The Variable Quality of Fos

    There is precious little is freedom any more!  The lyric from the Kris Christoferson’s song goes, “… FREEDOM’S JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR NOTHING LEFT TO LOOSE…” and pretty much defines the term.  Life has been, and always will be, a matter of choices.  You choose liberty (freedom) or some alternative with every discretionary action you take.The simple choice of turning left or right exercises such a freedom.  This “Choosing” activity is becoming less and less available to us as a population    

     Volumes have been written about what is freedom and what is slavery.  Sometimes the choice of slavery is foisted upon us, or more to the point, we take on the burden of “shackles” when we seek such things as ,gainful employment, loans for whatever purpose, relationships, etc.  When we enter into these types of contracts, we give up certain of our freedoms, though sometimes  we do so willingly.

     Employment constitutes a choice when we condescend to whatever conditions of employment may apply.   Marriage is another such contract entered into which requires the surrender of certain rights.  being a good citizen requires our participation in what is termed “conformity”.  This is a term that surfaced in the middle 60’s to connote those who were anti-establishment types, those more likely to “rebel” or create problems for our society. If you did not conform (become a part of the establishment), you were labeled a non-conformist.  Many of those types are now mainstream political hacks in the liberal movement, and they have become what they rebelled against –Back Then. Can we just imagine what our student brain trust of today will unleash upon the “establishment ” of tomorrow.   

     Those who speak out are subject to certain consequences of that act.  There are, of course, various Taboos of speech, words or phrases which are abhorrent in nature and unacceptable in most circles of society.  We are prohibited from yelling the word FIRE in a crowd, unless there is something in flames within a reasonable distance constituting a threat to that particular crowd, as this would cause a panic that could be harmful  to those reacting to such a threat.  Certain epithets and swear words are, by nature, unctuous and detestable to most members of society.  for the sake of civility, and self-censorship, these will not be enumerated. 

     Then there are terms that are considered unacceptable by specific groups of this society, over other groups of this society and are considered ” hate speech”.  These were acceptable terms or ideologies at one time, but have become unacceptable as a matter of “political convenience”;  those terms fall under the category of ‘ words or phrases found unacceptable by reason of being “hurtful” or “derogatory” in nature ‘. Because one or another group has political preeminence, or holds favor with those who have political preeminence, They use their particular political favor to hold these terms hostage under implied threat of violence, or political coercion, should said terms not be prohibited from the current lexicon.  Thus ” political Correctness” evolved as a “moral standard”.

     The list of terms and phrases has grown to include much of today’s idelogical definitions and patriotical protestations.  The fear of using a prohibited term or phrase becomes the standard by which writers and speakers measure what they produce.  Which inhibits the freedom to express the truth in many instances and begs the question:  How can we debate that which needs to be debated when we cannot put that debate in terms tat are required to define the debate?  I suppose we just apply POLITICAL CORRECTNESS –Liberally!