The recent e-mail from Ms. Telles-Irvin regarding the sensitivity surrounding the use of the phrase "Radical Islam Wants You Dead" paints a dismal yet accurate picture of what ails this campus and country. The only people who should be offended by this phrase are radical Muslims in self-denial.
As a Christian, I am not offended when someone references Bible-thumpin', name-callin' preachers. This is because I acknowledge these people exist. I also know they do not represent me. Most Muslims do not accept these radicals as representing their faith. These radicals take the Muslim faith, interpret it, deform it and claim to do Allah's work in the name of it. In short, radical Islamists do want to kill you. If any true Muslims were offended, I urge them to express their grief to the radicals, the source of the problem.
Ms. Telles-Irvin's e-mail is the epitome of political correctness. These nations, both the American and the Gator, are walking a tightrope of political correctness, and the rope is getting thinner and thinner. Soon we will see a surge of spam apologizing for wearing a certain color T-shirt on a certain day!
I believe in peace. I believe we are called to respect each other. However, we need to stop this obsession with re-labeling and apologizing for calling truth what it is.
