Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Dear Francis Scott Key: The answer is No

Ever notice that the words of the Star Spangled Banner are a question? 

"Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave o're the land of the free and the home of the brave?"

Well, I'd have to say no.  With growing calls to celebrate the Glorious Censorship, it's not hard to see we're creating a culture that believes the best way to deal with differences is to call for oppression and elimination of bad-think.  Sometimes it's little, sometimes it's around bigger issues.  But it's clearly the go-to tactic now when we don't like something that someone else is doing and saying.

I'm not suggesting it's one side or the other.  I'm just noticing it's the common way to go about dealing with disagreements.  See, back in the 70s and 80s, we were supposed to be getting past all that.  Such behavior was the stuff of bigotry, intolerance, and general unenlightened culture. We were to be open, free, respecting diversity of opinions and celebrating different lifestyles and choices. 

Well, no more.  Labelling things hate, offensive, and any one of a thousand euphemisms for 'stuff I don't agree with', we're shuffling off the inconvenient burden of a free and open society.  No, we're just in a mad dash to see who gets to make it to the top of the American heap before freedoms are all gone.  Stories like this are just the beginning.  Freedom for me, not so much for everyone else.  That's more or less the answer to the question Mr. Key. 

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