Political correctness—a philosophy that discourages diversity of viewpoints
Bill Haymin
June 21, 2009
The Rutherford Institute
www.rutherford.org
By John Whitehead
I never thought I would see the absurd proportions that things have reached in this country, all for the sake of not offending some individual or special-interest group. Political correctness—a philosophy that discourages diversity of viewpoints—has become a guiding principle of modern society. If there is the slightest possibility that someone might be offended, freedom of speech is erased.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the schools, especially when Christianity is involved.
Indeed, things have gotten so ridiculous that the mere mention of God is enough to send public school officials into a tailspin. Just consider what happened to Renee Griffith on her graduation day.
By virtue of her scholastic achievements, Renee was one of ten valedictorians selected to deliver remarks at graduation about things they had learned during their time at Butte High School in Butte, Montana. The students prepared their own remarks, and some delivered them together, in an alternating fashion. Renee paired up with another student to talk about the lessons they had learned in school, which ranged from the humorous and mundane to the heartfelt.
School officials who reviewed the remarks prior to graduation did not raise any objections to the students' light-hearted remarks. What they did object to, ironically enough, was Renee's heartfelt statement about how she learned to persevere and not fear by standing up for her religious convictions.
"I learned to persevere these past four years, even through failure or discouragement, when I had to stand for my convictions," wrote Renee. "I didn't let fear keep me from sharing Christ and His joy with those around me. I learned to impart hope, to encourage people to treat each day as a gift. I learned not to be known for my grades or for what I did during school, but for being committed to my faith and morals and being someone who lived with a purpose from God with a passionate love for Him."
Just prior to the graduation ceremony, Renee was given an ultimatum by school officials: either delete the references to God from her speech and replace them with more neutral phrases or be forbidden to speak at all at the graduation program.
For example, instead of saying "I didn't let fear keep me from sharing Christ and His joy with those around me," she was instructed to say "I didn't let fear keep me from sharing my faith with those around me." And instead of "being someone who lived with a purpose from God with a passionate love for Him," she was told to describe herself as "someone who lived with a purpose, a purpose derived from my faith and based on a love of mankind."
To most people, these might seem like minor changes. But to Renee, there is a world of difference between a life that is based on a love of God and a life based on a love of mankind.
Not surprisingly, Renee insisted on her right to free speech. After all, Renee has a constitutional right to use the words of her choice when talking about the lessons she learned in school, just as other students were permitted to use words of their choosing to share what they learned.
Unfortunately, school officials didn't see it that way. They banned Renee from participating in the graduation ceremony altogether. That's when Renee turned to The Rutherford Institute for help.
We've already filed a free speech lawsuit in Montana state court, and we're preparing for what will likely be a long and costly court battle. But we cannot do this alone. This case promises to be another momentous religious freedom battle, and we're going to need all the help we can get in order to prevail.
Please take a moment to make a tax-deductible donation in support of our much-needed legal and educational programs. Whether you write a check, make a gift online by credit card or call in your gift to our Donor Hotline at 1-800-225-1791, whatever you can afford to share, whether it is $5, $50, $500 or more, will be greatly appreciated and put to immediate use.
As a great American patriot once remarked, "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must...undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
Thank you, and God bless you, for faithfully standing with us and never tiring of supporting this much-needed and critical work to safeguard our God-given freedoms.
Yours faithfully,
John W. Whitehead
P.S. If there has ever been a time to take a stand and fight for freedom, it is now. As historian Roland Bainton reminds us, "All freedoms hang together. Civil liberties scarcely thrive when religious liberties are disregarded, and the reverse is equally true." In other words, if all freedoms hang together, then they will fall together, too. In fact, they will fall like dominoes.
As we prepare to end our fiscal year on June 30, we are still almost $350,000 short of balancing the budget. Please take a moment today to help us end this year in the black and continue to fight for justice and the courageous individuals who are willing to take a stand, and often suffer, for our cherished beliefs. And remember, your donation will also count toward a $60,000 matching gift challenge issued by some of our concerned faithful donors.
The Rutherford Institute
Post Office Box 7482
Charlottesville, VA 22906-7482
Phone: 434-978-3888
FAX: 434- 978-1789
http://www.rutherford.org
Under the regulations of the United States Internal Revenue Service, The Rutherford Institute is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Donations to support The Rutherford Institute's legal and educational work help to safeguard the constitutional rights and religious freedoms of all Americans. Donations are tax-deductible. In compliance with general industry standards of a nonprofit organization, the Institute is audited annually by an independent accounting firm.
Founded in 1982 by constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead, The Rutherford Institute is a civil liberties organization that provides free legal services to people whose constitutional and human rights have been threatened or violated.
HOW CAN I TELL OTHERS ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Send a personalized version of this message to your friends:. http://tool.donation-net.net/entrance/enter.cfm?dn=1034&source=5&id=82953&commid=9733003&CFID=7017355&CFTOKEN=67221950
HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Go here to give an online donation: https://www.donation-net.net/donate/gift1.cfm?dn=1034&source=8&id=82953&commid=9733003&CFID=7017357&CFTOKEN=72875223
Disclaimer: Posting articles does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article. All articles that are posted are aimed at getting people to think & consider the various issues, ideas & factual research presented.
