There are two sides (at least) to every story/issue but it seems the politically correct, liberal, New Age, post-modernist side not only dominates today’s media, educational institutions and levers of power, but also engages every possible tool and weapon at its disposal to ensure the “other side” is demonized and discouraged from further participation, or better yet, not heard/presented at all.
One could brush this off with the old adage, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen,” but such attitudes are anathema to critical thinking, good decision-making and, politically, to democracy itself, much more so than the supposed democratic deficit arising from our “first past the post” electoral system.
Indeed, the control exercised by the left/relativist side of the political spectrum often leaves little room for consideration of contrary viewpoints and a reasoned and respectful discussion.
Schools and universities are no longer “intellectually free.” Law societies and teachers unions fight to prevent private colleges from offering law degrees and teaching certificates, not because they have any concern about the quality of the programs or the competence of the graduates but because they don’t like the school’s code of conduct. Politicians kow-tow to special interest groups social agendas. Media mavens focus more on editorializing and leading public opinion than on presenting facts and balanced reporting.
A recent case is the issue of the niqab. To my knowledge, the only significant journalist who has dared present an opposing viewpoint is Rex Murphy (CBC, Sept. 30) whereas opposition politicians and the majority of the media have waxed indignant over the government wanting faces to be uncovered at citizenship ceremonies.
They say the niqab is just a piece of clothing. Is it really? That begs other questions: is a Ku Klux Klan hood just a piece of clothing? Is a flag just a piece of colored cloth? Is citizenship just a piece of paper? Is a niqab just the equivalent of a balaclava one wears to prevent frostbite?
Or is a niqab something different? A political statement? A sign of disrespect of Canada and Canadians and our values? A sign of subjugation and violence against women? A refusal to integrate into our society? The political left does not want us to even think about, let alone discuss, such questions.
One thing is for sure: the niqab is not a religious garment nor is it just a piece of clothing unlike a balaclava, surgical masks or other face coverings which we may temporarily wear for health, safety and other utilitarian purposes but otherwise remove and live in our society with our faces uncovered.
Neither is the government discriminating, nor regarding Muslim women as second-class citizens by asking/requiring the niqab be removed at citizenship ceremonies.
That opposition politicians, our national media, and the Muslim segment of our population would say otherwise and try to denigrate the Conservatives and portray Canadians as racist bigots over this issue is reprehensible.
Rick Tone
Whitehorse