Buildings alone were not the only things set ablaze during the “George Floyd Protests”--social media torched free expression and demanded renunciations.
An America that once revered disagreement and debate has fallen into imposing mandatory silence upon differing viewpoints. Those who do not bow (kneel?) to political correctness face “re-education,” in the same way that the old Soviet Union arrested opponents and exiled them to the Gulag. Today, in the Gulag’s place, we have social media hate and condemnation.
Cancel Culture Crowd
After earlier sharing a message of unity, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees attracted a backlash last week, when he reiterated his stance that he will "never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America.” The full quote: "I love and respect my teammates, and I stand right there with them fighting for racial equality and justice. I also stand with my grandfathers, who risked their lives for this country, and countless other military men and women who do it on a daily basis."
The second episode of social media excoriation involved “progressive” Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey being met with a chorus of boos for not being radical enough when he told a group of Black Lives Matter demonstrators on Saturday that he did not support abolishing the city police department. Frey was promptly asked to leave by the crowd, and the ironic, delicious moment occurred in which his destructive political career ended. Of course, Frey will be given the chance to recant, and denounce himself, and the weasel carpetbagger mayor will be welcomed back into the good graces of the “Cancel Culture” crowd.
What amazes about Brees’ apology was the lengths he went to beg forgiveness of his black teammates and the city for which he plays professional football and that has a significant African American population.
In eight paragraphs on Instagram, Brees acknowledged he had made a mistake to show respect to everyone, and not exclusively black people.
Among his comments, Brees said,
“it breaks my heart to know the pain I have caused.”
“I made comments that were insensitive and completely missed the mark.”
“They lacked awareness and any type of compassion or empathy. Instead, those words have become divisive and hurtful.”
“I acknowledge that…. (I) have not done enough to fight for that equality or to truly understand the struggles and plight of the black community.”
One would think denouncing himself would satisfy the mob, nevertheless he felt the need to lambaste the country that made him wealthy because of his ability to throw a tight spiral.
“I stand with the black community in the fight against systemic racial injustice and police brutality. I condemn the years of oppression that have taken place throughout our black communities and still exists today.”
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The political indoctrination on college campuses with “safe spaces,” and in government public schools is now bleeding into mainstream America
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey experienced his own sudden whiplash with the Far Left. Frey, who grew up in a Washington, D.C. suburb, ran for city council in 2013 and won. He pushed for “affordable housing” and promised to address climate change, obviously a key issue in frigid Minnesota. According to reports, there has not been a Republican on Minneapolis City Council for more than 50 years, so obviously Democrats have presided over a half century of police brutality and racism before Frey flipped.
The political indoctrination on college campuses with “safe spaces,” and in government public schools is now bleeding into mainstream America. Brees committed the “sin” of being “politically incorrect,” and under pressure “repented” of his “thoughtcrime.” In his classic book, 1984, George Orwell coined the word ‘thoughtcrime' to describe a person's unapproved, unspoken beliefs that contradict the government and the Party’s control of the citizenry.
Black Lives Matter and Antifa will not accept that America and no place really save Heaven is perfect. In the Preamble to the United States Constitution, the Founders wrote, “We The People, of the United State of America, in order to form a more-perfect union.” So, from the very beginning, Americans believed their country could do better. Slavery was ended after the Civil War. We had a Civil Rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s because the promise of equality eluded black Americans. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., by non-violence, won a national debate, arguing that America must pay black Americans the promissory note of equal rights, but not special rights.
Now ordinary, silent Americans are guilty, too. Silence means “complicity,” and the Left’s “cure” is “re-education” and “denunciation.”
Americans once peaceably debated the nature of freedom and liberty, and how we ought to govern ourselves. This was America’s defining glory. But over the last 70 years, we have lost the ability to disagree with each other and have our own opinions, much less talk politics to our friends and family.
Drew Brees was silenced, but even that was insufficient; he had to renounce his patriotism. Now ordinary, silent Americans are guilty, too. Silence means “complicity,” and the Left’s “cure” is “re-education” and “denunciation.”
Calling someone a racist is the ultimate silencing. This pernicious word is a political weapon designed to create division and stifle debate. And who is a racist? Anyone who opposes the Left’s "radical transformation" of the United States into a socialist paradise. Here are some examples of this type of racism: Anybody who wants to secure America's borders and limit immigration. Anybody who wants only U.S. citizens to vote in American elections. Anybody who opposes free health insurance for illegal aliens. Anybody who opposes "defunding the police."
Dr. King’s standard of trying to love everybody and judging people on the “content of their character, rather than the color of their skin” looks about right.
Daniel Wiseman is an independent political commentator, who focuses on national and international affairs. He spent nine years as a professional journalist in Wyoming before working in fund-raising, non-profit management, and is now working in New York City. Wiseman focuses his writing on how to bring the United States back to its Constitutional moorings. He writes exclusively for Canada Free Press.
Buildings alone were not the only things set ablaze during the “George Floyd Protests”--social media torched free expression and demanded renunciations.
An America that once revered disagreement and debate has fallen into imposing mandatory silence upon differing viewpoints. Those who do not bow (kneel?) to political correctness face “re-education,” in the same way that the old Soviet Union arrested opponents and exiled them to the Gulag. Today, in the Gulag’s place, we have social media hate and condemnation.
