Culture Battles

Should Roman Polanski be extradited? Should gays and lesbians be allowed to marry? Does an abortion destroy a human life? Should this ex-Marine living near a golf course in San Clemente, California be flying the U.S. flag upside down because he thinks his life or property is imperiled by tax increases? These are my favorite kinds of issues -- the ones where people quickly express their points of view (often exposing the deep emotion behind them) while a democratic society takes its sweet time.