This may offend you:
How will we know when there is no more racism in
this country? That will be the day that a white female college student is asked
out by a black man and she says no.
Not the funniest joke around but in a
Mencken sort of way it bites right into the heart of a couple of big topics of
public discussion these days: Race relations and free speech.
The joke
may make you feel uncomfortable. That's ok. It is not the responsibility of
every other human to behave in a way that makes you comfortable at all times.
Sorry.
It could also make you a little mad at me for telling it. Maybe
even think that I am racist. That's ok. I am not. And further, it's another 'not
my responsibility' to convince you that this is so.
There's a lot of
people floating around Voltaire's quote these days: "I may not agree with what
you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it."
How lofty
and considerate and really, in our hyper-connected world of social media - a
bunch of hogwash.
There are millions in this country, decent people
though they are, who will not defend my right to say anything I want. To the
death or even to the point of a mild headache. Forget the whole, fire in a
crowded movie theater example. I'm talking about opinions like same-sex
marriage, abortion rights, affirmative action and the overall impact of more
women entering the work force in the last 50 years.
I watch the
television, read Facebook and see "Je Suis Charlie" always thinking that this is
the most gutless nonsense around. The terrorist group that sponsored the attack
on Charlie Hebdo doesn't care if you mob together in "unity" or post those three
words on Twitter or Facebook. Let me repeat. They do not care. They have won
this battle.
Why have they won? Because hardly anyone is reprinting or
rebroadcasting the images that led to carnage. A German newspaper tried it and
immediately became a victim of arson. These are victories for the lower life
forms out there who are certain that it is prudent to kill and scare and
change.
Consider a few other things happening in our own country that
indicate near collaboration with those lower life forms:
Famous athletes
being allowed to wear provocative t-shirts on the job advocating a particular
political stance regarding law enforcement. Charles Barkley tried to express an
opinion supporting the other side of the issue. He was called hateful and stupid
for it. I'm sure he regrets even opening his mouth.
A college student at
Marquette was told by a teacher that any discussion advocating traditional
marriage only was off limits in her classroom. He was told that his position
advocated hateful speech, would make other students uncomfortable and would not
be tolerated.
What's common to these debates? A simple expression that
frames one side as hate-filled and unworthy of even being allowed to talk. So
much for defending to the death your right to express an opinion.
Want to
hear another joke about gay marriage? I will not tell one. Because it could be
reported to my employer and I could lose my excellent day job for supposedly
advocating a hateful position through social media.
That may not be same
as shooting me in the head with an AK-47. But it is close enough to shut me
up.
I'm certain that there are a lot of fake Charlie's out there. And
they are just as willing to shut up another human being to promote their own
ideals as a terrorist is. Thankfully most will not pick up a
weapon.
Voltaire was not a fan of the Catholic Church. He also said
this:
"Those who make you believe absurdities can make you commit
atrocities."
Make you uncomfortable? Good. Let's talk about
it.
