October 27, 2008

Writing more than twenty years ago, Thomas Sowell described the basic worldview clash we observe today as a struggle between "constrained" and "unconstrained" visions of humanity.  The fundamental distinction between these two visions is moral, but the thrust of each is ideological.  The constrained vision may be considered basically conservative, while the unconstrained vision is basically liberal, in modern terms.

There is great wisdom in Sowell's analysis, and in his book, The Conflict of Visions. But the greatest achievement of this book is Sowell's insistence that political struggles have ideological origins.

This is certainly true with reference to the political struggle over same-sex marriage.  In California, the controversy is over "Proposition 8" on the November ballot -- a measure that would amend the state's constitution to establish marriage as the union of a man and a woman.  Voters in Arizona and Florida will face measures that would disallow same-sex marriages.

Nationwide, we face efforts to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (a repeal championed by Sen. Barack Obama) and to achieve same-sex marriage through the courts.  State by state, the issue is constantly reshaped and reframed.

At the same time, there is a sense that the public is shifting its perception of the issue.  When the issue is framed as simple fairness, Americans increasingly seem to tire of arguing that sexual behavior or orientation (at least in terms of homosexuality) should matter when it comes to the basic rights associated with marriage.  This trend is especially noticeable among the young.  Younger Americans, by and large, see homosexuality as part of the recognizable landscape and within the normal range of human behaviors.

All this represents a massive shift in perception over a relatively short period of time.  The activists promoting the normalization of homosexuality have been tremendously successful in their efforts.  The mainstream media, the educational elites, and various culture shapers have pushed this cause.  Today, on the average college or university campus, homosexuality is not considered to be a major moral issue.  Any discrimination against homosexuals, on the other hand, is considered a moral issue of urgency and outrage.  In much of the culture, it is considered increasingly immoral to assert that homosexuality is immoral.

There is no real ground for compromise between these two visions and perspectives.  Both sides frame their argument in moral terms.  Advocates of the constrained vision argue that humanity is heterosexual by default and design and that homosexuality is thus an aberration to be sanctioned and discouraged.  Advocates of the unconstrained vision argue that homosexuality is just one among several acceptable options for humanity.