CAN WE TALK ?

   " Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." (1st Amendment to the United States Constitution.) 


    One of our most cherished rights as a free people is our right to speak freely. The Government is expressly prohibited from passing any law that would infringe upon that right. Courts have consistently ruled that all speech, particularly vile and offensive speech, are protected by the U.S. Constitution.
     Some people sometimes try to expand this right to include "the right to not be offended." They seem to believe that they have a God given right to be "free" from being offended by another's exercise of their free speech right. This is incorrect as a matter of law! Various Courts that have addressed this issue have observed that it is precisely offensive speech that needs to be protected.


     Enter the concept of "Political Correctness." Expressions that can be perceived to exclude, marginalize or insult people who are disadvantaged or discriminated against. So according to P.C. gurus there are certain classes of people who may not, in effect, be offended. Who are these protected classes? Who decides who is a protected class? Who decides what speech is offensive to these classes? Who decides what is offensive?
     Political Correctness is an artificial concept with constantly changing parameters depending upon the subjective whims of the P.C. gurus. In short it is the stuff that is extruded out of the south end of a northbound bull.


     Ideas should stand or fall of their own weight, competing freely in the marketplace of ideas. No one should have the power to deny anyone of their right to speak freely.


     People who know me know that I do not seek to deliberately offend anyone. I have strongly held views and I can be persuaded by a cogent, logical, well-presented intelligent argument. I do not come by my views lightly. I do spend a fair amount of time thinking and re-thinking about my views, considering new information or re-considering old information.


     It is wrong to cause people to lose their employment, their freedom or their life because they have expressed an opinion that you do not agree with, especially if what they say is founded in truth.


     I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE, PARTICULARLY P.C. GURUS, TO DEPRIVE ME OF MY GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO SPEAK FREELY! ! !


     I HEREBY DECLARE that I reserve the right to express myself in ANY manner and/or by use of ANY words that I may choose at the time. If you find my speech offensive, let's talk.


    What do you think? Can we talk?