Flip Flop

Flip Flop is a phrase often used to describe a politician who radically changes sides on a position. This morning I'm using it to describe what has happened to the moral landscape of the American culture. Things that once were taboo are now considered perfectly acceptable. Things that once were discussed only by those considerd loose and vulgar are now common topics of discussion even among grade school children. According to the court of popular opinion, right has become wrong and wrong has become right.

Need an example? The firestorm over the answer given to a question in the recent Miss USA pageant. Let me quote from http://www.foxnews.com/.

When asked by judge Perez Hilton, an openly gay gossip blogger, whether she believed in gay marriage, Prejean said "We live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite. And you know what, I think in my country, in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised."

There are several problems with the firestorm that has erupted over her answer. First, she was asked what she "believed" about an issue. And she declared her "belief." One of the founding principles of freedom in this nation is freedom of belief and of the right to express that belief. She expressed her belief, her opinion. Nothing more.

Second, she went out of her way to indicate that she was not casting judgment or condemnation on anyone whose belief was different from hers. She openly stated her belief that others had a right to a different perspective.

Third, she was immediately attacked by the left-wing establishment.

Now, here is where the flip flop is seen. Only a few decades ago her answer not only would not have made headlines, but would have been the expected answer. Her current belief was held by a majority of Americans and reflected the moral atmosphere of our culture. If she had followed the liberal and now culturally accepted position on this question no one would have noticed.

This is just another example of how far we have drifted away from the high road of moral purity and convictions in this nation. I do not know Miss Prejean and will never have an opportunity to personally commend her for sticking to her convictions. But all of us who continue to hold to Biblical and traditional standard of marriage owe her a debt of gratitude.