Wed Mar 12 22:38:40 2003 got this from a friend, guess this was posted to a discussion group... john >From the opinion section of the Lexington Herald Leader: Any time you hear or read liberal ideas, there are certain buzzwords that will inevitably appear. When the writer or speaker uses these words, all debate is supposed to end, and you should then bow to liberal enlightenment. You'll find, however, that the liberal use of these words and the dictionary definitions are often quite different. To clear up confusion, allow me to identify some of the liberal-speak. Diversity: The presence of people of different colors, genders, sexual identities and creeds who all have a liberal mind-set. People not necessary for the purpose of diversity include Christians, conservatives and white males. Diversity of physical and sexual traits should not be confused with diversity of ideas. Example: Justice Clarence Thomas, though black, does not add to the diversity of the Supreme Court because he doesn't think the way that blacks are supposed to think. Multiculturalism: The view that there is no American culture, therefore people who come to the United States from abroad need not become acculturated. They can be taught in their native language, live in monocultural communities and still succeed in the United States. It is America's job to adjust to the hundreds of languages and cultures of the world, not the individual's job to adjust to America. Linda Chavez, a well-known Hispanic writer, said, "I have been disinvited, harassed, shouted down, threatened and physically assaulted at campuses around the country." Why? When she was invited to speak, the administrations wanted a successful Hispanic speaker. She was disinvited when it was found that she's a conservative who opposes racial preferences and, thus, didn't think the way that Hispanics are supposed to think. See "diversity." Racist: Anyone who thinks that people of different races should be treated equally based on their character and individual merits. I've often said that the racism of the far right is a racism born of ignorance. The racism of the left is a racism born of condescension. It's the belief that blacks and Hispanics aren't able to compete with whites and Asians on a level playing field and, thus, should be held to lower standards. It's a philosophy that's more harmful than anything that the idiots in the Ku Klux Klan could come up with. Tolerance: Complete and total acceptance of all personal views and lifestyles as equally wonderful. Exceptions to tolerance include Christianity and conservatism, which everyone knows are hate-filled, racist, homophobic and patriarchal philosophies. Notice the efforts of civil rights groups to keep religion, more specifically Christianity, out of the public sphere. Intolerance: Not seeing all lifestyles as morally equal and wonderful. Homophobia: Any personal belief that does not hold that homosexuality, the transgendered and bi-sexuality are the moral equivalent of monogamous heterosexuality. See "tolerance." Hate: Disagreeing with any liberal viewpoint. Since liberals view themselves as compassionate toward the downtrodden, disagreeing with them must mean that one disagrees with the concept of compassion. Not feeling compassion toward a person or group must mean that you hate them. Hate speech: Verbalizing disagreement with any liberal viewpoint. Also see "insensitivity." Insensitivity: Saying something that someone perceives as offensive. The crime of insensitivity can be punished by expulsion from school, defunding of an organization, mandatory indoctrination, uh, I mean, sensitivity training or mandatory payments to the offended group by a business entity. Sensitivity is to be considered more important than open debate or the First Amendment. (Notes: 1. The words or actions need not actually be offensive, as long as a person or group claims to be offended. 2. The fact that a statement might be viewed as offensive trumps its truth. 3. You're allowed to offend Christians with "art" that mocks their faith. You can even get your offensive art subsidized by the government.) Compassion: The belief that it is the government's job to help everyone with every problem that might be encountered in life. Part of compassion is the knowledge that most people aren't able to use personal initiative and skills to provide for themselves. Equity: Equality of outcome regardless of individual talent, work ethic or character. The philosophies behind these liberal buzzwords are so deeply ingrained that even challenging the value of the liberal views of diversity, compassion or tolerance will meet a blank stare, followed by a statement like, "You're a racist." Thus, all dialogue ends.