MP for Kaikoura
stuartsmith.national.org.nz
It is undeniable that we are living in a fascinating era.
Unfortunately, there are those who are emulating Joseph Goebbels, the former Minister for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, under Hitler’s regime. Goebbels worked to create a totalitarian society in which the state controlled all aspects of people’s lives, from their thoughts and beliefs to their behaviour and actions. This included controlling the media, the arts, education and even personal relationships.
These modern Goebbels seek to cancel William Shakespeare, despite his works being considered some of the most outstanding accomplishments in the history of Western literature. Shakespeare’s works address enduring themes such as love, envy, retribution and the complexities of human nature. They are universal and have been staged across the globe and translated into almost every language.
Even Roald Dahl’s children’s books are being sanitised to remove words such as “black” (referring to a tractor), “mad” and “fat”. Dahl’s books have enthralled generations with their fanciful characters, incredible tales and clever language. Revamping his work to align with a particular political ideology would deprive it of its enchantment and originality.
Shakespeare’s and Dahl’s works are important because they remind us of our history and our evolving culture. They teach us about the past and provide insight into the human experience.
Also set to be rewritten is James Bond: the epitome of masculinity with a touch of chauvinism, a beautiful woman on his arm and a shaken-not-stirred martini.
These works are products of their time and reflect the attitudes and values of their era. Rewriting them to conform to modern sensibilities would be a disservice to the history of literature. We should preserve these literary works for future generations and not allow political correctness to undermine their value.
The reality is, cancelling and rewriting literature and movies to accommodate the politically correct is nothing short of an attack on free speech. If we allow it, it will lead to the control of speech, and even thought.
If we were to succumb to the modern-day Goebbels, our society would resemble that of the Gloriavale community, who enforce strict regulations on what its members are allowed to read and listen to, and even goes as far as controlling their personal relationships. Modern-day Goebbels would be shocked of any comparison to the Gloriavale shepherds, however, their actions exhibit a striking similarity.
Most people do not take the PC brigade seriously – but they chip away at our freedoms, little by little.
We must point out that the ‘King has no clothes’ while we still have the freedom to do so.