Do we really have free speech?

On February 7^th of this year, Dr. Benjamin Carson delivered a memorable, provocative and sobering speech at the Presidential National Prayer Breakfast.  Dr. Carson is a world-renowned pediatric neurosurgeon who serves as Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. His speech has drawn national attention and acclaim, with clips appearing on various mainstream news outlets and receiving almost six hundred thousand views on YouTube.  In a speech that lasted nearly thirty minutes, Dr. Carson began by reading various Old Testament Scriptures and discussed sundry topics pertinent to the condition and future of the United States.   Topics included the value of education, families living in poverty, problems with political ‘partyism’, the lack of incentives for academic achievement in youth, the national debt, the hyper-complexity of the tax system, health care and the importance of coming together to find solutions to our nation’s woes.  One particular area of Dr. Carson’s speech that seemed to strike a nerve was his criticism of “political correctness”:

One last thing about political correctness, which I think is a horrible thing, by the way. I'm very, very compassionate, and I'm never out to offend anyone. But PC [i.e. Political Correctness, TJC] is dangerous. Because, you see, this country one of the founding principles was freedom of thought and freedom of expression. [Political Correctness, TJC] muffles people. It puts a muzzle on them. And at the same time, keeps people from discussing important issues while the fabric of this society is being changed. And we cannot fall for that trick. And what we need to do is start talking about things, talking about things that are important.

The point Dr. Carson is making is that we live in a world where political correctness rules supreme at the expense of having respectful and helpful dialog on matters of importance. While we may be able to exercise freedom of speech legally, it would appear that freedom of speech is not exercised practically. As a result, individuals are less likely to discuss ideas with others who do not hold to their views. Dr. Carson said, “We've reached the point where people are afraid to actually talk about what they want to say because somebody might be offended.”

Dallas Willard observed, “Truth is what you run into when you are wrong.”  He is alluding to the painful aspect of the truth.  The truth is not flattering.  The truth does indeed hurt at times.  However, truth trumps PC.  For example, if a doctor received the results from medical testing that showed that you have cancer, would you rather the doctor tell you the hard truth or pacify you by telling you everything is normal?  Would it be better to accept the truth, conform to it and pursue the next course of action in light of it or hold to a lie that may have immediate comfort, but long-term disaster? The truth is worth pursuing for its own sake.

The Bible says, “Buy the truth, and do not sell it, Also wisdom and instruction and understanding.” (Proverbs 23:23).  If we are more concerned about offending someone with our speech than we are about arriving at truth, we are going nowhere fast.  This seems to be especially prevalent when it comes to matters of religion.  In my experience, I have found it rather interesting that many so-called Christians who claim to believe in the one that said He is “the way, the truth, and the life” (Jn. 14:6) and claim to follow the New Testament, which puts a primary emphasis in conforming one’s life to the truth seem not to care much about the truth at all.  Many leave what they believe about religion to whims of their emotions, denominational ‘stance’, what their preacher or family believes, or other insufficient bases.  When their beliefs are challenged (or even questioned), they “put up a wall” to hide behind because they cannot give good reasons from God’s word why they believe or practice what they do.

My challenge to you, dear reader, is to develop a love of the truth to the extent that you are willing to engage in dialog with those who do not agree with you.  Resist the temptation to put up a wall of defense if someone believes something different than you do.  If what you believe is true, you should have nothing to hide.  Truth demands we conform to it, not the other way around. Truth never contradicts itself.  Not in a spirit of PC, but respect and dignity, may we all endeavor to pursue the truth regardless the cost.