From NEWSWEEK, 6/26/04:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/5831336/site/newsweek/
The Price of an Opinion
When did we become so polarized that we lost our ability to have a
civilized discussion about complex issues?
Was Patti punished for mom's stance?
WEB EXCLUSIVE
By Patti Davis
Newsweek
I lost a job the other day.
The people who had hired me figured out that I support stem-cell
research (I don’t know what took them so long) and pulled the plug on
a lecture engagement for which they had vigorously pursued me.
The group, which opposes such research, had booked a date with me in
November to speak on the same topics I have been dealing with in
lectures for years now--losing a loved one to Alzheimer’s, navigating
the treacherous waters of grief--without any explicit mention of
stem-cell research or, in fact, any kind of medical treatment.
The lecture was to coincide with the publication of my next book, "The
Long Goodbye."
Getting the news that I was canceled was one of those moments when one
realizes that the personal really is political.
I certainly support anyone’s prerogative to hire or not hire whomever
they choose, and I definitely don’t want to work for someone who
doesn’t want me.
But when people aren't permitted to speak because their opinions are
considered inappropriate, it's sign that something is amiss beneath
the surface.
Particularly, as in this case, when those opinions have nothing to do
with the job itself.
Coincidentally, I had already been thinking a great deal about the
vitriol that has become so pervasive in this country.
In years past, there used to be civilized discourse; there are
probably children now who don’t even know what that is.
Wasn’t that the practice of men in powdered wigs and wooden teeth?
It seems a terribly antiquated notion.
We are now a modern, progressive, impatient society; we seem to not
have time for discourse, or even tolerance.
We’d rather lash out harshly and dismiss those who disagree with us.
It saves time and is easier on the brain.
Performers like Linda Ronstandt are fired from gigs because of an
opinion expressed on the stage; people who are angry at Bruce
Springsteen’s political views want to boycott his music.
We all know what happened to the Dixie Chicks.
What became of calm, civilized disagreements, acceptance of the fact
that we don’t always agree with each other?
When did things turn so ugly, and when did anger reach this kind of
crescendo?
Even all the nastiness over John Kerry’s war record can be put into
this messy category.
Whatever you believe about what Kerry did or did not do in Vietnam,
one thing is clear: the men who are denouncing his record, his wounds,
his medals, are angry about the very public antiwar stance he took 33
years ago.
It’s not just currently expressed opinions that can put you on the
firing line; in this new climate of vengeance, there is no statute of
limitations.
All of this skids across a thin ice surface, of course, because it
brings us to the subject of free speech.
If you look around, the cherished idea of free speech is starting to
look a bit endangered--it's practically become a punishable offense.
The Federal Communications Commission has decided that the airwaves
are going to be severely monitored and regulated, and violators will
be fined into bankruptcy.
Political demonstrators are herded like cattle into pens and anti-Bush
picketers are being questioned by police and Secret Service agents if
they dare show up at one of the president’s speeches.
There is a pattern here, and it should frighten us.
We can speak freely, but it might cost us our life’s savings, and it
might get us questioned by the authorities.
Remember when we were kids and one of the most common comebacks was,
"Hey, it’s a free country!"
I haven’t done a survey of schoolyards, but I kind of doubt kids say
that as much now.
They probably know that it might not be entirely true.
Weeks ago, I pulled from my bookshelf my tattered high-school copy of
George Orwell’s novel "1984."
I started looking through it again, reacquainting myself with the
country of Oceana, the Thought Police, Big Brother and the slogan of
the Party: "War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength."
Published in 1949, the book has always stood as a chilling glimpse
into a future stripped bare of every freedom, including one’s
thoughts.
"Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present
controls the past," Orwell wrote.
I remember a long time ago, crouching at the end of a hallway,
eavesdropping on the cocktail hour of my parents’ dinner parties.
I wanted to know what grown-ups talked about, what their world was
like.
Among the sounds of ice clinking in glasses and the trill of
occasional laughter, I could always find my father’s voice; often he
would be discussing politics and issues of the day with others.
It was clear to me, even though I didn’t understand the substance of
what they were discussing, that not everyone agreed with everyone
else.
But there were no raised voices, no angry words.
This was apparently how adults talked about very important things--in
civil, understated tones.
And then they went into the dining room and had dinner.
I also remember believing that the bad people in the world were
ultimately neutralized by the good people.
It might take a while, but it was the way life worked.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" was my favorite book, as well as my favorite
film, and I believed that there were men like Atticus Finch around,
who would always take the higher road.
I don’t know where that girl went who had such a hopeful view of
things.
Sadly, I guess she grew up into a woman who has figured out that too
often the loudest, angriest people triumph.
I think we’re tired--collectively--we’ve been worn down by fear, by
grief.
Our country was attacked, and we keep being warned of more attacks.
We see all this anger churning around us, and we feel helpless to stop
it.
I think most of us long for civilized discourse, an easy exchange of
opinions; we’re just too tired to dig in and insist upon it.
How are we going to explain to future generations that our freedom to
express ourselves without impunity got lost along the way because we
didn’t have the energy to defend it?
I had one moment of hope recently.
When I went to Barnes & Noble to replace my worn copy of "1984," the
book was sold out.
It’s required reading for students, and there had been a run on
Orwell’s novel.
Maybe a new generation of readers will be so frightened by the book
that they'll work harder to make sure it doesn't become a reality.
___________________________________________________________
This from Ronald Reagan's daughter.
Harry
.
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