Americans Are More Intolerant Than They Care To Admit

Intolerance reared its ugly head, again.

Everyone has the right to make their own lifestyle choices.

Almost every person I have ever spoken to on this issue tells me they agree.

But as it turns out, as is so often the case, this is only what they want you to believe face to face. When they have the opportunity to voice their opinion anonymously, the real truth comes out.

What brought this issue to this blog is the latest controversy stemming from ABC’s decision to invite Chaz Bono to appearing on Dancing with the Stars. I do not watch this show. I enjoy watching dance as entertainment. But this show’s idea of entertainment is very different than mine. In my opinion, there is very little else as graceful and beautiful as someone, or a couple, or a group, dancing.

This particular show is more about creating controversy – which in turn builds an audience – and less about furthering the art of dance. This is the ugly aspect of television as a whole, for only controversy brings sponsors to the program which puts money in the producers pockets.

I don’t care for judging as entertainment, especially when the audience is allowed to participate. When an audience is allowed to remain anonymous, their ugly judgmental side tends to take over. An anonymous audience places less importance on ability and style than on looks, attitude, politics, and yes even sexual orientation.

Is this talk of a person having the right to be who they want to be just talk? It would appear so.

ABC is getting a lot of nasty and hateful letters over their decision to invite Chaz Bono onto the show. It is truly pitiful that a show that is supposedly about dancing is being turned into a forum about personal private choices. But then this is the ugly truth about our neighbors and relatives.

Do Americans, home of the free, governed by a Constitution that grants equal rights to everyone, celebrate freedom of choice? It would appear that we don’t.

Who are we to condemn anyone for stepping outside of conformity to live their life as they choose?