New Front Page         
NMJ Search              
International              
Islamist Terrorism      
Government & Politics
National & Local        
The Fifth Column       
Culture Wars             
Editorials                  
Analysis                   
Archive                     
NMJ Radio                 
NMJ TV                    
Constitutional Literacy
American Fifth Column
Islamist Terrorism
Books 
NMJ Shop
Links, Etc...         
Facebook            
Twitter           
Site Information
About Us              
Contact Us           
US Senate
US House
Anti-Google
It Stays in Vegas
Culture War/Nancy Salvato
June 10, 2005 - The ad campaign in which a line at the bottom of the screen reads, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," implies that Vegas is a place to break away from the constraints of normal existence and indulge your wildest fantasies without allowing people back home to know what you've done.  There is a lot one can infer from this commercial. 

Depending on the personality of who is watching, the notion of going beyond self imposed limits in a place where nobody knows your name can be positively alluring. I would imagine that the goal of the commercial is to attract any tourist who wants to completely cut loose so that the traveler will end up spending more money while on vacation at this adult theme park.  The commercial purposely leaves the viewer to come up with his/her own conclusions about what might actually happen.

Ironically, while this commercial might seem risqué, behavioral expectations in many circles no longer include keeping particular personal preferences private. Though there are people who decline getting mixed up in situations which might in the long run cast a negative light on their character, many others see as a larger challenge forcing society to accept any and all deviances from what used to be considered the norm.  Their goal is to ensure that there is no longer a universally recognized modicum of behavior to be followed in certain situations or the expectation of deference to those who by age or stature should command respect. 

What we have forgotten is that the ability to play out forbidden scenarios in our minds rather than acting on them is what differentiates the adult from someone who hasn't yet reached maturity.  Although a kid might want to tell a teacher that he or she is a jerk, it is not permissible.  Although a Democrat might not like the ideology guiding a Republican president or visa versa, it is not acceptable to have a public tantrum about the way things are being done.  Public tantrums are what spoiled children have when things don't go their way.

Moral relativism stunts the ability to see situations from another person's vantage; from being expected to respect another point of view while not necessarily agreeing with it.  By undermining the credibility of traditional values and giving equal weight to every rationale, moral relativism creates an exception to every rule.  This philosophy has effectively prevented the necessity of a meeting of the minds over what can collectively be adhered to as appropriate or inappropriate public or private behavior. 

We need accepted rules of conduct. If the majority in a community agrees on the rules by which they are governed, then it is expected these rules should be followed whether or not they are found satisfactory by every single person who must abide by them.  In a Democratic society, not everyone gets their way all of the time.

No longer are those who govern forced to debate; making valid points and counterpoints with the end goal of reaching a middle ground.  Civil discourse is a thing of the past.  Intolerance of one another ends up in shouting matches where no one is listening to what each person has to say.  People expect instant gratification and take no responsibility for the long term consequences of their actions. 

We don't have philosophers like Confucius or Socrates to consult but we do have constitutional scholars who study the doctrines on which our country was founded. Advice from or respect for those who make it their life work to understand such things should be sought by those empowered to legislate. True dialogue can only occur when all the facts are on the table and every person is expected to take each question to its logical conclusion.   

Ben Franklin might have found "Sin City" an exceptionally fun place but he would not have expected his colleagues to necessarily agree.  He would not have imposed his preferences on them; he would have kept his personal life private.  The bottom line is that each person has the freedom to do what he or she wants, but at the same time must accept the consequences of his or her actions.  When in Vegas…

The idea of acceptable civil behavior is becoming extinct.  Those in the minority who force their perspective on the majority are abusing the rights guaranteed to all under the US Constitution.  The beauty of this country is that the rule of law, when applied as our founders intended, is meant to respect our values, not impose on them.

Opinions expressed by contributing writers are expressly their own and may or may not represent the opinions of The New Media Journal, BasicsProject.org, its editorial staff, board or organization. Reprint inquiries should be directed to the author of the article. Contact the editor for a link request to The New Media Journal. The New Media Journal is not affiliated with any mainstream media organizations. The New Media Journal is not supported by any political organization. The New Media Journal is a division of BasicsProject.org, a non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)(3) research and educational initiative. Responsibility for the accuracy of cited content is expressly that of the contributing author. All original content offered by The New Media Journal and BasicsProject.org is copyrighted. Basics Project’s goal is the liberation of the American voter from partisan politics and special interests in government through the primary-source, fact-based education of the American people.

FAIR USE NOTICE: This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance a more in-depth understanding of critical issues facing the world. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 USC Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

hit counter

The New Media Journal.us © 2011
A Division of BasicsProject.org
 

Dreamhost Review