Go away Mardy Bum

When I first started taking the net seriously, a couple of years ago, I joined a couple of Political Forums. I was pretty wet around the ears back then, an idealistic liberal, I walked into a few sucker punches, and it must be said, ruffled a few feathers myself, but it was always enjoyable.

Things all started to get a little strained around the time of the London Bombings, back in July of last year. People were angry, reactionary, and in the case of the right-wingers, emboldened. Those whose agenda was served by the attacks, jumped on the incident, and exploited it for legitimacy. A politically disparate, but friendly group, was fractured, and the comradeship was never repaired. A few heated exchanges ensued, and I resigned from the group in a fit of pique.

Over the past year I have returned to the group, and left again, several times, usually because tempers had flared, or, because I had just had enough. But I feel this experience has taught me a valuable lesson. Taking offence is a complete waste of time.

There is simply no point in debating politics if you’re at all touchy. You will get offended, upset, and will probably flounce off in a huff. And what will be the result of your strop? You will leave the floor open for your opponent – you will have lost. My dad always refers to insults and tirades as, “water off a ducks back,” and he is, as is usual, absolutely right. To take offence is a futile expression of hubristic insecurity. And I’d argue, liberals are the biggest hypocrites.

It’s true. Liberals are always demanding freedom. They want religious freedom, political free speech, and limitless liberty to communicate expressions of sexuality. All of which are commendable, but it’s rather surprising, that so many of these liberals, are also those who get offended when people express their god-given right to hold prejudices. Because a man’s right to practice his own brand of bigotry, as long as he doesn’t physically harm anyone, is just as fundamental as political or cultural freedom. And why do they want personal prejudice suppressed? Because, they say, such opinions will ‘offend’ minority groups.

Have you ever heard such poppycock?

Free speech, is free speech, is free speech. I completely, and unreservedly, defend the right for a moron, to hold and propagate his moronic views. Your ‘right’, not to be offended, does not concern me. I couldn’t care less. And equally, you can offend me in any way you please - and if I get offended? Tough shit hombre, I’ll just have to exercise my right to flounce off in a huff.

Free Speech includes the freedom to hold and communicate unpalatable views. The orthodoxy of political correctness, enforced so vehemently by the state, is an affront to the enlightened Whigish foundations of liberalism, and we, the liberals, have lost sight of these roots.