In George Orwell’s book, 1984, the term doublethink is used, referring to something being so ambiguous as to be taken two different ways. What, however, do people think of when they hear the term doublespeak? Although a lack of clarity may come to mind, one may think of someone speaking out of both sides of his mouth or thinking in two opposite directions—something James refers to: “he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (1:8).
According to a Townhall story by Todd Starnes (October 4, 2019), “the school district in Appleton, Wisconsin” now requires students and faculty members alike to submit their public speeches (such as at a graduation ceremony) two weeks in advance of its presentation. Apparently, the school district will okay the speech—and make the person swear not to add anything to the text. Starnes quipped that he wondered “if they are going to make folks swear that oath on a copy of the Holy Bible or a copy of Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals.” Below is what the Appleton Area School District wrote:
The opportunity to speak at a school event is a privilege, not a right. These guidelines do not restrict or regulate individual speech or expression. However, individual speech and expression may still be subject to other restrictions or limitations that are imposed by law or that the District may lawfully enforce through other policies, rules or practices.
Does anyone have a problem recognizing this tripe as doublespeak? Essentially, it says we are not restricting or regulating free speech, but we are going to regulate and restrict all speaker’s speeches. God does not appreciate such statements because they were adopted to prevent the speakers from, say, referring to Jesus Christ, as one Christian board member did the previous year. Besides removing references to Deity, their statement contradicts itself, which means they intentionally lied, and God says (unambiguously) that all liars have their place in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone (Rev. 21:8).
One wonders if students could read aloud the Declaration of Independence, or would the school district eliminate this sentence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”? Would they censor the word Creator? Apparently, what was self-evident to the founding fathers is not to the Appleton Area School District. Their policy defies one of our most precious documents, and their doublespeak offends their Creator.