Are you having trouble? You shouldn't be, because it's been happening since anyone can remember.
A television show gets cancelled because when those who enjoy it are outnumbered by those who would rather watch something else and the network bows to the ratings created by that larger group to satisfy its sponsors. A movie gets no commercial backing, advertising, or distribution in this country until it has first been given a rating by the MPAA that one of the six movie companies in our nation approve of. Basically, all your life, a group of faceless strangers have been 'telling" you what your entertainment options are. That group is called the majority and they rule.
I'm not trying to expose a conspiracy or anything like that. The concept of majority rule is the deciding factor in countless parts of your life and mine. It makes sense at first, doesn't it? I mean, it's basic function is to accentuate the positive, right? Maybe not. I'm going to get personal for a moment here.
My brother is gay and would like to marry the love of his life just like countless others have done throughout humanity's history. However, he was told he could not do so, because there were more "other" people who wanted to deny him that right than who wanted to grant him it. Now I'm begging you not to think of this in terms of "gay marriage," but think of it in terms of independence and privacy. My brother wants to be able to marry, but instead of simply being able to get the license, sign the document, and hold the ceremony, it was arbitrarily decided that those around him must first approve of it; that they must first approve of one of the most personal and private domestic matters of one's life.
The problem here is not just political or just social. Majority rule has it's clutches in all things great and small. The problem is this: You can't have a majority without also having a corresponding minority and when the majority rules, the minority is simply shit outta luck. The minority is left seemingly voiceless and without influence all because their numbers just weren't great enough.
I'm not trying to shock the system or "bust this thing wide open." It just occurred to me that the most common and seemingly fairest method of settling a decision actually seems pretty unfair if you think about it. There's way too many other situations than I can mention here. I'd like very much for you to tell me about a time when you felt you got screwed by the the rule of the majority. Really, absolutely anything. I'd love to hear it.
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