TWY, I live and work in Silicon Valley, as you know already. It's understood that you don't voice any controversial opinions that lean right, or else you'll lose your job or at the very least be forced to take "diversity training."
I was at a meeting in a preschool where one of the parents asked about "gender fluidity." The teachers at the preschool went to great lengths to say that they support children who express "gender fluidity," and that they put a lot of emphasis on training their teachers to recognize it.
Now I believe that "gender fluidity" is not something that should be encouraged at such a young age. Kids will do what kids want to do, but to tell them that boys can sometimes be "girls" and vice-versa is confusing to them. Plus there is no such thing as kids "discovering" their gender identity. There is a lot within each kid that is a reflection of their parents. If some kid is "gender-fluid," that to me is a sign that the parents told them to be that way.
But could I say anything in that meeting? NO. If I expressed my true opinion, if I voiced my concern about "gender fluidity" not belonging in preschool, I'd be labeled a bigot. Then my employer will somehow find out, and I'd lose my job, just like that guy at Google. I'd have a tough time trying to find another job given the stigma (among other factors, including age discrimination).
This is the kind of world we live in these days. You can't discuss these issues openly anymore. Sure, the 1st amendment doesn't protect me from the consequences of voicing my beliefs, but said consequences are becoming way too extreme.
Meanwhile, more and more people are starting to believe that "hate speech is not free speech." This is how the 1st amendment dies.
Tenchusatsu |
