There's a New Drug in Town

There's a new drug of choice making big inroads in the world - and not only where you expect drugs to be, but in good middle-class American communities. It's dangerous and addictive - but no drug czar can or will ever be able to touch it. The Taliban and other groups will be able to use it to support their causes - it will make some people very rich and undermine governments - wreak death and havoc en masse, and destroy families and friendships and communities at the local level. It's dangerous indeed - but if I got caught with it right now, I could not be arrested. I might actually be raised up, quoted, get a TV or radio show - because using this drug is encouraged through American media and other outlets around the world.

What is it?

Righteous Indignation.

"But righteous indignation is not a drug" some say. I disagree.

Righteous Indignation (or RI) alters the chemistry of the brain - like drugs do. Try talking sense to someone who has just taken a big hit of RI. They can go on some badass trips. One person may decide to blow himself and any number of innocents up. Another might kill a doctor in church - totally confident that he is doing the 'right thing.'

Someone high on RI can go for hours and hours - like on a crack binge. Excited talking, arms gesturing, oblivious to the signs of others around them who are slowly backing up toward the doorway to make a quick exit, focusing only on those real or imaged persons who are sharing the same trip.

The other reason RI qualifies as a drug is that - like alcohol or other drugs - it affects families. I've lost a few family members to RI. Interacting with them, when necessary, I can see them reaching for the next hit - seeing if I'm holding, if I want to share. They posit a topic close to their hearts - "I heard Obama is a communist" - and wait for me to respond. If I'm on board, our shared indignation feeds the other - and we both get a hit of RI. Up on our high horses, we pass it around and get revved up, maybe go listen to Rush to add to our rush.

It's a strong and powerful high that gives a person a lot of energy - and I admit I have partaken from time to time. That's how I know that it's hard to get off that horse once you're on it.

There's enough heartache in the world, enough relationships and positive progress lost because so many are stoned on one thing or another, spending their energy either high or looking for the next hit. This one - this RI - is going to be tough to deal with. Maybe, in trying to find a way to deal with the damage of RI addiction, we can learn more about overcoming the usual suspects. Addictions, after all, are but a symptom of a deeper disease of the spirit. Maybe by working to move away from the anger and bitterness of RI, we can find a model to better combat pot, crack and heroin.

It could happen.

In the meantime, "Hey, Mom, I'm not holding... okay?"

When do I get to vote to deny civil rights to bigots?

There's a great column at the Huffington Post on what Thomas Jefferson would think if Group A was able to vote on whether Group B gets the same rights that Group A enjoys. It's theoretical in nature - but oh wait, it really happened.

The whole situation reminds me of a country club that gathers to select who gets to join and share the great honor of eating in their dining room off the good china. Americans - regular Americans - Real Americans - don't like that kind of elitist snob-knobbery - unless, of course, it involves The Gays.

The reason it's so easy for people to vote against gay rights is because either you are or you aren't gay - and if you aren't, you're safe. It doesn't matter if gays are denied the rights and privileges afforded to straight people, because more than likely straight people are still going to be straight tomorrow and for many years to come. The chances of turning gay and regretting tomorrow the vote they cast today is slim to none.

Now, it would be very different if there was an initiative to take away the rights of - I don't know - let's say philanderers. After all, you can be pretty sure you wouldn't cheat on your spouse, but what if... ? Would you be willing to take away rights now that you may want to have later? Even conservative moralists - see Jim Bakker, Gov. Sanford, et al. - can get caught up in forbidden passion. And they know it. And because of that, I can guarantee you that you won't see any ballot initiatives on morality - EXCEPT where that 'morality' concerns homosexuality and the rights of those most immoral of creatures - gay people.

Let's look at some of the groups that have more rights than gays and lesbians when it comes to marriage:Murderers, drug dealers, pedophiles, Michael Vick, hookers and pimps, rapists, terrorists, tax cheats, Bernie Madoff, politicians and other miscellaneous crooks and liars, degenerate gamblers, mafia hitmen...

I may be straight - but I'm a white woman married to an Asian man, and within my lifetime it was a crime for me to marry my husband because of his skin color. The same arguments were posited then against interracial marriage as they are now against gay marriage... and it's a shame and mindboggling that people are still there... I mean, duh!

My hope is that sooner than later, we as a country can remove the stain of this continuing societal sin and give our gay citizens the rights they deserve as humans, let alone Americans. I mean, seriously people - what makes us so much better than other countries when we vote to keep our brothers and sisters second-class citizens?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mike-alvear/what-thomas-jefferson-wou_b_342300.htmlThere is only one thing worse than voting to deny somebody their rights: Voting to give it to them.