“It is sobering to reflect that one of the best ways to get yourself a reputation as a dangerous citizen these days is to go about repeating the very phrases which our founding fathers used in the struggle for independence.”
—Charles A. Beard, quoted in the masthead of the
“Knightstown Banner.”
The Knightstown schools are named for historian Charles A. Beard who grew up near Spiceland, Indiana. His most controversial work was An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States. He and his wife, Mary, coauthored The Rise of American Civilization.
My friend, John, predicted that I might receive some angry comments about last week’s column. Thankfully, I haven’t! I’ve had only a couple of irate, hurtful letters during the time I’ve been writing. That tells me that I would never be able to stand the political life.
They say that sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you. However, words can do great harm. The Trustee fired my grandfather from his teaching position at Raysville because Grandpa said something about politics with which he disagreed.
These days, people take political correctness to extremes. A former Army officer who had been stationed all over the world and served as President Obama’s Ambassador to Afghanistan was to teach international relations at the University of Chicago. He withdrew after faculty members protested his appointment because of his military background, and students circulated petitions. One of our friends teaches social studies in an alternative high school in Ohio. Two of her students asked to be assigned to another teacher because she is too liberal. The comedian Jerry Seinfeld no longer performs at college campus. What has happened to academic freedom? Could it be that those students might have learned something or broadened their understanding even if they disagreed?
When I was in high school I aspired to become the first female Senator from Indiana and later was a political volunteer. Bill’s sister, Joyce, was a red-hot Republican, and her husband was a dedicated Democrat. Bill’s brother, Lex, had served in the Indiana Legislature, and Bill taught Government. Parties at Joyce’s house always included political discussions that part of the family hated.
Grandpa had a carving of three monkeys. “See no evil!” had his hands over his eyes. “Hear no evil!” covered his ears, and “Speak no evil!” covered his mouth. During this era of political correctness, I’m trying to emulate those monkeys and, especially, keep my mouth shut because some people are furious if you say something they don’t like. It’s difficult since I’m very liberal about some issues and conservative about others. Thank goodness for friends like Roger and Suzie Cook with whom we can freely debate issues without anyone’s becoming angry or impugning one’s intellect.
I may keep my mouth shut to avoid upsetting the arbiters of political correctness. “Since when?” queries Bill — but they can’t control what I think.
My mind to me a kingdom is;
Such perfect joy therein I find
That it excels all other bliss
Which God or nature hath assign’d . . .
No princely port, nor wealthy store,
No force to win a victory,
No wily wit to salve a sore,
No shape to win a loving eye;
To none of these I yield as thrall,–
For why? my mind despise them all . . .
I laugh not at another’s loss,
Nor grudge not at another’s gain . . .;
I do no more than well I may,
Look, what I want my mind supplies.
Lo ! thus I triumph like a king,
My mind content with anything
. . . my conscience clear, my chief defence . . .
Thus do I live, thus will I die,–
Would all did so as well as I!
Written by Sir Edward Dyer during the 1500’s. Dyer was one of the courtiers of Queen Elizabeth I. Some think that perhaps he wrote Shakespeare’ plays. wclarke@comcast.net