When I was a small boy and my mother read me the story about the Emperor’s new clothes I was intriegued by the notion that so many people could be made to see something that wasn’t there just because they would otherwise be made to look foolish.
Whenever I heard mention of the story later in life I regarded it as just another silly children’s fable that wasn’t meant to be taken seriously, that it didn’t matter if it made no sense.
But in recent years I’ve changed my mind. I believe Hans Christian Andersen, who
wrote that story, was making at least one profound statement. Apart from exposing the hypocracy of many sections of the aristocracy in his own country (Denmark) at the time, he was mocking the conceit of most people, and their acceptance of popular falacies in order to boost their own social standing.
Hence the readiness of everyone (except the child, who had no social ambitions or restraints) to pretend to see clothes that weren’t really there.
It’s the same with the cult of “political correctness”. How many people who regard themselves as politically correct, and who go out of their way to ensure others in their social group know of their conformity, really believe in the things they’re supposed to believe in? And how many just go along with these usually stupid beliefs for the sake of blending in with everyone else and preserving their careers and pensions?
This is one of the things the internet is helping to break down, but there is only limited time to do it. The enemies of freedom of speech and expression are working hard day and night to censor the internet and prevent any kind of dissident expression.
So whatever you write on your web site or in your blog, or in forums or on notice boards, write what you really think is right, what you really believe in. Exercise your freedom to express yourself as you want. Don’t allow yourself to be bullied into conformity.
