Do unto others should apply to everyone
by Chris Taylo, editor-in-chief

    Hypocrisy used to be considered a dirty word.

    Most people would rather have been called a communist than a hypocrite.

    That was then. Now apparently hypocrisy is in.

    The other day I was having a discussion with someone over posting the Ten Commandments in schools. This person thought it was a wonderful idea.

    My argument is that it’s forcing a certain kind of literature on people.

    Those in favor of posting the Ten Commandments suggest there’s nothing wrong with it.

    Every time this argument comes up, I can’t help but think of 7-11 stores.

    Why? Many years ago 7-11s carried Playboy and kept copies displayed on the magazine rack. Later, the store moved them on a rack behind the counter.

    The religious types got in an uproar about the open display. They felt that by keeping the magazines in such plain sight, other people were forced to look at them.

    In other words, they thought that a certain kind of literature was being forced upon them.

    I’m confused. They want freedom when it comes to posting the Ten Commandments, but not when it comes to privately owned businesses carrying adult magazines.

    Doesn’t this sound a little hypocritical?

    Another problem I have with posting the Ten Commandments in schools is that the people that want to do this always use the argument that it doesn’t take anything away from anyone.

    Let’s say that I like pornography and I want to hang some up in my office. That doesn’t take anything away from anyone either, but you can just bet that I would get sued beyond recognition.

    So why the double standards?

    Why is it that the religious right doesn’t care if prayer or the commandments offend one person, but if they are offended by something, they want it gone forever?

    If that’s not the definition of hypocrisy, then I don’t know what is.

    It seems that maybe more people need to look at the Bible (which you can find in any hotel room, speaking of forcing literature on people) more closely and find the scripture about doing unto others as you would have them do unto you.