Academic and cultural institutions throughout the West have many outstanding people who not only know what it means to nurture what Edmund Burke called “the moral imagination” but also carry out that task throughout their work.

Being part of such an institution is no easy task. Doing it well requires a combination of, among other things, knowledge, confidence, humility, personality, humor, plus – in many fields – a deep and abiding respect for Western civilization.

Just as important is a commitment to fostering civil, respectful atmospheres.

Many people at such institutions, and thereby many such institutions themselves, foster such atmospheres.

Others foster atmospheres of political intolerance, also known as political correctness.

This shouldn’t be much of a surprise to anyone, particularly those who have spent significant time at an academic or cultural institution in recent decades.

Yet no one should believe such intolerance confines itself to such institutions. It’s no secret that it also afflicts other entities. Anyone doubting that might consider offering a contrary view on particular topics at such an entity and seeing what happens.

Nevertheless, such intolerance is particularly egregious in places, such as academic and cultural institutions, that purport to foster, or function best when they foster, an exchange of ideas.

To the extent that political intolerance squelches this exchange of ideas, such places can become echo chambers promoting what the politically intolerant deem are correct political views.

After all, how can a good exchange of ideas occur when the intolerant squelch views they deem incorrect?

Such political intolerance can take many forms.

As to hiring, political intolerance can mean resumes of those not toeing the correct political line go into the round file.

This can reinforce political intolerance.

The greater such intolerance, the more overall programming can reflect the same bias, thereby diminishing the quality of programming itself.

Such intolerance can also present itself in other ways.

Those not toeing the correct political line can suffer threats, harassment, or reprisals.

For example, those daring to disagree with what the politically intolerant deem are correct political views – even when they disagree in an upstanding, respectful, above-board manner – can suffer false accusations that can descend into defamation.

Such accusers can put the accused into the impossible position of proving a negative, even though common decency – not to mention due process of law – requires accusers to prove their charges.

Whatever form such intolerance takes, it can chill speech of others. The politically intolerant’s not-so-subtle message is: Be quiet or else.

Intolerance can extend beyond the boundaries of places fomenting it.

Some prospective guests receive no invitations, because they disagree with the politically intolerant, or merely because they have worked for those disagreeing with the politically intolerant even when the work was separate from the views to which the politically intolerant object.

Please notice the mistaken assumption that such prospective guests necessarily have the same views as those for whom they have worked.

Think of it this way: Have you always had the same views as your employers? Of course not.

Ironically, the politically intolerant are often from the side of the political spectrum highlighting “tolerance” as a guidepost.

Beware proponents of “tolerance” who tolerate little, if any, disagreement with them.

They can play political hardball, including beaning the batter, when those daring to challenge the reigning political orthodoxy come to bat.

Where the politically intolerant invite such guests, the invitations can be rare, such guests can suffer interruptions, or riotous behavior can ensue.

Sometimes those in charge at places fomenting political intolerance do little, if anything, either to discourage such threats, harassment, or reprisals; to discourage such mistreatment of guests; or to discourage – much less punish – such riotous behavior.

But, oh, those daring to stand up to the reigning political orthodoxy. They can be treated as if they were the real troublemakers.

Don’t be fooled.

Dr. Randy Elf joins those supporting freedom of speech at academic and cultural institutions.

COPYRIGHT ç 2021 BY RANDY ELF.