November 13, 2004
Walking the dogHumor
Slow news day at Slate? An Arab-American finds that a new puppy makes him more palatable to neighbors:
Muslims are prohibited from touching the saliva of dogs. If you do come in contact with a dog, you're supposed to wash your hands seven times before you pray. Most Muslims will avoid dogs at all cost to stay clean for their daily prayers...People on the street, in their cars, in the parking lot, and at the supermarket were giving me a new look--a friendly one. Strangers who used to skillfully avoid eye contact now wanted to engage me in warm conversation. Patriotic national hotline tippers, who are usually more concerned about Muslim sleeper cells, now stopped me and cordially inquired about my puppy's sleeping habits, breed, and big black eyes.
The puppy effect is old news, the author must've missed Eddie Murphy's dog gimmick (and dawg role) in Boomerang. Maybe he should try strolling babies or handing out lollipops and unicorn stickers. It's a cute story, but the point of civil rights is the freedom to be as punk as you wanna be without being hosed by bureaucrats -- the triumph of clean, fair play over arbitrary prejudices.
manish on November 13, 2004 08:37 AM in Humor, Issues · T·r·a·c·k·b·a·c·k address · Direct link · Email post
Civil rights are overrated.
the point of civil rights is the freedom to be as punk as you wanna be without being hosed by bureaucrats -- the triumph of clean, fair play over arbitrary prejudices.
Not all prejudices are arbitrary, and if being "punk" didn't elicit a reaction then no one would do it. You can't shock with your piercings and/or tattoos and/or Islamic-fundamentalist glare if it wasn't a bit off-putting to the average American.
As for your interpretation of what civil rights means, that's off base too. Civil rights is about the freedom to do most things w/o *government* interference. It means nothing about whether other citizens have to approve of your choices. (i.e., just because abortion is legal doesn't mean that someone who gets an abortion can demand that other people consider her a good person.)
Only terrorists support the Bill of Rights.
only morons think paranoid ashcroft imitations are funny in 2004...
You must be laughing your ass off.
Nobody's asking you to like other cultures, only not to harass or unfairly discriminate. When you violate libertarian principles and enforce your aesthetic upon others, you harm this country's economic engine (tolerance attracts business creatives).
Do you really want entrepreneurs to need puppies to feel safe from harassment? Do you want your elderly parents to have to rely on American flag stickers? That's so mickey-mouse.
That's false on the face of it. The sit-in movement in the South began at Woolworth lunch counters, and nondiscrimination laws apply to landlords and employers.