Being Clear On Where Is The Hypocrisy

[monk222]

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I was wondering when and if I would come across an argument that tries to turn around the Senator Craig controversy, declaiming that those liberals who are loving the hypociry argument are perhaps just morally craven themselves. Here it is:

Some people see hypocrisy and get upset because people are not living up to moral standards they champion. Others see hypocrisy and get angry because the people who are hypocrites are advocating moral standards. The difference is huge. One cast of mind says that so long as you’re not publicly arguing for a set of moral values, then it’s more acceptable to cross lines and do what you want.

That’s why Larry Flynt, publisher of Hustler magazine, wants to expose only “pro-family values” Republicans. His deeper purpose is destroy standards when it comes to sexual conduct; he thinks that’s a good way to achieve that end — and if exposing conservative Republicans as hypocrites will advance that end, so much the better. His goal is that revealing human failings will result in people lowering their standards — or at least make public figures more reticent to speak out on matters of conduct and character.

Here’s an analogy that bears on this point: Thomas Jefferson wrote the most important words in American history: “all men are created equal.” Jefferson was also a slave owner, which made him a hypocrite. But the fact that Jefferson was living a life that was at odds with his principles doesn’t invalidate and shouldn't weaken the principle; it only means that we, as fallen creatures, need to strive harder to live up to what we know to be right.

... The issue, then, is whether one sees hypocrisy and wants people to live up to higher standards — or whether one sees hypocrisy and says that we should dissolve moral standards.

The critical question is what high moral principle or values was Senator Craig upholding in the Senate? He used his power to repress homosexuals and to deny them rights, which is hardly the same as arguing to free the slaves!

Nor is the central issue one of lewd behavior in the restroom, which the writer tries to confuse. The reason liberals may be gloating over the hypocrisy issue is that Craig has been so anti-gay in his official power and he has been caught in the most abject way to be gay, or at least to like to play gay.

This isn't about desiring to dissolve moral standards, but about trying to get homophobic people to realize a truer moral standard than that ensconced in their narrowly conceived idea of 'family values'.


(Source: Peter Wehner for National Review Online)

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