Why the minority?
Have you ever noticed how our society tends to cater more to the minority than not? Some examples: gay marriage in Canada; the creationist ban in public schools in the U.S.; and the seemingly myriad other issues that continually pop up in the news almost every day (or so it seems).
Is it just because these minorities are more vocal than the rest of teh nation? Surveys during the same sex marriage debate i Canada showed that over 60% of Canadians were opposed to the bill that would legalize same sex unions, yet it passed. Now a similar stat is presumed over teaching of creationism alongside evolution. Yet despite the majority vote the government always seems to swing the other way.
Not that the majority is always right, but when the difference is so obvious and the choice seems so simple, the numbers should only confirm the right thing. Nor is there anything wrong with being in the minority, but again the issue should not always be the numbers alone, but what is actually right in the situation.
If for example, the city of Toronto put forth a proposal to design and build a new park as a memorial to...whatever, and the majority of tax paying residents of Toronto were in favour of it, the sensible thing to do would be to go ahead with the park; not to listen to one person who has a problem.
Yet for some reason, when a similar situation arises and there is a "moral" or "religious" issue at stake as well, even if teh majority are still in favour, the one person (or percentile equivalent) tends to win out.
Now I'm not saying its the best system, though its the best we have, but doesn't democracy work on th eprinciple that the members of the government are elected to represent the concerns and issues of the people who voted for them? Is it not then a gross misrepresentation of that authority which has been given to them to simply ignore the concerns and requests of the people and listen to those who likely did not vote for the elected officials in the first place (if in fact they voted at all, a rare minority in canada it seems).
In days gone by, the way that troublemakers and rabble rousers were dealt with was either exile or execution (not that I either endorse or condone such action), but now it seems we just give in and hope they go away.
But enough of my complaining about it, the real issue is what is to be done about it? I strongly encourage those who actually read the posts on my site (that's right, both of you) to take a more active interest in what goes on in your country. In this information age all it often takes is an email or a phone call to make your opinion known. But the important thing is to be heard. We cannot stand idly by and allow our country to be dictated by everyone who has a problem with a tradition or law, yet slowly, that is exactly what is happening.
Be active and be aware.
Is it just because these minorities are more vocal than the rest of teh nation? Surveys during the same sex marriage debate i Canada showed that over 60% of Canadians were opposed to the bill that would legalize same sex unions, yet it passed. Now a similar stat is presumed over teaching of creationism alongside evolution. Yet despite the majority vote the government always seems to swing the other way.
Not that the majority is always right, but when the difference is so obvious and the choice seems so simple, the numbers should only confirm the right thing. Nor is there anything wrong with being in the minority, but again the issue should not always be the numbers alone, but what is actually right in the situation.
If for example, the city of Toronto put forth a proposal to design and build a new park as a memorial to...whatever, and the majority of tax paying residents of Toronto were in favour of it, the sensible thing to do would be to go ahead with the park; not to listen to one person who has a problem.
Yet for some reason, when a similar situation arises and there is a "moral" or "religious" issue at stake as well, even if teh majority are still in favour, the one person (or percentile equivalent) tends to win out.
Now I'm not saying its the best system, though its the best we have, but doesn't democracy work on th eprinciple that the members of the government are elected to represent the concerns and issues of the people who voted for them? Is it not then a gross misrepresentation of that authority which has been given to them to simply ignore the concerns and requests of the people and listen to those who likely did not vote for the elected officials in the first place (if in fact they voted at all, a rare minority in canada it seems).
In days gone by, the way that troublemakers and rabble rousers were dealt with was either exile or execution (not that I either endorse or condone such action), but now it seems we just give in and hope they go away.
But enough of my complaining about it, the real issue is what is to be done about it? I strongly encourage those who actually read the posts on my site (that's right, both of you) to take a more active interest in what goes on in your country. In this information age all it often takes is an email or a phone call to make your opinion known. But the important thing is to be heard. We cannot stand idly by and allow our country to be dictated by everyone who has a problem with a tradition or law, yet slowly, that is exactly what is happening.
Be active and be aware.
posted by dohmnal at 1:04 PM
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