Getting along Peaceably

Self-righteous Manicheanism is always undesirable and often dangerous. We are seeing a some  of it lately from the winning side of the so-called culture war concerning homosexuality.  Millions of traditionally minded religious people in this country  - Christians mainly but also Muslims, Jews, and others -  believe that homosexual activity is sinful. Their holding this  opinion does not by itself mean they are hateful, bigoted, or enemies of decency. (It is worth noting that most of them also believe that non-marital heterosexual activity is sinful.) 

Attempts by leftists and homosexual political activists to brand such people as children of darkness who must be shunned and punished are wrong.  Some of them may be bigots, but many are decent, respectable, fair, worthwhile people who take the traditional doctrines of their religion seriously. They generally are not advocating making homosexual behavior illegal again or for anything else politically that would harm homosexual people. They certainly have a right to their opinions and should be free to express them without fear of reprisal.  

Homosexuals were completely right to demand tolerance.  Activists are completely wrong  to go beyond that and demand approval. No one has a right to demand others approve of him or his actions. That is their choice.  It does a person no harm if his neighbor thinks his sexual interests  are sinful or distasteful or ridiculous as long as that neighbor leaves him alone to live as he likes. (Of course it also does a person no harm if his neighbor thinks his religious opinions are superstitious or distasteful or ridiculous as long as that neighbor leaves him alone to live as he likes.) 

There is a lot of strong diversity of opinion in this country on lots of things, and it isn’t going away.  If we want to live together peaceably, we must learn to leave each other alone and not force our opinions on others.  It is not only right. It is practical in a game theoretic sense.  A’s forcing his orthodoxy and notions of correctness on B creates a precedent and incentive for B to return the favor if he gets the chance. Political winds change, and the loser now may be later to win.