Robert Smith, Roman Catholic and now-former Metro board member, believes homosexuality is a form of “deviancy.” Jim Graham, District of Columbia Council member, believes Smith’s beliefs are “ancient and archaic.” Graham’s views cost him nothing. Smith’s cost him his job.
Graham and Smith’s now-former boss, Maryland Gov. Bob Erhlich, should have said something like this: “I repudiate Smith’s views and find them disgusting, but it’s a free country and he can say whatever he thinks about any issue.” In a culture increasingly dominated by political correctness, however, such remarks would be derided.
So we have a fundamental issue: freedom of speech for Jim, but not for Bob. Thus the state of health of the First Amendment: You can say anything you want so long as it is politically correct. That’s the definition of “tolerance” practiced by officials like Graham, Erhlich and by many among America’s official and elite opinion-makers.
So, if we really are serious about “tolerance,” let’s admit that the words that come out of our mouths are simply how we share the thoughts in our brains with each other. It’s called “communication” and it is the very heart of democracy. So to be a truly “tolerant” democracy, all of our communications must be politically correct.
That means we must suppress all speech and thought that is not “tolerant.” Otherwise, we’re like the Dutch boy with a finger in the dike. A leak here and a leak there, and pretty soon we will be flooded by the ocean of thoughts behind the dike.
All “ancient and archaic” speech and thought must be suppressed; the more ruthlessly, the better because it proves how “tolerant” we are. Erhlich and Graham should support legislation outlawing expression of “ancient and archaic” ideas by anybody anywhere. If “tolerance” is good enough for D.C. and Maryland, it’s good enough for America, too.
Since millions of Americans — maybe even a majority of us — speak and think “ancient and archaic” words and thoughts on all sorts of issues, enforcement of the Erhlich-Graham “Tolerance” Act must include:
» Closing all institutions that teach “ancient and archaic” views, including churches, private schools, nonprofit advocacy organizations and community groups. The Southern Baptist Convention, Bob Jones University, Family Research Council, Knights of Columbus and all similar groups are hereby outlawed. In the spirit of “tolerance,” of course.
» Burning all books that express “ancient andarchaic” views, including especially the Bible, the Torah and the Koran. Making everybody in the community attend book burnings is an especially effective way of demonstrating that we all believe in “tolerance.”
» Imprisoning all dissidents who simply refuse to be “tolerant.” Execute repeat offenders who refuse to give up their “ancient and archaic” views.
» Making everybody inform on everybody else via Neighborhood Tolerance Watch Committees. Otherwise, somebody somewhere might say or think something that is not “tolerant.”
We admit those of another generation like James Madison, the father of the Constitution, might not approve of such drastic measures. But we’re confident more modern thinkers — Joseph Stalin comes to mind — would instantly approve. Think how “tolerant” he was.
