Brave New World

On a more serious note this time:
I've just come back from watching Brokeback Mountain. It's a depressing story that left me feeling a bit empty inside. Very touching as one of my friends aptly put it.
Without giving too much away, it's a story about two cowboys working together in the wilderness of Wyoming who discover that they want to be more than just friends. They have a short, passionate affair. After their work is done they part and try to lead "normal" lives. But they cannot forget each other. Unfortunately, they live in a society that has no understanding or tolerance for their feelings.

What this made me think of again was what is still called "the American Dream" and what has become of it. In Germany, when doing history lessons, we were taught about it. It was like a mantra that pupils recited after their teacher. "Why did people emmigrate to America?" - "Because they were oppressed in their home countries. Because they were persecuted for political, ideological or religious reasons. Because in America they could be free." America, the Promised Land where people were free to think, say, believe whatever they wanted without fear of repercussions. While I believe that this is more of the fairy tale version of history I do think that it has some truth in it. Over several hundred years America has been like a magnet for people from all over the world. All their hopes and dreams summed up in the famous Bill of Rights (I'm not pretending here that I know it well but bits and pieces I remember): "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness". That's what it says on paper...

Recent news and stories like Brokeback Mountain, however, make me think that under the beautifully varnished surface of its historical reputation things have started decaying. How free are you really? Freedom of speech? My favourite example is what happened to the Dixie Chicks. They dared to speak up against the president. Not that the government punished them - it didn't even need to. Religious freedom? It is there, surely. Still, after the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington I wouldn't have wanted to be a Muslim in the US. Pursuit of happiness? Well, this is where I come back to the original topic: two gay cowboys. Now that story was set in 1963. But what would happen to two gay cowboys somewhere in Wyoming or Texas today? Would they be outcasts? Would they be able to find work? Would they have to fear for their lives? I read some nasty comments about the film and the topic in general on the Net. Mr. Bush has made it clear on several occasions (and that also seems to be the will of his vast, conservative, Christian backing) that he is against legalising same-sex marriage. I believe (correct me if I'm wrong here) that merely being gay or at least engaging in anal sex as gay men may do might even get you into prison in some states.

In the past, people may have swarmed to America to enjoy all those liberties that the country was famous for. Today, gay couples emigrate to Canada to get married. I believe that sets an interesting new trend. Not all is as they would have us believe in this Brave New World.