"Let's imagine for a moment what a liberal world would look like"
By the same token, let's imagine what a US dominated by the religious right would look like. We'd have a rigid and stratified society with people of "good character" looking out for any behavior they object to. They would then turn the names of those people to the authorities who would pick them up and get them to confess their crimes and put them in prison. Whether they actually committed any infraction is not particularly relevant, the fact that they were turned in by someone of good standing is enough. The newspapers and other media routinely lists those who have been picked up, just so their family and friends can be watched closely. "Good character" is defined by those who are related to or friends of people in authority. In addition, routinely praising or doing favors for those in authority is enough. Individuals of influence are allowed to prey on others, sexually or otherwise, with little reprecussion because they are seen as selected individuals with special dispensations from God. If someone complains, they are pressured by others to shut up and go along. If those people persist, they often disappear.
If you aren't a member of the local religion, you have a lot of problems. You can't get a job of any significance. If for some reason you actually do, your employer is pressured by others until you get fired. Odd things often happen around you, inexplicable fires happen, shots are fired into your home, bricks and rocks are thrown through your windows, your cat winds up being nailed to your front door. When you complain to the police, they get really annoyed with you. You are often harrassed, your children are excluded and assaulted, verbally and otherwise.
If you are a member of the local religion, life is good. You have a lot of friends and if there are problems, you have a lot of support. However, you do have to be careful what you say in public and what you do. You also have to be very aware of the balance of power, if there is a shift you don't want to be associated with the wrong people. Your daughter is pretty safe. Safe, that is, unless the local preacher or his son doesn't take an interest in her. If so, there is little either of you can do. If she happens to get pregnant, well, then she is obviously a slut who needs to be dealt with. It's best if she keeps her mouth shut, because if she doesn't, then she is trying to drag a good man down and avoid her sin. Things can get dicey for your whole family...
One little difference between this scenario and yours. Yours hasn't happened any where. Mine has happened many times and still does. Try going to any small town in the South that is dominated by a charismatic preacher. |
