Fundamental Irony

A Montana State Representative recently introduced a bill that would change the state’s indecent exposure laws to ban yoga pants in public, among other things.  The law would regulate various types of clothing, mostly women’s clothing, but would also ban men from showing their nipples … in other words, men would have to wear t-shirts at the pool.  This proposed law would, as I understand it, give police the power to arrest women and men for violating certain clothing regulations, and not just for nudity or skimpy thong type clothing.  People who violate the law would be subject to fines of up to $10,000 and life imprisonment after a third offense.  Wow!!  Sounds a little like the Middle Eastern laws we regularly ridicule.  I thought Republicans stood for less government interference in our personal lives.  This particular Republican seems to want his state to mimic some Islamic countries.  Am I the only one who sees the irony in this?

 Another irony that bothers the hell out of me … gun-toting bible thumpers.  A relative of a close friend recently posted something on Facebook that basically said we should start bombing people because of the ISIS killing of an American aid worker last week.  The wording went something like “start bombing and let Allah sort it out.”  I do believe ISIS needs to pay dearly for killing the American.  But exactly WHO should we be bombing?  The implication in that Facebook comment is we should bomb everybody in the Middle East, all Muslims.  The person who wrote that comment is a devout Christian who wears t-shirts bearing Bible verses.  Am I the only one who sees the irony in this?  I have chosen, for the moment, to not comment on the comments in person, but that is only because the commenter is in my social circle.  I hope I am never drawn into a conversation with her about this topic.  People are entitled to their opinions in this country, but I am entitled to vehemently disagree and to point out the irony and inconsistency. 

Do you remember all the new coverage of then President Clinton’s affair back in the 1990s?  There was such moral outrage.  One of the most outspoken people ridiculing Clinton then was Congressman Newt Gingrich.  Years later we learn that Gingrich was having an affair at the very same time.  Irony?

There are some fundamental beliefs about morality and right and wrong that transcend formal religious structures.  We are all taught it is wrong to kill, for example.  And many religious traditions claim that their belief is the only correct one.  If all religions claim to be the ‘only’ one, then which one truly is the only one?  Whose morality is the right morality?  Whose laws and beliefs supersede other’s laws and beliefs?

I would not be surprised of that Montana congressman has something to hide.  I would urge the ‘bomb them’ acquaintance to rethink that statement through a conversation with her minister.  And I guess this post indicates that I am sometimes judgmental about judgmental people.  Another fundamental irony?