I suppose a first post, or about page, should introduce the tone of a blog and make some kind of inroad to the topics the author intends to write about. At this point I am highly sceptical that anyone will read this beyond myself and some close friends. I imagine this is the fate of most blogs and I am under no illusion that I possess some outstanding talent or insight which will makes this blog an exception.
At this moment in time (June 2020) we are seeing some quite incredible shifts in our society. The two most immediate and important aspects, I would argue, are an unprecedented trampling of civil liberties by the government under emergency pandemic legislation and the emergence of “critical theory” as having established itself in practically every layer of our society from governance to education.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to discuss some of the aspects of these topics without risking an all out attack from those chanting the received wisdom. I watched the all too eager use of newly granted police powers under lockdown (but only for certain sections of society) and the unsettling stories of neighbours “snitching” on those who failed to applaud for the NHS with a deep sense of unease while most I spoke with showed little concern. More recently and perhaps far more upsetting has been seeing one of the most tolerant societies in the developed world apparently convince itself it is “systemically racist” and decide the best solution to this is to analyse every aspect of society along racial lines, destroying anything and everything that is found wanting. As if out of nowhere there appears to be a widely accepted and established mode of thinking which is dedicated to tearing society apart along racial lines.
Of course it may be that I am mistaken and none of this is to be of great concern. My first reason of worry, though, is that sceptical voices on these topics are aggressively shut down, which suggests some of the ideas being pushed into the mainstream are not being looked at near closely enough. It is common knowledge that just voicing criticism of groups like the ‘Black Lives Matter’ organisation or the Critical Race Theory on which their ideology is based can result in anything from a public pile-on to losing your job. I am increasingly convinced that if we do not conduct open and honest discourses on these problems now, at this moment, we will soon never be able to.
Finally, my intention is not to willingly offend. That said, if you find the content of my writing offensive then I offer the following quote which not only perfectly captures my sentiment in this regard, but also serves as a pertinent closure to this introduction:
“What is the right answer to the person who demands something because he is offended? Just this: “Too bad, but you’ll live.” As for people who call for punishment of “racists”, “homophobes”, “sexists”, “blasphemers”, “Communists”, or whoever the bogeyman happens to be – those people are enemies of inquiry and their clamor deserves only to be ignored, never humored”
Jonathan Rauch
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