[quote=Dukehorn]I’ll respectfully disagree with Allan’s fear assertion:
And people wonder why intelligent discourse is at an all-time low. Fear. Fear of being labeled politically incorrect or a racist or a sexist or an ageist. Fear of not getting the proper nomenclature down or not using the right symbols, tropes, icons, memes or rubric.
Intelligent discourse is at an all time low because the internet and new media have given voice to a lot of uneducated/thoughtless people who think that their opinions are actually worth something (is that a sufficiently unPC way to phrase it).
Why would I want to argue about abortion with someone that doesn’t know what a blastocyte is? How do you argue evolution with someone that doesn’t know anything about genetics or radio-carbon dating?[/quote]
Duke: How about we agree to split the difference? I would certainly agree that your point is a good one and, unfortunately, on display every day, ranging from internet forums like this one to some of the folks screaming at Town Hall rallies nationwide. Note my use of the word “some”, as I believe quite a few of the people are there out of a genuine fear of losing their health benefits.
As to my assertion of fear: I’ll give a good example. My kids (9 and 11), started back to school this week. As part of the annual indoctrination, we were treated to a district representative going on and on about this “respect” policy, which in essence completely gags both the student’s and parent’s right of free speech. Not joking when I say that, either. This policy, which is nothing more than a cover to suppress those opinions which are politically incorrect, can result in expulsion if taken to the logical end of the policy.
I was among several parents, including an attorney, who balked at signing off on this, much to the district rep’s consternation. I wasn’t trying to be difficult or combative, but I didn’t like the policy and I didn’t agree with it, either on it’s face or the underlying subtext. The district rep’s reaction to the half dozen or so recalcitrant parents was an ominous warning that she would “make a note” of those parents who didn’t sign, which struck as me as almost laughable (“this will go on your Permanent Record” was a common refrain from my grade school days), but it really wasn’t funny at all.
What was the lyric from that Rush song? “Conform or be cast out”.
