In all wars words are used as weapons. Effective propaganda, whether true or not, is critical to any campaign. Conflicts are conveyed as black or white. And, the best propaganda clearly identifies the aggressor and the aggrieved. The cultural war over same-sex marriage is no exception.
Christian fundamentalists proclaim Kim Davis and Christianity are the aggrieved. Roger Gannam, one of Davis’ lawyers said, “Today, for the first time in history, an American citizen has been incarcerated for having the belief of conscience that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. And she’s been ordered to stay there until she’s willing to change her mind, until she’s willing to change her conscience about what belief is.” In fact, Ms. Davis was not in jail for her religious beliefs. She was in jail because she refused to carry out her sworn duty as Rowan County Clerk. Words are being used to fight this battle, which sits right at the demarcation between church and state. Everyone, from progressives to the far right, is outraged. But who is right? Who is the aggressor and who is the aggrieved? The answer is far from black and white.
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