CNN host Don Lemon believes progressives are the “least tolerant” people he knows, saying in a candid interview this week that the culture of “political correctness” in the United States is “dangerous.”
The cable news anchor’s remarks came during a radio interview with Black America Web.
“Do you allow room in your space for those who disagree with you? Do you ever call coworkers or the person you hear on the radio or see on TV stupid because you disagree with them or because they don’t hold your same opinion about an issue? If so, then you might be too politically correct for your own good, for society’s good,” he said, specifically referencing comedian Jerry Seinfeld’s recent remarks on how “politically correct” culture has gone to far.
Seinfeld is not alone. Other comedians, including Chris Rock and Jim Norton, have joined Seinfeld in saying that people have become too intolerant of speech.
“We have to stop looking for reasons to be offended. We have to allow people leeway to make mistakes in conversations without calling them racist, bigots, stupid, dumb, sell-outs and on and on,” Lemon said.
“Not everyone is going to [agree with you]. In fact, it’s better when people don’t agree with you. That’s how we learn,” he said.
Who is to blame for this shift in culture? For Lemon, it’s the political Left in the United States.
“After almost 25 years in the news business, you know who is the most easily offended and the least tolerant: Liberals and progressives, because many of them don’t really want to hear anyone else’s opinion but their own,” he said. “Here’s a tip, if you only agree with people who hold your same political affiliation or who are of your particular race, gender or ethnicity, you are part of the political correctness run amok problem.
“You are actually thwarting progress instead of advancing,” he added.
Lemon’s remarks track closely with the thesis of self-proclaimed liberal pundit Kirsten Powers’ newly released book The Silencing: How the Left is Killing Free Speech. She argues that liberals have increasingly adopted an “any means necessary” approach to suppressing contrary ideas. This includes skipping over all good faith arguments and going straight for accusing opposing voices of racism, homophobia and sexism.
(h/t Mediaite)
