Liberals Don't Always Promote Rights For All

Have you ever noticed that the liberals aren't always so liberal? Well, former President Ronald Reagan did. Reagan made an astute observation in 1966, when he said: The so-called free speech advocates... in truth have no appreciation for freedom.

We see it all the time under the guise of our old friend political correctness. We can't say that macroevolution does not exist and advocate the teaching of divine creation in schools, for if we do, we become blackballed idiots at odds with the scientific community. We can't say abortion is murder because this would be offensive to vulnerable women. We can't say that marriage is between a man and a woman since we risk offending gays and lesbians. Whether I agree with the aforementioned positions or not, the point is: You cannot take any of these stances without incurring intense backlash from the very people who claim to be so liberal.

Society is rife with examples of liberals stifling the alternative voice. Last year, a Vermont high school banned its valedictorian, Kyle Gearwar, from mentioning Jesus in his graduation speech. In the classroom, evolution is taught as fact while creation cannot even be mentioned as a possible alternative. Meanwhile, we bend over backward to give prisoners at Guantanamo Bay Korans and prayer rugs on the taxpayers' dime.

Hollywood wouldn't dare produce a movie that presented a less than flattering image of Muhammad; but movies and books -- the Da Vinci Code and Jesus Christ Superstar - that allege Jesus had an affair are not only produced, but applauded. The double standards are both commonplace and evident for those wise enough to recognize them.

I am the first to say that every view should be challenged, even my own. We should always be open-minded and constantly assess and re-assess our positions. But having an open mind entails allowing those with whom you disagree to actually state their point of view without belittling or pressuring them.

Liberals, if you insist on being labeled as such, please live up to your name and be liberal enough to permit the other side to have a voice.

Kayleigh McEnany is a writer and political activist who graduated from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and studied at Oxford University. She is the founder of www.RealReaganConservative.com. She writes every Tuesday for the International Business Times.