“We support diversity; on this topic, everyone must agree with us!” That seems to be the battle cry at the university today. Of course, the implication is that diversity is wonderful but diverse opinions are dreadful.

That’s why—at most western universities today—the consensus of opinion is “politically correct” . . . and safe. With few exceptions, most professors and their students link arms around the sacred cows of “women’s choice” (i.e. abortion-on-demand), “diversity and equal rights” (i.e. homosexuality, lesbianism and aggressive public nudity and perverse sexual content), “climate change and environmental concerns” (i.e. banning or taxing of fossil fuels and promotion of costly and inefficient alternate energy), “science” (i.e. papers and books promoting a causeless, accidental universe, a meaningless human existence and a non-moral code of ethics).

You get the idea. Lots of talk about a rich culture of multiple world views and sharing of ideas; in reality, a droning mantra, a “call to worship” at the throne of locked-in, case-hardened, exclusive and unquestioned dogma. The consensus may grow, may change, may shape-shift over time but whatever form it takes at any moment, that iteration is—at that moment—held to be unassailable truth and those who question it are tried, condemned, and punished.

Wikipedia, in its explanation of what a university is supposed to be, says this: “An important idea in the definition of a university is the notion of academic freedom.” Wikipedia’s definition of academic freedom is this: “Academic freedom is the conviction that the freedom of inquiry by faculty members is essential to the mission of the academy as well as the principles of academia, and that scholars should have freedom to teach or communicate ideas or facts (including those that are inconvenient to external political groups or to authorities) without being targeted for repression, job loss, or imprisonment.”

Sadly, that is not the experience of many professors today. The university—even in the West—has become a prison and sometimes a graveyard for thought and expression that could be called “diverse.”

One needn’t look far for examples:

Ben Stein—in his movie Expelled—has done a superb job of documenting the academic intolerance for professors who would dare to talk about Intelligent Design in their classrooms. Intolerance for any God-talk has resulted in professors being denied tenure, denied access to research facilities, and to loss of their jobs.

Jordan Peterson, professor at the University of Toronto, has been called on the carpet and pilloried for refusing to play the “pronoun” game. The new demands for public adherence to a new set of pronouns for use in referring to new “genders” people have invented for themselves have put Dr. Peterson on the front lines of a battle for freedom and he (thankfully) has refused to cede one inch. We need more men and women like Dr. Peterson who will stand for freedom and true diversity of thought.

The Canadian Centre for Bioethical Reform (CCBR) has run into (and stood up to) numerous attempts to stop them from spreading their important and impactful information, including photo-evidence, on university campuses. It’s tragic that the pro-life message is often resisted by fellow students and student unions. Apparently, the fight for Free Speech on campuses like Berkeley in the 1960s has not resulted in a lasting heritage. Like most freedoms, it seems that freedom of speech must be fought for again and again.

This intolerance, of course, does not restrict itself to universities but also descends with a cold chill to high schools. Like the Catholic high school in Alberta, where a young lady recently found herself in a firestorm for her comments comparing the slaughter of the pre-born to the Holocaust.

On the international stage, the notion of freedom of speech and freedom of religion finds its fiercest battle in countries dominated by sharia law. In those countries, there is not even a pretence of interest in diversity. Those who turn from Islam to follow another religion—or no religion—are simply killed. No questions asked. The sad part of that in the West is that people who even say what I just said are in turn rejected by many universities, either by students, faculty, or both. This video clip from Prager University (one of the exceptions) explains this clearly as the speaker, Hussein Aboubakr, tells of his own rejection by students at other universities where he was invited to speak.

What is the answer? Keep speaking. Keep telling the truth. Pray that God will grant open ears, open hearts, open eyes, open minds. Stand up to the bullies. Only the Truth can set men free.

Our Canadian government needs to hear your voice. Will you speak up for your right to free speech? Will you be in Ottawa, or other host city of the March for Life, on May 11? Speak up for those who have been, and will be, robbed of their right to life.

CHP Canada has been speaking up for almost thirty years. Make our voice a little louder by joining today.

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