Myer on Politics

What About Other Humans' Rights?

Some members of the Wheeling Human Rights Commission have hopped on the bandwagon of demanding special protection for homosexuals. They want the city charter to be changed to guard against discrimination stemming from sexual orientation. Somehow, I don't think they're talking about protecting people whose sexual orientation happens to be heterosexual. Fine. No one ought to be discriminated against improperly. Gay people are, after all, people. Frankly, I couldn't care less about their sexual orientation. That's their business, unless it infringes somehow on my rights. Because they're human beings, of course, homosexuals are entitled to exactly the same protections as anyone else - no more, no less. Think about this: Suppose I'm in a public restroom and someone - a U.S. senator, just for argument's sake - starts poking my foot with his and signaling that he's interested in a gay encounter. I say no. He takes offense and lets me have one upside the head. Where do I go to file a claim for being discriminated against because I'm a heterosexual? Nowhere, of course. I go to the police station and fill out a complaint against the senator, just because he assaulted me. Sexual orientation shouldn't have anything to do with it. Why should it be more offensive for me to take a swing at the senator - as it would under suggestions such as that made by some members of the Human Rights Commission - than for him to punch me? Well, now. That would be discrimination, wouldn't it?