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Somehow, in the course of the American drama, a new right has been thumbtacked to the Constitution. Never really written in by force of law, but stuck like a sticky note on the first Amendment on which someone wrote in crayon, "We the People have the right not to be offended!"

Oh, sure, you can have your freedom of speech and all that stuff so long as what you say does not offend me. Offend who? Well, there's the rub. It's OK to offend certain groups of people...sometimes...but not at others...and in this venue, but not necessarily in that venue.

For instances, don't say anything positive about communism, socialism, anarchism, syndicalism and all of those bad isms. Capitalism is a universal good. And feel free to criticize capitalism, but expect that in doing so you will automatically be labeled communist, socialist, anarchist and syndicalist, and therefore what you say has no legitimacy.

And it's OK to talk about war crimes...just not our war crimes. And it's important to remember the Holocaust...just not our role in the Holocaust. Deride Hitler, but try not to mention that Hitler was Time Magazine's man of the year in 1938. Is anyone offended yet? I sure am.

And sex is great! We can sell sex, and buy sex, and promote sex, and create sexual imagery to sell cars. Our whole society is steeped in sex. Sexy women, sexy men. But it must be a certain kind of sex. The right kind of sex. Boy on girl sex. Boy in charge sex. Hetero...sex. Oh, girl on girl sex is coming into vogue...because we men like it. Women can be superheros so long as they are also dominatrixes (dominatrixi? what is the plural of dominatrix?)

What? Teach about sex and sexuality in our schools? What are you, a commie? I'm offended. We can teach our kids to deal with life in a sex filled market, culture, society by...not talking about sex. Wait 'till you're married.

And violence is always great. Torture...wonderful stuff. The ticking bomb is about to go off. Jack Bauer sticks a nail in the guy's eyeball and he sings like an opera star. Jack saves the day once again, in an hour. One of the most popular shows on television.

Religion? Religion is taboo. Hands off of religion. Unless of course it's one of those silly religions like Scientology, or Paganism, or WICCA or Islam. But my religion and religions like mine we just don't mess with. I mean come on. Look at those Muslims rioting because of a cartoon! That's ridiculous! And don't forget to boycott every screening of the Golden Compass. Don't you know

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