'Why Do You Want Me To Live Like You?'
Editor-
If I were to smoke marajuana in my home,
does that harm you? If I wanted to marry
another man, how would that hurt you?
If I were to read pornography on the
Internet, in what way would you be
injured? If I want to pay a prostitute
for consensual sex, why do you feel
the need not to allow it? If I am dying
and in pain and want to end my life,
what compels you to forcibly stop me?
I have no desire to do any of the above,
but I couldn't imagine trying to stop
anyone else from doing them. I seem
to be missing a gene that makes me
want to control other people's lives,
to make them live like me. What is
wrong with me?I understand people's desire to pass
laws that protect themselves from harm.
I'm glad it's against the law for you to
steal from me to buy drugs. I'm very
glad it's against the law for you to force
your religion on me, because I know you
really want to.What am I lacking that you have that
makes you so fervent in wanting to
control my lifestyle even when it doesn't
harm you or even involve you? Why do
you think that the lifestyle you have
chosen is better for me than the one
I have chosen for me? What compels
you to force me to live just like you?
Kevin Welsh
December 1996