McMINNVILLE, Ore. (BP)–Thanks to Ward Churchill, we can now better understand how the concept of political correctness really works.
Churchill is a University of Colorado professor who penned an essay following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, titled “Some People Push Back: On the Justice of Roosting Chickens.”
In his polemic, Churchill asserted that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by combatants –- not terrorists or religious fanatics. In the professor’s view the attacks were deserved and the victims were anything but innocent.
Churchill referred to the workers in the World Trade Center as “little Eichmanns,” a reference to Adolf Eichmann, the Nazi leader who oversaw the murderous extermination of millions of Jews during World War II. According to the professor, those who died in the 9/11 attacks were technocrats who enabled the U.S. to oppress the unfortunates of the world.
In interviews since the essay was published, Churchill has dismissed any innocent people who perished in the attacks as “collateral damage.” In April of last year, he told Satya Magazine, a publication dedicated to vegetarianism, environmentalism, animal advocacy and social justice, “more 9/11s are necessary” if U.S. politics is to be transformed.
While those who are politically correct have chided Churchill’s views as being a tad bit insensitive toward the families of 9/11 victims, few in the PC world have challenged the professor or his beliefs.
Political correctness is a postmodern virtue that maintains all viewpoints on a given subject are to be tolerated — even celebrated — especially if those views are critical of traditional morality and values.
In order to appreciate fully the instructive nature of Churchill’s essay, we must juxtapose it with another statement made in the aftermath of 9/11.
Just days following the terrorist attacks, Rev. Jerry Falwell appeared on Pat Robertson’s “700 Club,” a religiously themed television program, to discuss the events of Sept. 11.
During the course of the conversation Falwell said that God may have allowed the attacks due to America’s moral decay. He blamed the ACLU, abortionists, feminists, homosexuals, and People for the American Way for contributing to the immoral climate of the United States. Falwell added that in light of the attacks, Americans should respond with an attitude of repentance. Robertson agreed.
Now, in light of Ward Churchill’s comments you would think that Jerry Falwell’s statement would be supported by those who adhere to the policies of political correctness. After all, whether or not you agree with his views, they should be tolerated, right?
Wrong. Falwell was excoriated in the press and criticized from sea to shining sea. They were denounced as mean-spirited religious bigots. Falwell eventually apologized, saying his comments were “insensitive.”
How has Churchill responded to his critics? He has steadfastly stood his ground and refused to apologize. To suggestions that he be fired, Churchill has made it clear he will sue the University of Colorado if it tries to terminate him.
The politically correct tolerate and defend the assertion that the 9/11 attacks were deserved and that those who perished were complicit. However, the PC crowd denounces and condemns the suggestion that the same attacks might be related to America’s moral failings and that the nation’s citizens should be repentant.
Thanks to Ward Churchill, we now know that the only tenet in political correctness that really matters is hypocrisy.
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Kelly Boggs is pastor of the Portland-area Valley Baptist Church in McMinnville, Ore. His column appears each Friday in Baptist Press.
