I'm Confused

I’ve been following the news for many years, and I’m trying to figure out the correct position on several matters. However, the more I read, the more confused I get. Let me tell you where I’m struggling and perhaps you can help me out.

Dress codes are bad.

Hardly a week goes by without a story about some student who was sent home because her clothing was in violation of school policy. Howls of indignation can be heard across the land! Most of these incidents take place in public high schools, though from time to time, a private school shows up as well.

In every story, the reporter is outraged that someone in authority would have the gall to tell anyone else how they ought to dress. This is America, where everyone should be allowed to determine for herself what is appropriate, and nobody has any business passing judgment. Whether the outfit seems provocative or offensive to others is irrelevant. Clothing styles, we are told, are extensions of individual personality and must be defended as freedom of expression. To force somebody else’s concept of appropriate attire upon another comes dangerously close to violating the constitutionally protected right to free speech. Dress codes are bad, very bad, and should be abolished immediately in any self-respecting free society.

Dress codes are good.

But recently, we’re reading supportive stories of schools dictating dress codes for their students. What? I thought dress codes were bad! These accounts usually involve universities and generally refer to costumes for Halloween or similar festivities. These colleges, which have long prided themselves as bastions of freedom of expression, are now severely restricting the costumes students are permitted to wear. Detailed dress codes are issued from school offices and the list of forbidden attire is continually expanding.

The problem seems to be that some costumes might offend another individual, and therefore cannot be allowed. Just when I’m getting the hang of the principle that dress codes are bad, I’m told to reverse my thinking and understand that dress codes are good, even necessary. School authorities not only may, but absolutely must dictate standards of dress for students. Freedom of expression in certain situations is too dangerous to allow.

Now don’t get the wrong impression. It’s not nudity that’s dangerous. No, that’s the kind of individual expression that must be defended at all costs. But when it comes to cultural insensitivity, it is imperative that those who are wiser dictate what is and is not appropriate clothing. Dress codes are good, very good!

I’m confused. I thought dress codes, imposed by authority figures must not be tolerated. So why are dress codes for costumes tolerated? Which is it? Are dress codes bad or good? Perhaps someone can help make sense of this seeming contradiction.

Smoking is bad.

We’ve been told for years now that smoking is an unspeakable evil. Because tobacco is hazardous to your health, others must intervene to protect you from your individual choices. Although I have never been an advocate of smoking, I’ve long considered use of tobacco a personal decision. If you are foolish enough to take the risk, you will have to accept the consequences for your own bad choices. Now, however, we’re told we must allow others to dictate what personal risks we may take. You not only may not smoke in public buildings, but smoking must be banned from outdoor spaces as well, since the very sight of someone lighting a cigarette may cause trauma to others. Your personal freedom has to be severely restricted. The risk of offending others is just too great.

Smoking is good.

But, when it comes to smoking marijuana, that’s an entirely different matter. That kind of smoking is good, not bad, you see. Is it potentially harmful to your health? A number of studies indicate that it is, but why should somebody else be allowed to make that decision for you? It’s up to each individual to decide if he wants to engage in an activity that may be harmful to his health. Individual freedom, not authoritarian imposition is the American way.

But what if you get stoned and cause an accident that injures or kills others? That’s simply the risk we must all be prepared to take in a free society. Surely we can’t have others dictating how we ought to live our lives! When it comes to marijuana, everyone has the right to decide for himself, and those who choose to smoke weed should be applauded for the exercise of individual expression, not castigated as if they are doing something shameful. Smoking, you see, is good, not bad, if it’s the right kind of smoking. Confused? Perhaps you need to attend your local university so that they can help you sort this out.

Religion is bad.

You may be under the mistaken impression that the Christian religion is a good thing, and should be encouraged throughout American society. Wherever did you get a notion like that? You may even believe that most of the American Founding Fathers were guided by Christian principles, and that biblical morality and Christian truth are the primary reasons why America stands out among the nations of the world.

You poor naïve simpleton, you’ve got it all wrong. Actually, the American Founders were intent on protecting America from the dangers of Christianity. That’s why they added the First Amendment to the Constitution. They built a strong wall of separation between Church and State because they understood that religion is a bad influence upon society.

Perhaps you have read reliable historical documents that seem to demonstrate the opposite? That the Founders believed the Christian religion was a good influence, even a necessary one if representative government could endure without destroying itself? It may seem that way to those who study history, but if you would just listen to the right people, you would understand that religion is a very bad thing, and must not be taught or encouraged in any public forum. Religion must be confined to churches and not allowed in the public square.

Religion is good.

When it comes to Islam or one of the Eastern Religions, that’s a different story. Students must be exposed to these religions in school. It is an absolute necessity. How else will they understand the great diversity which is the heart of the American experiment? So, if your child reports that he is being taught the tenants of Islam in his school classroom, rejoice that he is being broadly educated. If your daughter develops a greater interest in Hinduism than Christianity because of her public school instruction, be thankful that she has been given opportunity to learn about one of the great world religions.

Are you uncomfortable that your tax dollars are promoting religions contrary to Christianity? You need to understand that this is essential to an inclusive society. After all, you don’t run the schools, that job is assigned to experts. Just be quiet and pay your taxes. You ask what happened to the wall of separation between Church and State? Silly you, don’t you realize that only applies to Christianity? When it comes to other faith traditions, religion is good, not bad. This might seem contradictory at first, but with the passing of time, I’m sure you will agree that this newly discovered wisdom is exactly what is needed to develop a strong society in the twenty-first century.

Now do you understand why I’m confused? It seems that most forbidden items now are those that encourage Christian teaching and morality, and that the favored activities are those that undermine biblical Christianity. But perhaps I’m missing something. If you can help me understand what’s going on, I’d appreciate it, because right now, it appears to be an orchestrated attack on everything Christian. How else to account for such glaring contradictions, other than the biblical explanation? “Professing to be wise, they became fools” (Rom. 1:22).