SACRIFICIAL ALTARS
HAVE WE SACRIFICED THE FIRST AMENDMENT ON THE ALTAR OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS?
Recently I was talking with a good friend of mine about his experiences as an Associate Professor at one of the more respected colleges you see advertising on television. During our conversation he happened to mention something to the effect that we still have our First Amendment Right of Free Speech. It got me to thinking.
Do we?
It seems to me that as a nation we have “sub-divided” ourselves into various racial, ethnic and cultural groups that, all too often, seem bent on finding things to be offended by. Just some of these divisions are political, racial, cultural, economic and lifestyle.
Often, saying something, even innocently, is perceived as an insult or “hate speech’ though no offense was intended.
If one groups beliefs or code of conduct disagrees with the lifestyle of another groups, they risk being labeled as “haters” or “phobic”.
On most college campus’s, which are in theory citadels of free thought, tolerance and the exchange of ideas, some groups “need not apply” and their ideas and beliefs are ridiculed, mocked and laughed at. Conservatives, for example, are not welcome and Conservative “guest” speakers are shouted off the stage. Free Speech? You might ask Condoleezza Rice. Where is the tolerance and free exchange of ideas?
Some groups are politically protected, others are not. Free Speech? Some religions you must speak respectfully of or face potentially life threatening consequences while others, such as Christianity, are not a protected group and considered “fair game” and “targets of opportunity” to mock and make fun of.
In my opinion Political Correctness is not an equal opportunity employer.
I also fear that we are, one by one sacrificing our Constitutional Rights in the name of “Big Daddy” Government and Political Correctness.
Are we going the way of Canada and some other countries where you can be jailed if you offend some protected group with “Hate Speech”?
Bob Bandy
