Editorial: Offended by Offence

Well, what a conundrum. There's seems to be a spreading method of manipulation, creeping into Canadian Society. It's flowing through the champions of offence, the PC (politically correct) movement which is a kind of (I)(Incorrectness). The self appointed regulators of society, who grind their axe at virtually every comment which disagrees with their own. Fancying themselves as virtues of correctness, they have missed the spec in their own eye.

At risk of being set up, buried and judged, by my next statement, I just want to go on record as not really caring about opinions of the PC(I), however I do feel protective of society and the individuals within it. There is an attempt to corral freedom of speech and herd the public into a pen of tight boundaries, so I will make my statement anyway. I can hear it, “Oh, another person advocating for resistant yet discriminating behaviour! Why won't they just do what we want, and stop being so individualistic?” It's possible, I may lose a few readers at this turn, but hang in their, I'll make the point clear.

If you're travelling at the over busying speed of all the changes being pushed on our society, then, at first glance you may miss it. However, if you refuse to step to the PC(I) drum, that doesn't mean you are being unfair to others, it can simply mean you care about all opinions, while walking to your own inner drum.

So, now this leads us to the point. When someone, on an individual basis, is pressured to behave a certain way, by the wants of others, it is called domination which is a kind of assault and is an offence under the law. However, if someone is appealed to, by words expressed, and respectful time is allowed for one to decide about what was heard, this is called concourse. Con- (meaning 'with') and Course- (meaning 'the path along which to proceed').

So what follows in concourse is, a changing of ones mind by the choice of the person considering those words. This is respectively, and can include an investigation of the purpose, by ones own self, regarding the benefits and truthfulness of what was shared. Healthy concourse involves no coercion, dominance or intimidation around it.

So let's look at the civil interchange.

Bare with me, this next sentence is a bit long but carries a good flow. 'Conversation' is made up of Con(with) Ver(to turn to other views, like in version) Sa(satiate or satisfy) and Tion(action of). So it means to be with someone, sharing different versions of views. Then, to satisfy a perspective, turning to accept the viability or see another's new perspective, so as to be filled with, what's in these new views, and finally choosing to live out (as in action) the implications of what was shared. This is what conversation is, what it is not is ConFlict (to be with)(and inflict.)

Remember the word concourse is not con-court, there is to be no judge and jury, no court, just the respect of and for mutual open dialogue. Interestingly, today we most often consider the word ‘condescend’ as a negative word, meaning looking down on others, when it actually means to move to see something from another's perspective. It's the walking a mile in another's moccasins, kinda thing, and is a gracious thing.

What about those who attempt to turn the use of conversation, into an opportunity to condemn or control, as they condescend.

Well that's a PC(I) approach to things today. We must all stay vigilant in our personal lives, to ensure we're able to share our opinions freely. The guard over our intentions is the key. Our sharing should be to share, not to coerce or push. Properly, it is to make clear and allow the understanding of another to happen in their own time. We have to allow for, the belief and trust others will think on and consider what we have offered, in the marketplace of ideas. So as to ensure ours and their opinions may always be expressed. If there is any pushing, it should only be push back, but in considerate ways. That should never be used to dominate dignity in the freedom of life and choice.

The title of this article is “Offended by offence.” What is meant is, we all need to resist the forcing of perspectives, the enforcing of choices by others upon us, and the reinforcing of ideas, through pervasiveness, in the educational, and governmental systems. The government is a great mutual servant, but when occupied by strategic individuals who desire to meld us into a herd mentality it becomes a terrible dictatorship. Unity is great, when it is spontaneous and because we all like the tune and the rhythm, already synchronizing with our drum beat. However, if it is being strongly pressed upon us, if manoeuvring or dictation of speech is taking place, without our mutual consent, whether from outside our country or from within, then we must resist, rout out and remove this at its source, to protect the freedoms we all appreciate so much in our identity as Canada.