A lot has been written about political divisiveness lately and I'm tired of it. I'd like to do something to help bring Americans back together again. So, I've drafted a compromise that I think should help us put two burning issues to rest, at least for a while.
I'm not claiming that I can solve all the world's problems. I'm not even claiming that I can solve any problems. I'm just proposing a plan to make two of the most annoying and divisive problems go away for a while.
I don't really have much to say about the war, the economy and health care at this time. They are indeed complicated issues, and I don't pretend to know the answers. Americans will just have to continue bickering about those subjects.
I do, however, have a strong opinion about abortion and gay marriage. And I think I speak for a strong majority of Americans when I say that what we want the most is for everyone to just shut up and give us all a break.
Abortion is (for the most part) legal and gay marriage is (for the most part) illegal, so let's just call it a draw and not change anything. That seems like a fair trade to me, since there are very few people who are in favor of one and not in favor of the other.
Of course, there are people on both sides of both issues who will never give up the fight, and that's just fine. I don't think we have to table both issues forever. Let's just choose a nice resting period, like maybe five or ten years.
You might wonder where I stand on these issues, thinking I have something to gain by this plan. Well, let me tell you, the only thing I have to gain is peace and quiet. I'm not a homosexual, nor am I pregnant, and I have nothing against those who are.
If it were up to me, I guess I'd keep abortion legal. Sure, it is murder, but I'd rather be dead than unwanted. As for gay marriage, I can't support it. I don't even approve of straight marriage.
Paul Lundgren is a newspaper columnist and a very nice man. His e-mail address is paul [at] geekprom.com.
