Sherouse generalizes again

Although Oliver Sherouse's argument in his Nov. 21 column, "Defending the defenders," may be technically well thought out, he is still guilty of making the same sweeping generalizations about the left that he does in every column he writes. I am upset that Proposition 8 passed in California, but I did take the time to look at the statistics and knew that the blame shouldn't be put on the black voters. I also don't think that "standing on moral principle" makes a person an "ignorant theocratic bigot." I do, however, resent people forcing their moral principles on me when I don't necessarily share them. Have your moral principles all you want, but don't legislate them.

A bigger issue, though, is the fact that Sherouse seems to claim that although liberals may deem it "unthinkable" that 30 states currently have similar laws in effect, the fact that these laws were passed means their position is the correct one. I am a huge fan of democracy, the people have spoken (for now)-and that is the unthinkable part, that so many people can vote against giving homosexuals rights that the rest of us currently enjoy. It has been oft cited, but I will say it again: just decades ago, marriage between two black people was not recognized as a marriage. In our country today, homosexuals are being treated as second-class citizens. I understand the call for respect for your opponents, and with all due respect, Sherouse, you have once again lumped all liberals together in an ignorant, anti-religious, anti-democracy mass. Although a vocal few may truly believe the black vote influenced Prop 8, and a few may be vehemently denouncing all religious people as "evangelicals" and "fundamentalists" (Note: I do know what those words mean, having been a part of a religious community once myself), most liberals on this campus understand statistics-and understand the need for the separation of church and state and equal rights for all.

Laura Romanella

Trinity '09