What’s the opposite of progress? The GOP.

Back to the ‘days’ of knees and aspirin – Leonard Pitts Jr. – MiamiHerald.com

By Leonard Pitts Jr.

lpitts@MiamiHerald.com

You know, back in my days, they used Bayer aspirin for contraception. The gals put it between their knees . . . — Foster Friess, Feb. 16, 2012

Friess, a major financial supporter of presidential wannabe Rick Santorum, managed to capture something telling and important about the way he and other social conservatives see this country.

It has been argued that they seek to forestall the future, to interdict social and demographic trends suggesting tomorrow’s America will be gayer, browner and more Islamic than today’s.

But that’s only half the story, isn’t it? Friess’ “joke” suggests they seek not just to challenge tomorrow’s changes, but also yesterday’s. They seek to re-impose what they regard as “the good old days,” as in a time when women were “gals” to be lectured by doctors on their sexual morality.

That should be an eye-opener for those who feel yesterday’s victories are impervious to challenge or change. Maybe it is time to wonder if that assurance is not misplaced. The very fact that we are debating contraception in 2012 suggests that it is — and that those who are sanguine about battles won 40 years ago might do well to reconsider.

Back to the ‘days’ of knees and aspirin – Leonard Pitts Jr. – MiamiHerald.com