Let’s start being politically incorrect

Over the past several weeks, many people, like me, have been wondering why all the raucous hubbub about multigender bathroom use. We have centuries of history of men using the Men’s rooms and women using the Ladies rooms. What happened?

Well, all this rancor has absolutely nothing to do with using the correct restroom. It has everything to do with silencing dissent.

Think about it: If you disagree with this ridiculousness, you must not be thinking clearly or you are a hater. If you have questions, as many outstanding global weather scientists around the world do, about man-made global warming you must be (to be kind) “less than smart.”

If you wonder why your moral and religious beliefs are being completely ignored and in fact discarded, and you question gay marriage/gay rights, you must be homophobic, or worse. If you are from the historic Old South, and love the Confederate Flag and/or Confederate heroes, no doubt about it — you must be racist.

None of those things are the reason for the constant and consistent criticism of people who intelligently speak their minds. It’s all about silencing dissent in this once-great country of ours. I, for one, now go out of my way to be politically incorrect for two reasons: One, I do not fear criticism from anyone. And two, mainly because the pendulum on saying what you feel has swung so far to the left, you cannot say “God bless you” when a friend sneezes without attracting criticism.

Please, wake up people. Let’s start really communicating honestly again. Swallow hard if you have to, but say what’s on your mind. Handle reasonable objections with intelligence and class by explaining your viewpoint and politely defending your line of thinking.

Use your First Amendment rights in a responsible, mature manner. That’s why it’s been there for about 240 years and counting.

This story was originally published May 22, 2016 at 4:00 PM with the headline "Let’s start being politically incorrect."