Re: Vera-lent tolerance: Politically Correct Liberal Agenda?

["Ted Moffett" <ted_moffett@hotmail.com>]

Visionaries!

Freedom of speech!  Isn't it wonderful?  But certain to offend someone 
somehow.  We hear much about so called "liberals,", who ostensibly stand for 
the protection of this constitutionally guaranteed "right," actually 
promoting a narrow minded "politically correct" stealth campaign of 
censorship to keep opinions that do not fit said "liberal" agenda off the 
public stage of debate.  Although I in some respects fit the mold of this 
"liberal" agenda, I have been personally attacked for expressing viewpoints 
that do not fit this mold, that I was merely voicing for the sake of 
argument, etc., by others who thought I was some kind of monster for 
entertaining these thoughts.

I think a good education for everyone would involve being able to 
convincingly argue against one's most cherished beliefs, a antidote perhaps 
to mindless dogmatism and intolerance, two aspects of human consciousness 
that create much misunderstanding and pain.  So I pride myself on being able 
to play devil's advocate for any point of view, a habit certain to make some 
enemies.

Let the floodgates of open ended debate flow forth from all corners!  If 
anyone disagrees with this assertion, they must not really have a firm 
belief in the principles of democracy.  Sadly, it appears there are many who 
DO lack this belief.  Completely open rational freedom of speech frightens, 
upsets and angers those we are convinced their beliefs are beyond challenge, 
and threatens the powerful and privileged.

We are left with the cynical conclusion that true freedom of thought and 
speech is not really supported by many in our culture, when most people 
entertain the thought, in secret and/or subconsciously or unabashedly 
admitting in the intellectual atmosphere created by a war mentality, that 
control of debate and information is a way to wage an intellectual campaign 
to, using plain language, brainwash those they seek to control.

Ted


>From: Douglas <dougwils@moscow.com>
>To: vision2020@moscow.com
>Subject: Vera-lent tolerance
>Date: Mon, 05 Aug 2002 08:52:27 -0700
>




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