I am confused by the basis of concern for the use of
the new jail house for a fundraising party. It is a
fundraiser. Its location can admittedly be considered
a bit avant garde. If you disagree with it however,
that is the beauty of America, you get to protest.
As an avowed Middler, what bothers me is Rightists and
Leftists concerns with how someone else thinks or
acts. Even when those actions or thoughts are
perfectly legal. In the case of the "Jail House Rock"
or whatever they call it, there are no prisoners in
this jail to be offended, there are no visitors of
prisoners to wonder what is going on. What there is
appears to be a fundraising group, who obviously like
to find stages for their events that are slightly
"edgy". There appears from the posts to be no victims
of this party other than feelings, evil intentions,
moral condemnation and in the case of Mark his health
was temporarily affected. I do hope he is feeling
better.
Ken mentioned what would happen if protesters against
"something serious like genetic engineering" were
organizing on the streets. I'm not sure I see a street
protest quite the same as a party, where I assume the
organizers have arraigned and paid for use of the jail
house space. The question of comparison I might pose
would be this. If the event this weekend was a public
display of Serrano's "Piss Christ" held in any
government space, or government subsidized building,
what would the rightists say? Judging from most
attempts to display the work, I would guess it would
be much like Mark Holtz's opinion. Although living in
Minneapolis I don't get many opportunities to hear
Rightists attempts to dominate moral thought, I
suspect it is not much different from how the Leftists
go about it.
For those of you getting your dander up, I am not
questioning Liberal and Conservative thought, which
allows for discussion and compromise, recognizing the
other sides position even though you don't agree with
it. It's the extreme positions where both sides leave
rational thought and become religious in their
beliefs. Anyone opposing is then by definition,
un-religious, and therefor immoral.
It seems this morality play is taking place at the
State Capital. I hate to publicly agree with the Start
Trib twice in one week, but I liked their editorial
today. Both sides of these current debates, from my
limited and filtered view of events, have drifted away
from rational and thoughtful exchange of opinions to
vilification of their opponents and general scare
tactics. This legislature has had time to discuss
banning pop sales in schools, the Governor's ability
to take a side gig, down to important issues like
House #967 on potluck suppers and House #256 on
shipping carrots to House #1526 on ATV's in Edina. Now
as a Lutheran I am happy to see that there is concern
for potluck suppers. Perhaps that begs a solution. All
those wishing to protest the jail house party can
organize a potluck dinner for the legislators in St
Paul. Just a thought.
I was also intrigued by what Mark suggested as a means
of protest. His option if we were against the jail
house ball was to "Stay home with your families...
listening to your children, speaking to them of
values... Strengthen your friendships, listen to your
friend, support them." As a Middler we don't act like
that in protest of something. That is just how we try
to live every day.
Bob Gustafson
MMM
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