Offend
(PA) ✠ University of South Dakota ✠ University of Tennessee ✠ University of Tulsa (OK) ✠ University of Pittsburgh and Other Pittsburgh Area Colleges ✠ University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee ✠ University of Wisconsin—Superior ✠ University of Wyoming ✠ Valparaiso University (IN) ✠ Vanderbilt University (TN) ✠ Wright State University (OH) ✠
Air Force Academy (CO) ✠ Ball State University (IN) ✠ Boise State University (ID) ✠ Brock University (Ontario) ✠ California Polytechnic State University ✠ Carthage College (WI) ✠ Central Michigan University ✠ Chico State University (CA) ✠ Colorado State University ✠ Corne
Free to
By Rev. Jeffery Grams
In the age of political correctness, it has
become more and more difficult not to offend someone with almost anything you say.This is especially true on college and university campuses where students and professors alike are being taught that the greatest virtue of all is tolerance. Students are being taught from a very young age that it is unacceptable, even sinful, to say something that might offend other people.
H I G H E R
T H I N G S __
Into this culture of correctness, I would like to propose a statement that may offend: Freedom of speech depends on our ability to say things that other people find offensive! What does our Constitution actually say? “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances” (United States Constitution, First Amendment). The writers of our Constitution understood the simple truth that what one person proclaims as true another will find offensive. At the very core of this amendment is the idea that those public discussions that people find the most potentially offensive—religion, politics, and the press—should be legally protected from censorship. Freedom of speech means the freedom to publicly say what others find offensive! It was understood that religious speech and the free exercise of faith would cause offense. It was understood that those who held opposing political viewpoints would find each other offensive. It was understood that the press would print stories that many would find offensive. It was understood that politicians would find criticism of their personal life and their politics offensive.
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Duluth ✠ University of Minnesota—Morris ✠ University of Minnesota—Twin Cities ✠ University of North Carolina—Greensboro ✠ University of North Dakota ✠ University of Northern Colorado ✠ University of Northern Iowa ✠ University of Oklahoma ✠ University of Pittsburgh
