Posted on 04/09/2014 6:28:40 AM PDT by Heartlander
The ongoing trial involving journalist Mark Steyn – accused of defaming climate change theorist Michael Mann – reflects an increasingly dangerous tendency among our intellectual classes to embrace homogeneity of viewpoint. Steyn, whose column has appeared for years on these pages, may be alternatingly entertaining or over-the-top obnoxious, but the slander lawsuit against him marks a milestone in what has become a dangerously authoritarian worldview being adopted in academia, the media and large sections of the government bureaucracy.
(Excerpt) Read more at ocregister.com ...
When the debate is over, when all the talking stops, what then?
I pulled the “debate is over” on FB against some gun grabbers, saying the refusals to comply by 100,000 CT gun owners showed the futility of doing anything they propose on the matter.
Wow. They REALLY didn’t like it when that tactic was used back at them ...
“You believe that reality is something objective, external, existing in its own right. You also believe that the nature of reality is self-evident. When you delude yourself into thinking that you see something, you assume that everyone else sees the same thing as you. But I tell you, Winston, that reality is not external. Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else. Not in the individual mind, which can make mistakes, and in any case soon perishes; only in the mind of the Party, which is collective and immortal. Whatever the Party holds to be truth is truth. It is impossible to see reality except by looking through the eyes of the Party.”
You can use that in abortion debates too: “All scientists agree human life begins at conception. The debate is over.”
To paraphrase The Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland: Verdict first, evidence later!
The debate on gun control was over when the 2nd amendment was passed.
When the “debate is over,” it only means that the opposition has been silenced.
—right up there with “common sense” gun control and “it’s a no-brainer”—same subject-—
People settle their differences by either talking or fighting. One side unilaterally shutting down the debate is effectively a declaration of war, because that’s all that’s left.
Truth and criticism is akin to acid dripping on the brain for Liberals. It drives them crazy.
Exactly. What Norman Spinrad called “Official Reality”, a concept that I frequently promote.
Good article, though I disagree with the author on one point: History has vindicated McCarthy.
bookmark
It started with “I won”
The shooting starts, just like in 1775.
Rule one of civilization — when there’s no more recourse to law, all that remains is recourse to lawlessness.
Thanks Heartlander.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.