A Rebuttal

I have gone back and retread my last sewing notions column. I fail to see where I was promulgating the “Absolute Relativism” that Mr. DePuydt seems to have read into it. (He also mentions “Natural Law” being thrown out. Apparently I have greater powers than I was aware of. I’m not even sure what he means by this.)

I will agree that different people see things differently. What is natural to one is abhorrent to another (and this works both ways). As a friend of mine often said, “You can’t legislate morality.” What is true for one is not necessarily true for another. Life is not black and white, but many various shades of grey. We have the Supreme Court to decide the final legality of events, not the Church. That is expressly written into our Constitution, precisely to prevent a religious faction forcing its beliefs and views on all of us.

I did not ask that any law against a person causing harm (physical, mental, or financial) to another be thrown out. There are already numerous laws against molestation, rape, peeping, sexploitation, beastiality, etc. Have those prevented anyone committing such acts? No one knows. The laws are there to allow us to punish those who’ve broken the law. You can’t punish someone because they might commit a crime.

As for asking forgiveness, and I think Mr. DePuydt is referring to a religious request, that is between each individual and their God or conscience. There are plenty of criminals now who never ask forgiveness. Almost everyone behind bars maintains their innocence.

Shouldn’t we all be glad that we aren’t cookie cutter versions of each other? How boring would life be if we were. Our very differences can create greatness.

If everyone were to believe exactly the same way, there’d be no changes. There wouldn’t be the discoveries that benefit us humans, the fantastic music and art that enrich our lives, the wonderful books and movies we enjoy, nor the labor-saving devices we have.

As for people adding 2+2 and getting an answer that’s not 4, I think that’s where most discoveries arise. If Christopher Columbus hadn’t dared to use his own brain and gone against conventional wisdom (natural law?), perhaps the Europeans would still be believing the earth was flat and sailing out of the sight of land would have them falling off the edge. And perhaps our Native Americans would be healthier and happier.

If the bumblebee believed physics, it wouldn’t be flying.

If the Wright brothers had believed the scoffers, we wouldn’t have the convenience of air travel, nor would we have sent men to the moon.

I’m simply saying let others live and believe as they choose. Unless they cause harm to another person (or abuse an animal) leave them alone to live and love and find their happiness as they choose.