Posted by
The Secular Conservative on Sunday, December 03, 2006 12:48:55 PM
Previously Hidden Right to Not be Offended Trumps All Other Rights
Apparently there is a new hidden “right” found in the Constitution to go along with the right to privacy and the separation of church and state. Like the first two, the right to not be offended has permeated the culture, and this right trumps all other rights. The most common right to fall is the freedom of speech because, after all, if you offend someone with your speech, the person who is offended has the right to stifle your freedom of speech so that they don’t have to be offended.
Need some examples? Let’s start with Kramer.
Does Michael Richards have the right to say “the n-word?” [ed note: Townhall won't allow me to actually use the n-word in that sentence] Only until someone finds it offensive. If he offends, he’s forced to go through the ritual known as the public apology. First, identify someone who represents the group of people that have been offended (Jesse Jackson), then apologize and offer some excuse like alcohol or some childhood trauma. If the victim group is not satisfied, find other broadcast television shows (Letterman, Leno) and bring out friends to offer testimonials (Jerry Seinfeld). Still not enough? Meet privately with the actual “victims.”
I have always wondered what gets said in a meeting like that? “I’m sorry I said the n-word (because he wouldn’t be stupid enough to say it again in their presence). Now that I have been publicly shamed enough to have this meeting, what would make you make this all go away? After all, I could tell you that I’m not a racist, that words are arbitrary, and I just happened to use the most inflammatory word I could think of to get you to stop heckling me because everyone knows my career has peaked. But you won’t believe that I’m not a racist no matter what I tell you, so what exactly is the point of this meeting?” We all know that there’s nothing that can be said to defend against the racist label – just one of the many reasons liberals find it to be such an effective debating tactic.
Second example: Dennis Prager thinks public officials should be sworn in on the Bible instead of other books like the Koran, Dianetics, Mein Kampf, or the works of Voltaire. After all, the Bible is the traditional book used for the ceremonial swearing-in. Why does he have to be so viciously attacked? Because someone was offended by his statements (actually misstatements of what he said, but what does that matter?), naturally. If someone is offended, Dennis’s freedom of speech is temporarily revoked.
From the voicemails, blog comments, and reports of emails Dennis has received, he is apparently racist, bigoted, and ignorant. Because a new right has been found in the Constitution, the right of one person to not be offended trumps Dennis’s right to speak, so he has to be muzzled. The ignorance of those attacking Prager is astounding, but they have a single objective: take away his freedom to speak.
I’ll limit myself to two examples today, but as other sensational news stories come up, I’ll document additional examples. So for those who are counting, a running list of previously hidden rights found in the U.S. Constitution:
- Right to privacy
- Separation of church and state
- Right to not be offended
I love our narcissistic culture!
-tsc