Yesterday news broke of liberal political commentator Juan Williams being dismissed by NPR(National Public Radio). Williams, who is also a regular on Fox News, had appeared on The O'Reilly Factor 2 nights beforehand and had made this comment, paraphrasing: "If I get on a plane and I see someone dressed in Muslim garb identifying themselves first and foremost as a Muslim I feel nervous." This discussion stemmed from an incident that occurred on another TV program, The View, where Bill O'Reilly had stated truthfully that we were attacked by Muslims on 9/11/01, instigating a blow up of epic proportions with co-hosts of the show Whoopi Goldberg and Joy Bahar. What does this say about the current level of discourse and freedom of speech in our nation today?
Well, it is symptomatic of a slowly growing but now widely held belief called political correctness in our society. Apparently, we have reached a point in our culture where we now feel we have a right not to be offended by someone else's words. And that if we disagree with those words we have a right to silence the person who spoke what we found offensive. Sadly, this standard, seems to cut only one way.
I wonder if the same uproar would have been manifested if Williams had said he feels worried if a person wearing a Nazi armband or a KKK hood had been around him? Now I'm not defending these 2 despicable organizations but in America, we do have the right to state our opinion, whether anyone agrees with it or not. But in some liberal circles apparently any words that do not fit their template is now an offense worthy of termination. To the credit of many of my liberal citizens, the uproar over this issue has come from both sides of the political spectrum. Even Whoopi Goldberg condemned this act by NPR. So what has led us down this road where any organization, even an employer, has a right to supersede the constitutional right of freedom of speech?
I believe it is symptomatic of the personal selfishness that exists throughout our culture. We live in a world of me, me, me, and if you disagree with me, your rights do not matter, only what I believe is valid. When I am focused wholly on myself, others don't matter. Any Christian knows that this type of behavior is the exact opposite of God's order of how our lives should be prioritized; God, others, us. Yet even Christians are guilty of this selfishness and arrogance where only their beliefs or opinions carry weight.
As Christians, if this type of intolerant and disrespectful slide continues in our country, we will feel the brunt of it. Flammable issues such as abortion or gay marriage, which the bible clearly condemns, could at some point be off the table as far as differing with the accepted law of our land. You say this cannot happen in America, well this attitude already exists in many European nations and Canada where scripture such as Romans 1 which clearly identifies homosexuality as unnatural and sin are considered hate speech. I do not agree with legalized abortion or gay marriage, but I do recognize that with abortion it is settled law and thus legal in our nation. Will we reach a point where I no longer have a right to voice my view that while settled national law, this act still violates God's law, "thall shall not murder."
I believe this is a key point in this cultural shift called "political correctness." Juan Williams is now the point man in this discussion. Polls show most Americans are tired of this attitude where if you disagree with someone, their voice has no place in the discussion. But, will we stand up for ourselves and recognize all peoples right to speak their mind, without the threat of the silencing of their voice?
Nehemiah 4 tells us of how the Jewish remnant when they returned to Jerusalem from the Babylonian captivity faced enemies on the outside, and enemies on the inside. In our nations political discussion both sides of the isle have parties that would silence the other, though only the liberal intolerance is embraced. The people were faced with a choice in Nehemiah, they could either join with him and fight, or they could give in too the enemies. While no one desires a fight, desires conflict, many times it is necessary. Will we as a nation choose to fight against any who would silence us, or simply slink into the background of personal selfishness. We are at a crossroads my friends, which direction will we choose?
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