The American Freedom Network

There is no “right” to not be offended

There is a veritable industry today of people (lawyers) seeking to make free money based on some persons’ claims to “be offended” by the speech of others.  This is a dangerous and slippery slope for our culture, society and political institutions.  It has been derived by the maturing of “political correctness” born in the late 60′s of last century and is fueled by the popular media.  Our citizens and guests (legal or not) are inculcated non-stop with reinforcement of the false idea that there is some inherent right to not be offended.

No matter how foul, course or politically incorrect an insult (or perceived insult) is, it can not harm a person.  Being “disrespected” isn’t harmful in any way except in the minds of fools who *choose* to take offense and/or “feel” harmed.  Remember your Mom telling you about sticks and stones versus names?  Apparently this is inapplicable to members of the bar, special interest/special rights groups like the race hustlers and homosexual acceptance activists.

Yes, this includes racial, gender, ethnic epithets.  It includes groups self-identified by their aberrancy, preferences (not orientations) and behaviors.  It includes those who are foriegn to the U.S. and those native born or naturalized.  Groupings that commonly *seek* “victim” status simply because they *CHOOSE* to be offended by the words, written or spoken, of others.

This industry of offended victimhood has its own special rules as to what can be said or not said, written and not written.  Driven by the avarice of legal beagles seeking to earn money, not by producing anything of value, but by reinforcing and encouraging the fallacious idea that “being offended” is actionable.

We wish to return to the simpler life when people considered the source of what was said or written.  If someone wants to call me names or say things I may choose to find offensive, they are free to do so.  Their words don’t assign their perceptions or values to me unless I *CHOOSE* to accept them and own them as my own.  Regardless of my choice, their liberty is to say what they please.  My behavior is volitional and my person, my family and my property aren’t harmed by what others say about me.

So all you professional “victim” representatives, remember this.  “Hate” isn’t illegal but disagreeing with you doesn’t constitute “hate” or “fear” of you or your opinions.  Words don’t harm you.  Consider the source.  If the source is an opponent, who cares what they say?  I am much more likely to *CHOOSE* to be offended by the words of people who’s opinion I actually esteem.