Here’s an interesting idea to mentally nibble on: imposing beliefs. We hear it from the left all the time “Don’t impost your beliefs on me!” usually in response to a discussion on a moral issue, or any issue they oppose. Do they not see the fallacy of that statement? Beliefs are always being “imposed” on others.
Per Merriam Webster Online, to impose something means “
to cause (something, such as a tax, fine, rule, or punishment) to affect someone or something by using your authority; to establish or create (something unwanted) in a forceful or harmful way or; to force someone to accept (something or yourself).
Beliefs are defined as:
a state or habit of mind in which trust or confidence is placed in some person or thing; something believed; especially a tenet or body of tenets held by a group; conviction of the truth of some statement or the reality of some being or phenomenon especially when based on examination of evidence.
So imposing beliefs really means forcefully making someone share your conviction or closely held tenant on pain of punishment. Sounds like North Korea to me. Hardly sounds like what conservatives to do liberals.
Liberals constantly use this when losing an argument. Conservatives are “imposing their beliefs” when we want to do just about anything. Protect children and society from the harm done by illegal drugs (vs. legalizing them)? IMPOSING BELIEFS! Protect traditional marriage while working on solutions for those in alternative lifestyles? IMPOSING BELIEFS! Lowering taxes and allowing privatization of some welfare? IMPOSING BELIEFS! Protecting the pre-born, even after 20 weeks gestation? IMPOSING BELIEFS! Choose any topic and inevitably the charge will be made – YOU’RE IMPOSING YOUR BELIEFS!! It’s ridiculous.
What’s more ridiculous is they have no compunction whatsoever about making their beliefs law, while arguing to us that if we do it we are… you guessed it, imposing our beliefs. Some just don’t see it, but others will out and out tell you “well MY BELIEFS are right and YOURS are wrong, so doing it my way is the only way and isn’t an imposition at all.” Total self-awareness fail.
Now flash to a discussion on a column a few weeks ago where I was roundly reprimanded by a lib “friend” about my statements. He said “I draw the line at imposing your beliefs on others.” Notice the use of “your”? I sure did and immediately called him on it, pointing out that by expecting the opposite to be law was imposing his beliefs on me. His response? “I’m not imposing my belief, I’m simply stating it and offering a suggestion. You are free to follow or ignore.”
Right, giving your beliefs force of law isn’t an imposition at all…unless my beliefs get the force of law, then its evil incarnate! It’s not like there’s a definition that says otherwise… oh, wait…
Of course I know he gets it, because he spent comment after comment berating me for “judging”, being “unchristian”, and of course “imposing my beliefs” while stating that the laws should protect his side of the argument, not mine, always because any decision that I would support is “judgmental” or “mean.” Of course, he ended up the argument by telling me, as he does every time we argue, to “Stop blaming, hating, judging and condemning others and their choices just because of your own personal experiences and views.” But he’s not judging, no not at all. You see, MY views don’t count, only his and those like him. Impose much? More likely, hypocrite much?
Now, I would argue, and have, that there are times when there needs to be no intervention, and others that do. This particular person, from what I have gleaned from more than several posts or comments, believes that laws are completely unnecessary, as long as there is no “imposition” or any harm to anyone. In one exchange I actually said that he’d believe that until he was the victim of a crime then he’d change his tune. Let’s say, I opined, that someone stole all the money out of his bank account. He actually told me that it wouldn’t be wrong because obviously they needed it more than he! I promptly asked for his bank account information, because trust me, I could use the cash! He blah blah’d on about how we have to live and let live. I almost lost my sight rolling my eyes so hard.
There are situations where people need the protection of laws, and these laws are based on Biblical or other religious views. Murder is wrong, and also illegal. Rape is wrong and also illegal. Child molestation is wrong and also illegal. But what, I’d argue, if the perpetrator believed that their “victim” wasn’t being hurt? You know, that nasty NAMBLA group who believes that children are not harmed by being molested? Aren’t we imposing our beliefs on them? No matter the issue, one side is always “imposing their beliefs” on the other, per the liberal arguments.
What it boils down to is their childish belief that everything has to be “fair” and they should always get their way. Sorry, you can stomp your foot like a three year old and spit out the adult equivalent of “it’s not fair” all you want. If you’re going to act like a child, then the parents in the room will decide that it doesn’t work that way. You win some and you lose some, so get a better argument. Better yet, grow up!
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