Reprinted by permission
Presented by Bill Haymin, 2009
www.rutherford.org
By John Whitehead
I never thought I would see the absurd proportions that things have reached in this country, all for the sake of not offending some individual or special-interest group. Political correctness—a philosophy that discourages diversity of viewpoints—has become a guiding principle of modern society. If there is the slightest possibility that someone might be offended, freedom of speech is erased.
Nowhere is this more evident than in the schools, especially when Christianity is involved.
Indeed, things have gotten so ridiculous that the mere mention of God is enough to send public school officials into a tailspin. Just consider what happened to Renee Griffith on her graduation day.
By virtue of her scholastic achievements, Renee was one of ten valedictorians selected to deliver remarks at graduation about things they had learned during their time at Butte High School in Butte, Montana. The students prepared their own remarks, and some delivered them together, in an alternating fashion. Renee paired up with another student to talk about the lessons they had learned in school, which ranged from the humorous and mundane to the heartfelt.
School officials who reviewed the remarks prior to graduation did not raise any objections to the students' light-hearted remarks. What they did object to, ironically enough, was Renee's heartfelt statement about how she learned to persevere and not fear by standing up for her religious convictions.
"I learned to persevere these past four years, even through failure or discouragement, when I had to stand for my convictions," wrote Renee. "I didn't let fear keep me from sharing Christ and His joy with those around me. I learned to impart hope, to encourage people to treat each day as a gift. I learned not to be known for my grades or for what I did during school, but for being committed to my faith and morals and being someone who lived with a purpose from God with a passionate love for Him."
Just prior to the graduation ceremony, Renee was given an ultimatum by school officials: either delete the references to God from her speech and replace them with more neutral phrases or be forbidden to speak at all at the graduation program.
For example, instead of saying "I didn't let fear keep me from sharing Christ and His joy with those around me," she was instructed to say "I didn't let fear keep me from sharing my faith with those around me." And instead of "being someone who lived with a purpose from God with a passionate love for Him," she was told to describe herself as "someone who lived with a purpose, a purpose derived from my faith and based on a love of mankind."
To most people, these might seem like minor changes. But to Renee, there is a world of difference between a life that is based on a love of God and a life based on a love of mankind.
Not surprisingly, Renee insisted on her right to free speech. After all, Renee has a constitutional right to use the words of her choice when talking about the lessons she learned in school, just as other students were permitted to use words of their choosing to share what they learned.
Unfortunately, school officials didn't see it that way. They banned Renee from participating in the graduation ceremony altogether. That's when Renee turned to The Rutherford Institute for help.
We've already filed a free speech lawsuit in Montana state court, and we're preparing for what will likely be a long and costly court battle. But we cannot do this alone. This case promises to be another momentous religious freedom battle, and we're going to need all the help we can get in order to prevail.
Please take a moment to make a tax-deductible donation in support of our much-needed legal and educational programs. Whether you write a check, make a gift online by credit card or call in your gift to our Donor Hotline at 1-800-225-1791, whatever you can afford to share, whether it is $5, $50, $500 or more, will be greatly appreciated and put to immediate use.
As a great American patriot once remarked, "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must...undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
Thank you, and God bless you, for faithfully standing with us and never tiring of supporting this much-needed and critical work to safeguard our God-given freedoms.
Yours faithfully,
John W. Whitehead
P.S. If there has ever been a time to take a stand and fight for freedom, it is now. As historian Roland Bainton reminds us, "All freedoms hang together. Civil liberties scarcely thrive when religious liberties are disregarded, and the reverse is equally true." In other words, if all freedoms hang together, then they will fall together, too. In fact, they will fall like dominoes.
As we prepare to end our fiscal year on June 30, we are still almost $350,000 short of balancing the budget. Please take a moment today to help us end this year in the black and continue to fight for justice and the courageous individuals who are willing to take a stand, and often suffer, for our cherished beliefs. And remember, your donation will also count toward a $60,000 matching gift challenge issued by some of our concerned faithful donors.
The Rutherford Institute
Post Office Box 7482
Charlottesville, VA 22906-7482
Phone: 434-978-3888
FAX: 434- 978-1789
http://www.rutherford.org
Under the regulations of the United States Internal Revenue Service, The Rutherford Institute is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. Donations to support The Rutherford Institute's legal and educational work help to safeguard the constitutional rights and religious freedoms of all Americans. Donations are tax-deductible. In compliance with general industry standards of a nonprofit organization, the Institute is audited annually by an independent accounting firm.
Founded in 1982 by constitutional attorney and author John W. Whitehead, The Rutherford Institute is a civil liberties organization that provides free legal services to people whose constitutional and human rights have been threatened or violated.
HOW CAN I TELL OTHERS ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Send a personalized version of this message to your friends:. http://tool.donation-net.net/entrance/enter.cfm?dn=1034&source=5&id=82953&commid=9733003&CFID=7017355&CFTOKEN=67221950
HOW CAN I SUPPORT YOUR ORGANIZATION?
Go here to give an online donation: https://www.donation-net.net/donate/gift1.cfm?dn=1034&source=8&id=82953&commid=9733003&CFID=7017357&CFTOKEN=72875223
Disclaimer: Posting articles does not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article. All articles that are posted are aimed at getting people to think & consider the various issues, ideas & factual research presented.
Reprinted by permission
Presented by Bill Haymin, 2009
Print
Email
