Ironically, in these very liberal times we’re experiencing the greatest restrictions on free speech I can remember: in the media, on social media, in schools, in workplaces. It’s like Animal Farm, you have to read what’s on the barn wall this morning and what’s been removed from it.

We distort meaning in order not to offend an issue that’s not really offensive. We talk of “micro-aggressions” which seem like excuses to brand someone a racist or worse. We seem to be on eggshells about racism but ignore the boulders of anti-Semitism descending all around us.

We’re expected to atone for the sins of our ancestors. We must distort language in order to avoid some inadvertent grievance about pronouns. And we’re expected to keep vaults of people’s names with their pronoun preferences as though these are the keys to survival. We no longer can tell if “they” is singular or plural, somewhat important one would think, if a friend or a mob were coming down the block.

Virtue signalling has become a profession, with people warning us at theatrical events, sports venues, and university proceedings that we had better adhere to the right social theology. As many people simply accept all this and go about their business of earning a living and supporting their families, the field is left to the zealots.

I don’t care if you wear a mask or not these days, because I’m vaccinated to the max and believe that a mask doesn’t make a difference for most of us (though if you don’t use one and you don’t believe in vaccination, you should care). But I do care if you think I’m guilty or privileged because I’ve worked hard and used my talents honestly and consistently. I don’t want to live in a “TSA World” where I’m guilty until I prove myself innocent.

To quote Billy Joel, “I am, an innocent man.” And unwoke.