Lately, certain colleges and universities, succumbing under pressure from student and faculty activists, have rescinded invitations to commencement speakers deemed too controversial.
Even some liberals are beginning to recognize and lament the intolerant, arrogant mentality that pervades some “elite” institutions of higher learning. But it’s no surprise: we’ve been headed in this direction for decades.
Quite simply, this is a dumbed-down version of McCarthyism, turned on its head. The labels have changed; “racist,” “bigot” or “sexist” has supplanted “communist” as the besmirching label of choice, but the intolerance lives on.
Sixty years ago, there was suspicion in some quarters that Communism was overtaking the nation through infiltration of the media, the churches and other aspects of American life.
This led to baseless accusations without corroborating evidence, resulting in the stifling of debate and criticism.
Today, with the hyper-developed sensitivity in some quarters and the growth of the victim industry, we seem to be travelling down the same road.
However, this is being led by the left, rather than the right. The survival of the nation is not at stake as much as the preservation of the status of some protected groups and their immunity from scrutiny.
Why do the American people, usually endowed with a great deal of common sense and perception, allow this to happen?
For one thing, it’s considered bad form to criticize certain groups. But, for our democracy to flourish, a robust sense of debate must also flourish. We need to remember that ideas are fair game for analysis, criticism and even satire. People, however, should be treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their beliefs and values.
College students should also remember that, although cosseted in a warm, friendly academic bubble for a few years, they will eventually exit the academic dome and find themselves in what’s known as “The Real World.”
In the “real world,” they will find that not everyone thinks as they do, nor values much of what they may hold dear. This comes with living in a democracy. It can be chaotic and offensive as well as stimulating.
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