Want to be offended? Go ahead and be offended

It's not very often where I'll talk from a first person point of view. This is no accident and removes any emotional bias I may hold on the matter and allow the rational facts to support the position: a search for the truth. The following topic however is very important to me and a very contentious topic on debate as well. Throughout western media, freedom of speech supposedly stands strong, separating it from some countries like North Korea and Saudi Arabia. How sure can we be of this though? Isn't one of the many problems these days that people find a reason to be offended by anything and everything. Many of my fellow countrymen from South Africa, stand accused of being "racists;" my fellow churchgoers and I get accused of being homophobic simply because we do not support gay marriage, and let's not forget the feminists who dislike me merely because I'm a man. Plenty more examples exist, which I'll get to in the article. The further one goes into the subject, the more we see squabblers in action doing what they can to suppress free speech, a right which is allegedly universal. Unless we start standing up and fighting against these non-offending lying, sensationalist, politically correct groups who seek to suppress free speech, it'll be unlikely I shall be able to discuss the issue one day, lest I be accused of being some sort of radical extremist.

In September 2005, some cartoons were released in an afternoon Danish newspaper. It was a series of cartoons satarising a major issue which was and continues troubling the world now; radical Islamic terrorism. What reaction were these cartoons met with? Enormous threats to blackmail the Denmark economy, lynch mobs and bullying gangs throughout the world burning flags and carrying threatening signs like "Kill those who insult Islam," not to mention the death threats each cartoonist received. It annoys me when anyone attacks my religion, criticizing it or sardonically misrepresenting it. Not for a second though will I run around making threats to kill people or disagree with my views because they have as much of a right to voice their opinion as I do with mine. Many Muslims who were involved in these protests happily live in western countries and enjoy the many liberties of western life their home countries limits or does not offer. If they want to voice their discontent, they are free to do so and can... in a civilized manner. Making death threats because of one's religion, towards cartoonists is a step too far and a detrimental attack on the free press, which thankfully many journalists like Christopher and Peter Hitchens have worked hard to uphold.

If you move onto the issue to racism and gender, this is a rather simple matter. If a black person goes around spurting out racial innuendo's, then it's alright. Poking fun at the white boys trying to look tough and the Korean boys who look like "disco asians," and let's not forget the frequent use of the word "nigger" among these circles. Why then should the United States minister of security get slammed when he voices concern about the alarmingly high proportion of African Americans who are in prison. It's politically incorrect to offend a racial group like that! How dare you say that? But here's a cup of reality. It's true. 1 in 11 African Americans are sitting in prison; to shrug it off as "racist" and "bigoted" is laughable and nothing more than lazy smack talk. What ever happened to telling the truth? Obviously many people are happier with hearing white lies, which lead to even more disappointment in the long run. Moving onto gender, I can remember one time when an interviewer (it may have been Paul Henry, no stranger to the politically correct brigade) interviewing a female member of parliament and she talked rather openly about celebrities she thought were good looking and sexy. Hardly a fuss was raised about it. Up steps John Key and ranks Liz Hurley and Jessica Alba as dream dates. Don't think he was going to get off easily. As much as I dislike John Key's political track record, he has as much right as the female politician to express his views. Green MP Sue Kedgley wouldn't dare stand for it and indirectly sought an apology with her rather stupid comments. Well Ms. Kedgely, along with all the other people who cannot stand your rigid request to remove free speech seek an apology. Don't go hating on men simply because you cannot accept his right to an opinion, just like anyone else. And don't you dare try suppress it either.




Which brings me to the main reason I decided to discuss this using examples from the three of the most contentious issues in society today. Religion, race and gender. Very delicate issues indeed, but not for one moment should any of these issues prevent us from telling the truth, even if it breaks the glass hearts of the politically correct. For thousands of years, honesty was always the best policy. Only within the last twenty years has this been revoked by people with glass hearts. We are fast in danger of losing our right to free speech from people who just do not want to hear an opinion that may be unpopular. The politically correct brigade search hard and fast to suppress these people, making personal attacks towards these people, branding them as bigots, racists, and offensive. Well if you want to be offended by being told a certain opinion or being informed with the sad truth, by all means be offended. Do not try to trample on the right to free speech, it has become the cornerstone of great democracies. Anyone encouraging people to be politically correct about everything they do should be completely and utterly ashamed of themselves.

The sooner I see the back of political correctness, the less I'll write about these issues. I get fed up of white lies being told to avoid offending minorities, the huge amounts of censorship, name calling and blackmail shown towards people who voice these opinions and tell the truth. Do not be afraid to tell the truth. Do not be afraid if people claim to be offended. They know if they try come at you with their politically correct dogma, it won't stand any chance of winning the argument on which is better.