Insensitivity

Insensitivity has may forms, and while it is most noticeable in politics, news, personal prejudices, and maybe even driving patterns, what I would like to address is our insensitivity to our Creator.

In our strange pursuit of absolute 'freedom', we have not done ourselves justice. In our allowance of so many absurd protections, we are becoming unreasonable. Our culture has become so intolerant (the result of over tolerance) that this behaviour is sickening.

CNN reported that a student flew a banner on a school promoting 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus'. In a strange twist, one reporter wrote of Justice Stevens "It takes real imagination to read a 'cryptic' message (the court's characterization, not mine) with a slanting drug reference as an incitement to drug use."

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/07/06/court.harsh/index.html, accessed July 7th, 2007.

At what point are we going to say, "OK! Enough is enough. Even if we do not deserve to protect ourselves from ignorant and offensive speech, doesn't God deserve to not be offended."

At least on one occasion, shouldn't the God, that created the Universe, be able to listen in on our public speech and say, "Today, this was not intended to offend ME."

Why does a Judge believe that advertisement (in the public arena) of drug use that misuses the Name of Jesus needs to be protected? How do we go from it is illegal (drug use) to it should be ok in a public school to advocate it (drug use) when we advertise in a way that should be considered base humor?

If the student had advocated the murder of a Justice, would the Justice see that advertisement as protected free speech in the public arena? If a citizen cannot bear his shotgun in the Justice's face, then why is it 'OK' for anyone to be offensive in the public arena. It is such failed logic to say that, "I, as a Justice, should be protected from someone practicing a couple of their Constitutional rights (speech and bearing arms), but students in school do not deserve similar protection from offensive speech. Base humor always shows our failed logic, our lack of grace, and our insensitivity to others. Yet, we are truly showing our insensitivity to God Himself.

Take the clear rights of one group away from them and give a greater right to the offender. Somehow, I just cannot envisage the Framers thinking that intelligent and educated leaders would even think of such an interpretation of the 'Freedom of Religion clause'.

Maybe, just maybe, this all began when we failed to realize what the First Amendment was really about? Yes, I believe that our insensitivity towards God has begun to shade even our interpretation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights:

"Amendment I.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion . . ."

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html

I pay too much in taxes to believe that our students should be given a failed education. I pay too much school tax to not get a value in return for what I have paid. Students in schools that we subsidize deserve to go to a school where a reasonable atmosphere of learning can be maintained. Allowing sophomoric humor to permeate the atmosphere of a school under the guise of 'Free Speech' is not a reasonable atmosphere of learning. Had the student been offensive in his room and the limitation placed upon him, I might support his 'Freedom of Speech'.

Teaching our students to be insensitive base in public is just not what our tax money should be about.

Teaching our students that they have permission to offend God is not what my tax dollars should be about.

We need to become sensitive again to what God desires - a pure and contrite heart . . .