Pat Martin's appalling remarks about religious opponent of "gay marriage" have prompted neither an apology nor significant national attention. Mr. Martin's only further contribution to the dialogue has been to express his dismay that religious Christians are not more concerned about the dismal child poverty and drug abuse statistics for his inner Winnipeg riding. This is disingenuous on at least two counts.
First, of the many charities active in that area that seek to bring food to the hungry, help to the ill and despondent, and a future to children, the vast majority (in fact every one of which I am aware) is run and staffed by religious people, the great majority of them volunteers. I look forward to the day when we have children's camps run by committed atheists and food banks run by gay pride organizations, but do not think it will come soon.
Second, by refusing to see the link between "gay marriage" and child poverty and drug abuse, Martin is being either deliberately and maliciously obtuse or remarkably naive. Since the vast majority of socialists of my acquaintance are painfully well-intentioned, I'm happy to assume the latter for the time being. Nonetheless it boggles the mind how one can advocate the abandonment of sexual restraint and then be surprised by the vast increase in neglected and unwanted children. Similarly, a society that preaches that adults may do anything they please with their bodies should expect that this will make it easier for a number of them to ingest addictive and harmful substances. The insistence that personal morality regain a position of importance in everyday life would have many benefits, not least the reestablishment of an expectation that people will provide for their offspring, and that vices such as addiction and its attendant problems be considered deviant, not diseases or coping strategies. There are few parts of the country that would improve more sharply under such changes than Canada's inner cities.
Posted by Clio at September 8, 2003 11:11 AM