Beyond Feelings - Vincent Ruggiero.original_ [59]
Evaluate each of the following arguments carefully. Determine what the most reasonable position is and what makes it so. Avoid the problems in thinking reviewed in this chapter. (Be careful not to assume that the view expressed here necessarily contains errors. It may be error-free!)
For years criminals have sold the rights to their life stories to publishers and movie producers. The more terrible their crimes, the more money publishers and producers have usually been willing to pay. This practice in effect rewards criminals for their crimes. This practice should be ended. The profits criminals receive in this manner should be placed in a fund to be distributed among the victims of their crimes.
The New Testament contains these words from St. Paul: "Let every person be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. Therefore he who resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same… wherefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience's sake."4 It is clear from these words that all Christians have an obligation to be loyal to their country's government and not to challenge it. Therefore Christians who live in the United States do wrong when they join any protest movement and even when they support protest movements in foreign countries – for example, the Solidarity movement in Poland.
There is a widespread notion in the United States that the censorship of books and other materials that are found objectionable is an undemocratic action. That notion is false. If a book or magazine or stereo record or videotape contains ideas that are philosophically alien to the American way of life, it is not only the right but the duty of responsible citizens to remove it from circulation. This duty is especially strong in the case of our children. We would not stand idly by and allow our children or our neighbor's children to drink poison. We would take it from them and dispose of it. Why should we be any less vigilant about what is poison to the mind than what is poison to the body?
In recent years there have been more and more restrictions on smokers. Whereas smokers used to be free to light up anywhere at any time, the antismoking lobby has managed to eliminate smoking on many airline flights, in many offices, and in a variety of public places. In addition, they have seen to it that smokers are segregated in restaurants. All these actions are a denial of smokers' rights. The health risks of smoking have been overstated, but even so, if I choose to take risks with my health, that is my business and no one else's. if a co-worker doesn't want my smoke to drift her way, she has only to buy a small air purifier. If airline passengers want a special non-smoking section for themselves, I won't object – but they have no business objecting when I demand a smoking section.
In 1983 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a driver's refusal to take a blood alcohol test can be used as evidence against him or her.5 I believe the Court erred in making that decision. One reason for refusing to take a blood alcohol test is knowledge of one's drunken condition. But that is not