.tavern.

.i'm reading founding myths, which seeks to debunk some of the common misconceptions about stories that we consider to be patriotic truths, such as paul revere, molly pitcher, etc. etc. it's pretty interesting so far, but what strikes me so far in reading about the revolutionary war is the spirit that was imbued in everything at the time. people were so passionate about everything. they discussed the issues of the day in taverns, in the streets, in town meeting halls, with strangers. they belonged to societies, published pamphlets, gave long, eloquent, fiery speeches.

i wish that we were still like that today. instead, we're mentally lethargic. sure, we pride ourselves on holding convictions and ideas, we pride ourselves on belonging to a political party, or pride ourselves on being not mainstream. but really, we collect issues and beliefs like designer clothes. taking up a cause is the "in" thing.

so many of these people bother me. they claim to support various issues, but really, they hurt it. people who proclaim that they support womens rights, or the environment. they are the "but" believers. they believe in issues and causes, but only to a point. after that point, they start making concessions. when we start making concessions, particularly on women, on the environment, we start chipping away at the foundation that the passionate believers fought so hard to solidify. when we start making concessions, we deny the scope of the argument. these are not gray-area issues, these are not "well, i agree, but with such and such a stipulation" issues, these are not issues that you can believe in half-heartedly. when you start adding stipulations, you are in essence disagreeing with the fundamental issue. there can be no partial rights, there can be no partial women's equality, there can be no settling for some rights, or certain rights, or chalking things up to tradition - my favorite argument.

if you are not fully for, you are against, because half-rights are as bad as no rights at all - they perpetuate the notion of settling, and promote the idea that women are not worth full rights, that they should be fine with partial equality.

.cheers.