… but I’m going to anyway, while I’m sorta in the mood (see below).
So, I’m taking this “Law for Women” class, right? And the bulk of our work in this class has been participating in a number of discussions in response to specific questions throughout the semester, generally two or three questions per week.
I’ve ranted privately to many people as the semester has worn on about the general lack of critical thinking by those in the class with me — which is somewhat expected since this IS an undergraduate class. Still, the topics (and particularly the responses of those in the class) the last couple of weeks have given me serious pause… and I just have to share this with y’all.
This week, we’re talking about pornography and rape, two highly sensitive issues for a lot of women, sure. Last week was all about abortion — and you’ll find no issue that polarizes this country more, IMO. I’ve always prided my ability to see the multiple sides of difficult issues, and what’s more, I’ve always prided my respect for those who have opinions different than mine. What I don’t respect are people who, like mindless sheep, just regurgitate shallow arguments others have planted in their heads, without ever having thought to question the logic or the next step behind what they’re saying.
Unfortunately, this particular crop of students (save two or three exceptions, for whom I am eternally grateful) seems to fall squarely in the mindless sheep category. My fear is that my experience in this class in some way relates to the general mindset in the slightly educated mainstream. And that’s why I worry.
Take this week’s questions as an example. One of our scenarios describes a woman who is drinking alcohol, and later has sex with her date. The next morning, she is horrified at what happened the night before. So, was it rape?
The responses of the people in my class horrify me. HORRIFY, I say. One person, whose opinion I usually respect, actually said {shudder} that women who accept alcohol from men on a date are giving their implicit agreement to have sex later. WHAT?!?! So all those times I had a margarita on a first date, apparently, I sent a subtle but irrefutable consent to have sex later?!?! I think not!! The overwhelming consensus of those in the class is that our hypothetical woman had it coming and should buck it up and move on. Seriously?
Our other question had to do with whether pornography should be excluded from First Amendment protection. The answers there were even more frightening, if you can imagine it (but that’s mostly my journalism background talking). Some people suggested that since there’s not a lot of actual talking in porn, it’s not technically “speech” and thus doesn’t deserve protection as “free speech.” (HORRIFYING!) Others said that since our Constitution is grounded in morality, and since porn has no moral value, it shouldn’t be protected. (HORRIFYING!!) Only one person actually had the balls (it was a guy) to stand up and say, “Hey! People! I like porn!” (To which I said, “Amen, brother!”)
But what I found truly frightening is that throughout the responses to the porn question, people kept repeating the same phrase: “Free speech gets taken too far.” No, it doesn’t. In fact, I think we’re not taking it far enough, in most cases. Our constitution and our very democracy is founded on the belief that a country with a free exchange of ideas produces the best possible society and the best possible government. That when people can criticize problems in their government in a public forum, the government becomes more responsive and more accountable. That when people actually — God forbid — pay attention to their world, things work better.
I’m not the only one who sees that deteriorating at an alarming rate. People don’t care; they don’t pay attention; they’re not involved… and apparently, like living in ignorance so much that now they want to silence the opposition altogether. What, you want to watch porn? It’s immoral — so let’s make it illegal. What, you want to practice Islam? It’s not the Christian thing to do and some of our founders were Christian — so nope, sorry, that’s illegal, too. And now, you want to make fun of our president? Wow, that’s not American at all — so let’s throw you in jail. Where does it stop?
My suggestion is that they all move to Iran or North Korea or essentially anywhere in Africa and see how they like living in a world where there is only one accepted way of thinking and believing, and the punishment for straying is death. And then tell me that we’ve taken free speech too far. Nope, sorry, I don’t buy it; I’m throwing down the bullshit flag on that one.