Everywhere we turn these days somebody is trying to shut up or shut down somebody else. Because they don’t like what that somebody else says or writes.
Lately reporters at the New York Times revolted. Because the op-ed page ran an article they did not like. By a US senator they did not like. They got one op-ed editor fired. And another demoted.
We have seen universities fire professors who did not toe the party line. Companies boot execs who dare to be politically incorrect.
Universities ban and attack “offensive speech”. That is, speech some students and faculty don’t like. They feel triggered or frightened or threatened by opinions that differ from theirs.
Used to be such people challenged or debated those with whom they disagreed. Today they call for them to be banished.
Students and faculty demand conservative speakers not be allowed on their campuses. They shout down and hound many who try to speak. Some profs punish students for voicing unpopular thoughts.
Leaders in the climate-change industry punish scientists who disagree that the world is burning up. They blackball them from organizations. They do their best to keep their papers from being published. They do their best to shut them up. The debate is over, they proclaim.
Some politicians want to prohibit judges from joining conservative organizations.
‘Tis the Age of Intolerance, for sure. Opposing views are repugnant, unwelcome. We see it all around us. Half the family won’t speak to the other half. Because one-half believes in climate change or Trump or defunding police. While the other half does not. Civil discussions between friends and relatives have died in the flames of intolerance.
We witness a constant outpouring from cancel-culture folks. They want to ban movies, columnists, books, tv shows. Just as the Times reporters wanted to ban an article by a senator.
We see the intolerance in the vitriol tv commentators spew. Last week I watched a discussion about race on a news network, by two prominent figures. They literally screamed at each other for five minutes. Neither let his opponent speak for more than a few seconds before attacking him.
The New York Times has apparently refused to include a best-selling book on its list of best-selling books. Because it expresses conservative ideas people at the paper don’t like. And so they cause the conservative book to disappear. They pretend it does not exist.
Meanwhile, social media giants are busy censoring opinion. Facebook and Twitter employ small armies of censors. YouTube removes videos that may upset viewers – or may upset their censors.
The motto for this era might best be “We don’t like what you say. Shut up and go away.”
If Voltaire was around today he might proclaim “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death anyone who shuts you up.”
All this reminds me of a dinner party of a few years ago in London. Round the table were men and women of different races and cultures. And decidedly of different political opinions.
The discussion veered into contentious territory. I think the subject was racism in America. Voices grew louder and more strident. The air began to fill with snide remarks, insults and accusations..
Our host thumped the table and silenced the rabble we were becoming. He declared a few ground rules. We would go around the table. Each person who wanted to speak could speak for two minutes. No one would interrupt. No one. No sarcastic remarks. No comments.
After everyone had spoken anyone could rebut for one minute. After that, we would move on to a new topic.
It worked a miracle. We enjoyed a thoroughly civil discussion. Everyone was happy because everyone got to speak without interruption, without attack. Everyone got to be heard. Everyone had to shut up and listen to what others had to say.
Everyone had a chance to rebut what another had argued. Everybody got to say “I guess I told them!”
We all went home unbruised. And happier than if we had continued down the road to mayhem.
For the cause of civil discussion, I would be delighted to suggest this to politicians, commentators and people of influence everywhere. But I won’t. Because I don’t want to hear them tell me to shut up.
From Tom…as in Morgan.
Find Tom at tomasinmorgan.com. You can write to Tom at tomasinmorgan@yahoo.com.