What Are You Afraid Of?

What are you afraid of? Is it one or all of the 3 S's? Spiders? Snakes? Sharks? Is it of being in the dark or of getting lost in the woods or at the mall when you're shopping with your wife? Is it facing your friends after the New England Patriots lose the AFC Championship game to the Denver Broncos because they went for it on 4^th down instead of kicking a field goal? Being stupid and trying to tie the game and not win the game?

Sorry.

Seriously, what are you afraid of? Could it be … oh, I don't know … speaking your mind (some would call this being truthful) in front of people only to be berated for being a bigot, a racist, a homo-phobe, etc, etc? When did it become a crime or even bad manners to express your opinion? We are allowed to have opinions, aren't we? And don't deny it! You do have them! I've heard some of you! Talking about things that you believe in, that you hold dear in your heart! Things that you disagree with and worse … things that you agree with! How dare you!

There is a famous quote that we've probably all heard. There's some debate as to its origin so I'll just call it The Voltairean Principle: “I wholly disapprove of what you say and will defend to the death you're right to say it”.

Pretty cool, huh? Do you believe in The Voltairean Principle? I do. No matter how stupid what you say is, you don't deserve to be punished, ridiculed or harassed for saying it! Educated yes, but not the other three.

Of course, I'm talking about being politically correct. This is something that I hold near and dear to my heart because I believe that “Political Correctness” is the scourge of our time. It is the reason that some presidents who were elected in, say … the past eight years … got elected! It is the reason that abortion is legal in this country because “you can't tell a woman what to do with her body”. Well, what about a women telling that person who God created and is growing inside her, “You have to die because it would be inconvenient for me to have to raise you just because I had unprotected, premarital sex with whoever it was that got me pregnant.”

Again, sorry.

We've all done it. We've checked the table next to us at the restaurant before we tell the story about what the “black” guy or the “white” guy or “Hispanic” girl or the “oriental couple” did at the … whatever. We don't want to offend anyone and, don't get me wrong … that's a good thing. I don't recommend using that terminology in “mixed” company either. But, here's my question: Why can't we all just be “guys” or “girls” or “couples”? Why do we need to use the additional qualifiers? Even ones like “African American”? This is one that really gets my goat!

What? You can't ask or say that, you're white! To that I say, go jump in a lake!

Where were you born? Was it in the United States, one of its territories or were you the child of someone in the U.S. Military who was on assignment abroad when you came along? Or maybe you came here from somewhere else and became a citizen. If this describes you … and yes, there are other scenarios … then guess what? You are an American! Three of my grandparents were Irish immigrants and the forth was a French-Canadian. I am not an Irish American or a French-Canadian American or a European American. I was born in Boston! I am an American! I can go on and on. But, the point that I'm trying to make is that the more we separate ourselves by embracing the idea that we belong to a certain segment of the population, the more segmented we become! The United States is and always has been a “melting pot” of peoples and cultures. I, for one enjoy learning about the cultures of people from around the world. They make us who we are, uniquely Americans! But, on the flip-side of that same coin, don't come here and try to change me and make me become a part of your culture. That's not the way it works. One of the he greatest things about this country of mongrels is that we get to pick what's best about the cultures that we're made up of and use it to our advantage. How is that not a win, win benefit of being an American?

A good friend of mine said recently that he believes … and I happen to agree with him … that there may come a time, and not very long from now, when you may have to make a decision whether to stand up for what you believe in and, perhaps face some consequences or, you may be forced to compromise your principles and keep your mouth shut thus, cow-towing to the politically-correct masses. Isaiah 43:2 says, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.”

Now, this next point is important, so pay attention. I do not advocate getting into a shouting match with anyone, especially a crowd of misguided people who could easily beat you into a greasy spot on the sidewalk. 2 Timothy 2: 23-24 says, “Don't have anything to do with stupid and foolish arguments because you know that they produce quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.” So, walk away. You're probably not going to change any minds in that kind of an environment anyway, so be humble and remove yourself before you get hurt, physically or otherwise. Titus 3: 10-11 says, “Warn a divisive person once, and then warn him a second time. After that, have nothing to do with him. You may be sure that such a man is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.”

Politically Correct. I find the term itself offensive. I mean, what's the first word that pop's into your head when you hear the word, politics? Corruption? Deception? Liars? And politicians are the people that we elect to run or country! I have said for years that when a non-politician runs, I'll vote for him or her. Especially a business person who has enough money that he or she can't be bought and can put together a cabinet of people that he or she owes no favors to, who may be able to get some good done in Washington for a change! Now, it may sound like I'm advocating a certain candidate, but I'm not. Of the people running … and I can say this because this is an opinion piece … Mike Huckabee is the man I'd vote for. I did before and I'd do it again. But the fact is that he's not a front-runner and has no chance to win this time around. Maybe he could be someone's running-mate though. Get him ready to run again in eight years. That would be cool!

Political Correctness is a cancer that's eating away the flesh of our country. It may not kill the United States, but it has the potential to change her into something unrecognizable not only to us, but to the rest of the world, as well. Of all things, I'm a Christian first, a father next but after that, I'm a patriot. I love this country and I always will. I proudly stand with my brothers most Friday mornings and recite The Pledge of Allegiance. Though I was never in the military, I would, if it came down to it, defend her with my life and I know that most if not all of you who are reading this would as well. We live in and are citizens of the greatest nation ever to exist on the face of the earth, and it's not because we have the biggest economy or the most advanced military or even the best quarterback in NFL history, Tom Brady. It's because we are the most God fearing, have the most freedoms, the most generous people of any country and have the right to speak whatever we want to without fear of reprisals! Or at least we used to.

The First Amendment of the United States Constitution prohibits the “making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.”

It's time that we took our country back and called the people who would shout us down for expressing our beliefs the bullies that they are.

2 Chronicles 7:14.

G. J. Fortier is a member of Ironmen Ministries and First Baptist Church, Centerville, GA. Look for his novels on Amazon on Kindle and paperback. Or visit his website at www.GerardFortier.com