Incest as Progress
Back in 2003*, Justice Antonin Scalia was excoriated as a hate-monger and extreme doomsayer when he wrote the dissent on Lawrence et al. v. Texas, a case which basically overturned sodomy laws on the grounds sexual behavior could not be legislated by appealing to traditional morality. Scalia wrote:
State laws against bigamy, same-sex marriage, adult incest, prostitution, masturbation, adultery, fornication, bestiality, and obscenity are likewise sustainable only in light of Bowers' validation of laws based on moral choices. Every single one of these laws is called into question by today's decision; the Court makes no effort to cabin the scope of its decision to exclude them from its holding[...]The impossibility of distinguishing homosexuality from other traditional 'morals' offenses is precisely why Bowers rejected the rational-basis challenge. 'The law,' it said, 'is constantly based on notions of morality, and if all laws representing essentially moral choices are to be invalidated under the Due Process Clause, the courts will be very busy indeed[.] [...] What a massive disruption of the current social order, therefore, the overruling of Bowers entails.
The justice was a prophet.
As it has turned out, incest is now being viewed approvingly by some in Hollywood. Director Nick Cassavetes is producing the film Yellow, the plot line of which depicts a brother and sister falling in love with one another. Cassavetes has given new meaning to the term "brotherly love" by declaring incest OK:
I have no experience with incest. ... We had heard a few stories where brothers and sisters were completely, absolutely in love with one another. You know what? This whole movie is about judgment, and lack of it, and doing what you want. Who gives a sh-t if people judge you? I'm not saying this is an absolute but in a way, if you're not having kids - who gives a damn? Love who you want. Isn't that what we say? Gay marriage - love who you want? If it's your brother or sister it's super-weird, but if you look at it, you're not hurting anybody except every single person who freaks out because you're in love with one another.
Right.
If Justice Scalia could look into the future, maybe we also can imagine the future, taking a look at what the gradual acceptance of incest and other currently forbidden sexual practices might look like.
Cassavetes' film will be hailed as "groundbreaking." It will be followed up by another film featuring the tragic circumstances of two people who didn't know they were brother and sister, similar to the situation Oedipus Rex faced when he unknowingly married his mother and had children by her. The film will show graphically explicit sex scenes between brother and sister, in order that the audiences get used to seeing incestuous relationships as sensually thrilling. The brother and sister will later find out their relationship is forbidden but decide to continue anyway, as they are so in love with one another. The film will end with them staying together for the sake of the children. It will win the coveted Palme d'Or at the Cannes film festival.
Television producers dedicated to multiculturalism will feature another rash of documentaries about incest, polyandry, and polygamy, indicating that there is no absolute standard regarding sexual morality, and therefore everything is permissible. They will document incidents of polyandry, polygamy, and other exotic sexual practices, making sure everyone practicing exotic sexual arrangements is portrayed as perfectly happy. Others will focus on the incestuous brother/sister royal line of ancient Egypt. They will note that great pharaohs ruled the mighty empire of Egypt despite their strange genetic heritage. The Biography Channel will present a revisionist history of Caligula. Still other producers will approvingly portray the Old South's habit of marrying kissin' kin.
A TV comedy about the hilarious misadventures accompanying the lives of a brother/sister couple will hit the airwaves. There will be the usual minor role of a fundamentalist Christian woman who is the acme of hypocritical judgment. She will be portrayed as having a kinky affair during the worship services in the narthex closet, where communion vessels and hymn books are stored. Her pastor will be found out as a secret polygamist, with 32 children scattered among the 57 states. In contrast, the brother and sister couple will be portrayed as compassionate, funny, light-hearted, and completely non-judgmental. They will take in stray puppies and kittens to nurture. The producers will provide a television sequel in which the loving couple arranges a ménage à trois with one of the lonely puppies.
Next, someone will produce a Broadway musical entitled O, Sister, Where Art Thou? Title tunes will include numbers like "Keeping Love in the Family" and "Oh, Sister, That's My Baby." Initially produced off Broadway, the show becomes a hit, and the songs are featured as winners at the annual Tony awards, with the brother, sister, and dog handing out the trophies.
In the meantime, liberal theologians and pastors will hold up the Bible story of Lot and his daughters as an example of incest that didn't turn out too badly. They will talk about Christian love and acceptance of differences. The blessing of incestuous relationships will become part of the worship services as well as a prelude to marriage in the sanctuary. Brother/sister couples will be elevated to the offices of the deaconate, with the hope that later they will become ordained ministers.
People will be asked to sign petitions on behalf of incestuous relationships. Studies will appear showing that no one is really harmed by incestuous relationships. State governments will begin to reconsider the awful prejudicial and biased laws against incest as they see the deleterious consequences of denying official sanction to couples madly in love. Liberal politicians running for office will proclaim their tolerance and portray the opposition as hate-mongers who are against human rights. The president of the United States will revoke the sanctions against incest in the military. Everyone will embrace the New Way of Love, Hope, and Change.
Finally, Roman Polanski will be summoned back from exile. He will move back to Los Angeles with his new wife, a long-lost granddaughter with whom he's been having an affair over the last ten years. Oprah Winfrey will invite Polanski and his wife to appear on her talk show to rhapsodize about their blissful family life.
Polanski will jump up and down on the couch out of sheer joy.
*date corrected