Political correctness - or is it the truth?
It is unfortunate that "The Edge of Darkness" is a little-remembered film. In one riveting scene, the schoolteacher of a Norwegian fishing village confronts the Nazi officer in charge of the occupation forces. The white-bearded old gentleman politely but firmly forbids the confiscation of his home for use as a military blockhouse. At this announcement, the young commandant's demeanor transforms from reserved civility to sneering incredulity, then finally to violent outrage. While the little office resounds with the slapping of the old man's face and the commandant's repeated commands of "Silence!" the stoic Norwegian shakes his aged head and with unblinking gaze replies, "No. If I were a younger man, there might be hope for you, but at my age it would be foolish to fear death more than I love truth."
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More than I love truth. How exceedingly rare it is to hear that kind of talk anymore.
This is the age of a severe equality among Americans, an enforced "tolerance". But, as George Orwell noted sardonically in his classic, Animal Farm, "All animals are equal; but some animals are more equal than others."
The crusaders of "political correctness" - many of our legislators, university professors, and most certainly the corporate media -- have declared the frank discussion of certain volatile subjects taboo. That is, unless such "discussion" is done their way, with their pre-programmed "moderators", and confirms their particular assertions, making the term "frank discussion" nothing more than an obvious oxymoron. For the fool who bucks the system and proceeds with blunt speech and simple facts to back it up, there remains an arsenal of pejoratives that will be used to pummel him into keeping his well-honed arguments to himself. Happily, the use of these weapons of political correctness only verifies to a watching world that the victim indeed had a valid argument. The liberal elite never have learned that making a martyr of a man will only produce ten thousand converts to his cause.
I once naively thought Alaska was the final fortress of individualism and unfettered thinking. To a large extent this is still so among our older citizens, who disdain being told what to think by their self-appointed betters. But the younger crowd bears an alarming conformity of thought and speech. The few dissenters often speak softly, afraid of being overheard and thus having their professional status or their source of income jeopardized. I know. I've spoken with them and marvel at their caution. Before offering an honest opinion on any highly-charged situation, they give what was once called, "The German Look", a quick glance over the shoulder that characterized dissenting Germans during the reign of the Third Reich. In a land where there was one informer to every 40 people, it was wise to avoid being overheard by the wrong person. Like the old man in the movie, these good Alaskan folks had taken a few slaps, but abuse didn't put steel in their backbones. It cowed them instead.
Is this what we've come to - afraid to speak openly our own thoughts in our own land? Is it really xenophobic to want tens of millions of illegal aliens out of our nation and back in their own? Couldn't that just be considered genuine patriotism and love of country? Is it really "sexist" to want men to be masculine and women to be feminine? For ten thousand years, that sentiment was considered merely normal. Is it stereotyping to acknowledge inherent differences in cultures? Or is it simply ... truth?
That paragon of American traditionalism, Daniel Webster, noted, "Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."
Notably, Webster is granted barely a nod in modern academia. We can well apply his words to today's politically correct elite, with the exception of their meaning to "govern well". As to their wanting to be "masters", we have ample opportunity to observe that truth.
And there's that word again.
• Kevin Reeves is a freelance writer living in Haines.