So What?

In high school, I wrote a paper that didn't really say much relevant or worthwhile about the poem or story (hey, I can't remember the topic, it's been awhile...)  My beloved English teacher said "Don't write a so-what paper."  In other words, say something important.

Much later, I had a long, drawn-out argument about Prohibition with someone whose Puritan, narrow-minded views informed him that no one should ever drink.  It was actually a good discussion, continuing over weeks or months, covering history, sociology, etc.  After we had worn out our intellectual arguments, he said something like "well, I guess it's just that everyone I've known who drank was a slimeball, beat their kids, whatever."  I said "so what?"  I didn't mean it personally, that his opinion didn't count, though he took it that way.  I meant why does his opinion of what he does or doesn't like have to apply to everyone; why should his views affect law, public policy?  This is America.  That's his view.  He's free to not drink, free to assume anyone who does is a lush, whatever.  But it's not relevant to the law.

The basic argument against gay marriage seems to be "But I don't like it."  So.  What?  They seem to be making arguments that it's tradition, that gays can't have kids "naturally."  So what?  Not to dismiss their opinion.  But why should the restrictive rules they live by apply to everybody else?  It's America.  Remember America?  Freedom?  Pursuit of happiness?  There's plenty I don't like.  As long as it doesn't hurt me, or you, so what?