Liberal virtue

Perhaps one of the most important virtues for liberals is their version of "tolerance." One of the most prominent exemplars of this virtue on daytime TV is Barbara Walters, on The View. This morning they were discussing the news that a certain actress (who has a new movie coming out, A Mighty Heart, and is famous for adopting children from all over the world) stated that she would like to have 14 kids. Now, it has been somewhat controversial on The View that a woman would want to have so many kids--both because of the number, and the "restriction" that it brings. But what I am drawing attention to is this: Ms. Walters then mentioned the fact that this actress is not married to a certain blonde actor (star of Troy and one of the 13 in Ocean's 13), quickly adding, "But that's ok." But is this how she really "feels" about those who are not married but have children out of wedlock? I think not. Several weeks ago they were talking about a certain NBA star who told his girlfriend that he might not be able to be present for the delivery of their second child. And while acknowledging that the discussion was centered on whether he should be at the NBA finals or at the hospital, Ms. Walters asked, "Why isn't he married to her?" After all, they were having a second child. iirc, she also said something how it was ok for them to be unmarried still. But her reaction I think reveals what she really believes about the matter.

Of course, she might be hesitant to condemn decisions by the famous and beautiful people--after all, she makes her living as a journalist and interviewing famous and beautiful people. Still, I think she has also trained herself to be "tolerant" of all choices, and not to make any sort of determination of right and wrong, good or evil. But, as Dr. Laura points out frequently to her callers (and I don't doubt that she will never be on The View again, after how she was treated the last time she was on the show), "What sort of example are you giving to your sons? Aren't you teaching them that they can treat women this way, having sex with them without a commitment?" And let us not even excuse the women and put the blame totally on the men in such cases through the victim mentality that radical feminists like to foster--men treat women as "unpaid hookers" (in the words of Dr. Laura) because women allow them to. There is culpability on both sides, as "it takes two to tango." So if we recognize that not all "domestic arrangements" are equal, nor equally beneficial to children, should we not make it plain and clear that the actions leading to those different arrangements are not equally praiseworthy?

But Ms. Walters would rather be the paragon of liberal virtue than a witness to the truth.