In recent days, the media world has been ablaze with reactions to a commencement speech given at Benedictine College in Kansas by NFL Placekicker Harrison Butker.  There is even a petition circulating calling for the Kansas City Chiefs to fire him for his antiquated and misogynistic remarks.

You’d have thought he staged a campus riot, spoke hateful words against a minority (like Jews), and called for their extermination. No, wait, bad analogy.  Students (and others posed as students) are already doing that with little or no reaction from school administrators and law enforcement. You know, free speech and all that.

So, what gives?

You may disagree with what Mr. Butker said, but do you not find some contradiction or hypocrisy in how our culture has reacted to current campus protests against Israel vs. a twenty-minute commencement speech?  Campus riots and sit-ins at universities across the country are protesting Israel’s actions to defeat Hamas, have been outspoken in their support of Hamas, and have, in many cases, threatened the lives of Jews. Yet, little, if any, action has been taken against them.

But let a Catholic man give a speech to a Catholic audience at a private Catholic university, a speech that aligns with Catholic teaching, and you would have thought the Devil himself was seeking new recruits for his legions of demons. Left-leaning critics hyperventilated and have demanded that the Kansas City Chiefs fire their opinionated placekicker.

I guess free speech is really only free when the speech aligns with their point of view. Or as one Catholic Bishop said, “It is no surprise that some are reacting with extreme negativity, too many today hate the truth and merely want ‘their’ truth, which is not truth at all.”

Another priest said, “His speech was inspiring and what the woke culture needs to hear. He exhibited real, authentic Catholic manhood. Good for him. I have no problem with anything he said. I wish more said it, especially clergy. God bless him. I look forward to meeting him. I loved it so much I went out and bought his jersey!”

Others must have agreed, as his jersey has become a best-selling item.

The NFL was asked to comment on Butker’s remarks, and their only response was, “His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger.”  

Apparently, the NFL’s definition of inclusion doesn’t include conservative Catholics like Butker.

The apoplectic reaction to his remarks have highlighted, in my humble opinion, how far our culture has strayed from a respect for free speech.  If you disagree with his comments, then allow this moment to prompt discussion and debate.  But to scream, yell, mock, pitch a hissy-fit, and call for his censure and firing reflects a totalitarian mindset whose only goal is to silence opposition.  Is it not better to allow such remarks to spark a national dialogue on faith, family, and masculine roles?  

In full disclosure, I must confess that Butker is a graduate of my alma mater, Georgia Tech.  So, the fact that his remarks “stung” some folks should not be a surprise.  Free speech means free; it doesn’t necessarily mean it will always be agreeable.

Here are a few thoughts on free speech in closing.

“Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.” ―Silence Dogood, likely pseudonym of Benjamin Franklin.

“If the First Amendment is intended to protect anything, it’s intended to protect offensive speech.  If you’re not going to offend anyone, you don’t need protection.” ― Larry Flynt, publisher.

“To me there is nothing more important in a democracy than free speech and debate. We should debate everything, we should talk about everything, we should engage ideas we aren’t comfortable with, and we should let the best ideas win, that’s how a healthy society based on rational ideas and a secular government should work.” ― Dave Rubin, political commentator.