Thumbs up: To Dennis Keveryn for his 20 years of service to the Salvation Military.  He’ll be honored on April 28 on the first Purple Defend Gala. Get your tickets now.

Thumbs down: To the DEI — Variety, fairness and inclusion — motion that’s spreading quicker than kudzu. America could be higher off if the DEI motion would go forward and D-I-E!

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 “We have now to return collectively.” “We have now to have a dialog.” “We’re not the crimson states of America or the blue states of America … however the US of America.”

We hear statements like these typically, normally in election years, from pandering politicians who’re attempting to vilify one facet of the political aisle and maintain false hope that in some way this nation can discover its method again to unity. 

For any of these statements to return true, although, there needs to be a willingness to have a wholesome dialogue, the place disparate teams can specific themselves freely. America just isn’t, has by no means been and by no means shall be a “one-size-fits-all” society. A nation with a inhabitants as massive and various as that of the previous United States of America — sure, we used former as a result of there’s nothing united about this nation anymore — there shall be extensive chasms of beliefs.

At one time on this society, the distinction in beliefs didn’t matter. If a college invited a speaker who many disagreed with, protests would sprout up — a splendidly American exercise — however past the protest, the featured speaker might do exactly that — converse. 

Not.

Just lately at Stanford College, a regulation professor was scheduled to talk. Lawless youngsters — and they’re youngsters who want a wrap throughout the knuckles — protested. Advantageous. However then they broke home windows, shouted down the featured speaker to silence a voice these youngsters who in some way consider they’re enlightened didn’t agree with. As dangerous as these violent protests had been, the response from one of many adults within the room was much more telling.

In keeping with media reviews, the dean of the Variety, Fairness and Inclusion motion on the college didn’t rise to tamp down the unhinged protesters. She didn’t seize the microphone and specific that one of many hallmarks of American society is to let folks specific themselves with opinions that may not be well-liked. No, she rose to say how uncomfortable the speaker’s phrases made her really feel. 

None of those that shattered home windows had been arrested. Violence, at the least whether it is perpetrated by a protected class, is simply nice. Had a protester thrown a rock by means of a window of an abortion kill-mill, she or he probably could be in solitary confinement after a Justice Division raid on their properties.

By not disciplining these lawless maniacs hellbent on silencing all voices of dissent, it merely emboldens those self same thugs who act robust, but are the weakest amongst us. A baby can act foolishly and throw rocks, however it’s the adults who can sit down, take heed to opposing views and perceive that we’re a distinct folks residing underneath the identical enormous umbrella.

When the adults within the room act just like the petulant little youngsters who consider they’ve the world found out and it’s their method or the freeway, it’s yet one more thrust of the sword into the soul of the nation.

The door swings each methods, too. If the “Squad” of socialist lunatics schedule a joint speech on the campus of the College of Southern Mississippi, they need to be allowed to talk with out having to fret a couple of brick being thrown by means of a window. What number of Mississippians agree with something probably the most radical parts of the socialist left may spew? Nonetheless, it’s paramount for them to be allowed to talk.

In a free society, with out that means to trade concepts, that free society is misplaced. These Stanford protesters’ brains are usually not totally developed. They’re so emotionally weak that when somebody expresses views they can’t deal with, they flip to their solely reply — silencing dissent and name-calling. Bear in mind, when one facet can not win within the enviornment of debate, they flip to the one factor they know will work — tossing labels round that in some way nonetheless stick. Fascist. Racist. Ableist.

Adults, step up and step in. It’s time to put these youngsters in timeout. Sanity needs to be reclaimed and a free dialogue of concepts needs to be restored. The inmates are working the asylum and the guards are usually not tamping down these inmates, however offering them with matches and gasoline to torch the notion of free expression.