Life is offensive, get over it

Being Politically Correct means always having to say you’re sorry.
Charles Osgood

When did we all become so sensitive? When did our society shift from our having the ability to speak our mind and our beliefs to having to walk on tiptoes for fear that we might offend?

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think we should set out to be offensive. But, my difference of opinion is just that. I see things differently.

Otherwise we get into a pre-school game of “I know you are, but what am I?”

Take for example the recent news story about a Halloween Haunt attraction at Kings Dominion. I don’t do haunted houses or tours, not because I fear the horror, but because I don’t like to be startled. So, I didn’t see this attraction. But apparently it involved a maze that took you through a mine where you encountered the ghost of those who died in the mine. Families of those killed in the mining accident in West Virginia a few years back were offended. I believe Senator Joe Manchin also spoke up.

I guess I have to wonder what is off limits when it comes to horror? Is Freddy Krueger offensive to everyone who ever lived on Elm Street? Would ghosts of the Titanic (thanks Jimmy Barrett) or ghosts of the American Revolution be less offensive because they happened so long ago?

I do understand the sensitivity. And perhaps it wasn’t the best judgment call. But Halloween Haunt is over, the attraction is closed.

As a former (and perhaps future) employee of Kings Dominion, I’d probably tend to side with the park on this one. When I worked Halloween Haunt one of the displays was a dummy in an electric chair. Periodically, the “juice” was turned on and the body would scream and rattle. Earlier this season a Midlothian family was criticized for having such a display in their yard.

Also in the news recently is the name of Washington’s football team, the “Redskins.” Even the Native American community isn’t in agreement on the offensiveness of this one. I’m not part of the Native American community, although I am 1/32 Creek Indian, but I fail to see the offensiveness. The name is not meant to be derogatory. It’s a badge of honor. Personally, I’m more offended by their football record as well as the name of the town they represent than I am of the term “Redskins.”

I’m not one to scream persecution everytime someone criticizes the Christian faith or beliefs. But our culture is becoming increasingly hostile to people of faith. It is fascinating to watch those who preach “tolerance” be intolerant of those with differing opinions or belief systems. I’ve written about this before.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.
1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Not to get too philosophical or too spiritual here, but Jesus said there’d be days like this and that the world would come to hate his people. I think we see it happening.

Still, here in the U.S. we don’t face the very real persecution of our brothers and sisters in Muslim and Communist countries. There, you really can die for your faith. And many have.

But where Christians are being forced to bless unions in which they don’t believe (remember, I’d like to see government out of this altogether), or where Christian businesses are being forced to pay for abortive types of “birth control” or face huge fines, or where kids can’t talk about or draw Jesus in schools…

Well, don’t talk to me about tolerance.

We have (for now at least) a Constitutionally defined right to Freedom of Speech. We don’t have a right to not be offended.

To put it crudely, maybe some people just need to grow a pair.

If that offends you, well, that’s kind of the point.

Photo: Edoardo Loru via Unsplash