Lexington: How to lose the culture wars

摘要

Back in 1992 Pat Buchanan worked the Republican convention into a frenzy by declaring that America was engaged in a "cultural war" for the "soul of America". Mr Buchanan was right that America is particularly prone to battles over culture. But he was wrong to imply that these are all-out wars in which victory goes to the most uncompromising. Take one of the thorniest subjects of all, gay marriage. Next week Bill Frist, the Senate majority leader, plans to bring to the Senate floor the Federal Marriage Amendment (fma), a measure that will amend the constitution to forbid gay couples from marrying. Mr Frist can count on plenty of support. A huge coalition of religious traditionalists, from Roman Catholics to Southern Baptists, has been assembled to help push the amendment through; Republican activists across the country are up in arms; George Bush promises to hold a pep rally in the White House Rose Garden. And yet Mr Frist will almost certainly do harm to the cause of protecting traditional marriage.