Too Much Political Correctness

Any political correctness is too much. It was intended to stifle free speech, not promote harmony; and crosses cultural, religious, and even intellectual bounds. It began with some perceived right 'not to be offended' -- though I can locate no such right in the Constitution. Thus:

People who are concerned about the many problems illegal immigration brings, and want secure borders, are considered racist - because somehow the concerns about the one are translated into a bias against Latinos.

Those who question the current global warming hysteria, and “refuse to join the fight,” have been likened to Hitler and others. Those who question the veracity of global warming have also been likened to Holocaust Deniers.

The people who fear the encroaching Islamic jihad are called Islamophobic. Those who speak about or discuss the negative and frightening aspects of Islam are accused of religious intolerance, or xenophobia, and are accused of hating all Muslims and all of Arab descent.

To think a certain way, and to publicize those thoughts (when not censured due to political correctness); and the fear that it might incite violence, “hurt someone’s feelings” or put someone in a bad light (even if justified), has become a crime. Such nonsense is being bolstered by the judicial system, with the effect that rational dialogue on a number of issues is being quashed.

There is a real danger in censuring thought, and the verbal or written expression of it. We are quickly moving into an Orwellian society. What many in the United States and other Western nations don’t seem to understand yet is that when some ideas are censured, others will surely follow. This excludes those who are waging jihad against us, because they clearly understand that. It is their purpose to quash anything that may be perceived as derogatory.

What has already happened in Europe, Australia and Canada (all of which used to have the freedom to express one’s thoughts and ideas) is happening here in the United States: To think a certain way, and to express those thoughts, are fast becoming crimes – or dangerous. Making a statement of fact, if it wounds someone’s sensibilities, can be cause to be fired, fined, and perhaps even jailed. In some cases, people sometimes actually fear for their lives due to community response.

Take, for example, what happened to a teacher several years ago when, during a public forum, he explained that at his school, it was the male black teenage boys who were causing the bulk of the problems. The audience was aghast, and he was promptly accused of racism. He lost his job, and the media had a field day with him. He was ultimately vindicated, but the whole event made one thing clear – even if it was the truth, substantiated by facts, making such a statement could be dangerous and have severe consequences.

It wasn’t politically correct to state, or even imply, that one group was causing problems over another, even if it was true. Rather than being a statement of fact, which it was, it was seen as racist. The same thing has happened as regards illegal immigration. Rather than recognizing that people are concerned about illegal immigration, which coincidentally happens to be primarily from Mexico, it becomes an indictment of all Latinos.

Public opinion isn’t always right. What is right, however, is to uphold and defend our Constitutionally-protected First Amendment right of Free Speech - the expression of our thoughts. Our country was founded on controversy. We broke from the subservience of European thought and edicts when we became a free nation. If we don’t fight for this right on every front, for the right to express our thoughts, we will lose it. It will slip away, unnoticed by many until it’s too late – and the expressions of our thoughts, our words, and our every deed, will be governed by whoever is in power.