The Remote Controlled Act of Jumping

In the isn’t-that-convenient column of things, the legalization of gay marriage is now officially a member. Both in Canada and the U.S., where the governments want to do whatever they want and the population to be quiet about it, the issue of gay marriage is brought to legislation forefront. In the U.S., an impassable constitutional amendment is tabled; and in Canada, the Harper government wants a vote to make gay marriage illegal. In both cases, the targets are not about gay marriage but to turn the legislative agenda away from the wars. I would call this a slight-of-hand if it were not so very obvious. These days when politicians want to misdirect our attentions, they do not even try magic tricks; they simply say look and expect us to follow their fingers. Have we gotten so stupid that we follow them like a dog? I certainly hope that is not the case. The problem is though is not with the people who are against gay marriage but those who support it. Apparently these people also have questions with which the governments are uncomfortable. The governments are expecting that these people will drop everything and put all their efforts on this single issue. Legalization of gay marriage is certain worth defending, but people should not jump every time the governments say so. Whoever set the agenda wins; it is the oppositions’ job to take it away from the governments. Unfortunately, that is very unlikely. Maybe we are that dumb after all.