” I just thought maybe we needed a liberal in the room.”

Those were the words of a college student whom I met at the University of Minnesota a number or years ago.  I was there for a week, doing a series of lectures. In between meetings, over dinner, some of us got on the subject of politics. I don’t even remember any more what the particular  controversy was, probably abortion. All I know is that James spoke up after the rest of us had talked for a while. His viewpoint sharply differed from everyone else’s.  When asked to defend his own words, James seemed less interested in offering any kind of authentication and instead justified his intervention on the basis that the conversation was headed a conservative direction and in all fairness, we should now hear from a liberal. Others have taken Jame’s position.  A current name for it would be, The Fairness Doctrine.

Look, I’m a big believer in hearing both sides. But something about that smug interjection had always rubbed me the wrong way.

I think we play with words like Liberal and Conservative far too easily these days. They’ve become buzz words, words that evoke emotion more than clarity.

It would have been very appropriate for James to say, “I disagree. What you are saying is not true and here’s why.”  Throwing in a comment for the sake of the truth or even for the sake of what one sincerely believes to be true, is admirable. But objecting to an idea simply because it is conservative or simply because too many people in the room are talking like Conservatives?  I’m not sure that really accomplishes anything. I am sure it doesn’t mean anything.

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