Did you know that if you placed a frog into a boiling pot of water, the frog would jump out. His instinct for survival would take over in the face of imminent danger. But, if you put that same frog into a pot of cold water and slowly increased the temperature, the frog's instinct would be to adapt to the changing environment. He would stay in that pot until the end. Why do I tell you this? Because we, my friends, are becoming that frog and our proverbial pot is our freedom. If someone were to tell you that they were going to take away your freedom, you, like the frog, would fight. Your instinct would be to keep what is yours. Unfortunately, those who seek to take what's yours are never that obvious; never that straight forward. No. Like the slowly rising temperature, those who seek to take what's yours just nibble away, bit by bit, until there's nothing left. We all know what has been happening on college campuses across the Country. Freedom of Speech has all but been eliminated. "Safe spaces" have replaced discussion groups. Conservative speakers have been banned. Critical thinking is shunned. Anyone who dares to challenge the status quo is ostracized. The same people who talk about diversity and acceptance are the first to slap labels, like racist, homophobic, bigot, onto anyone who disagrees with them. An American themed Barbecue was banned at a college in New Jersey because it was deemed "offensive to some students". Dartmouth College canceled a Luau, calling it "culturally insensitive". Maybe it is. My point is that everything is offensive to someone so where does it end? Little by little, degree by degree, we're being painted in to a corner where the only acceptable behavior will be to walk in lockstep and say nothing. I don't know about you but I don't look good in gray. Now, imagine if you will, that anything you've ever said, every private conversation you've ever had; regardless of context or circumstance; could be broadcast to the world for judgement. How would you fare? Think about it. I'm sure there are some of you who have never uttered an unkind word. I, for one, am not one of those people. Imagine living in a world where anything you say, even in the privacy of your own home, could be used against you at any time. Well, you don't have to imagine it. You're there. Remember the case of Donald Sterling? How about Paula Deen? These were very public cases but it's happening every day to every day people. Where will it end? It won't. You can't, as my Dad used to say, put toothpaste back in the tube. So where do we go from here? The first step, my Dear Friends, is to stop being so offended by everything. Accept the fact that sometimes good people say stupid things. That doesn't make them bad people. Remember when we used to judge people by their actions? That whole 'sticks and stones' thing? It's time to get that mindset back. The temperature is rising people. Jump now or forever hold your peace!
Po
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