To Kerrigan, a writer for Peninsula, the letters, phone calls and demonstrations imploring her to remove her flag were perfect examples of knee-jerk PC fascism. Gleefully adopting language straight out of The PC Handbook, she claimed that she was being "marginalized" on account of her Southern heritage. Biased, intolerant North-erners were "pressuring" her, conspiring to violate her freedom of expression.

Funny. It sure seemed like Kerrigan was getting a chance to express herself. She defended her actions at three public forums. She was interviewed by several local television and radio stations, profiled at length by The Boston Globe and The Crimson glorified by the CBS Nightly News as a brave victim of PC oppression. And her pain-provoking Confederate flag still files over Kirkland House. Nobody ever forced her to remove it.

Yes, many of us did "pressure" Kerrigan et al to take down their symbols. That's what happens in a pluralistic community that allows disagreement and protects free expression--people freely express their disagreements. Free expression implies a right to criticize, not a right to be immune from criticism.

THE PC BROUHAHA may have some unfortunate repercussions.

The hypersensitive, unsupported wolf-cries of "racist!" and "sexist!" made by a few radicals could make the rest of us reluctant to attack real--and unfortunately prevalent--cases of racism and sexism in America today.

At the same time, the indiscriminate accusations of "PC totalitarian" made by a few reactionaries could blind us to the legitimate concerns of conservatives--here at the Liberal Boutique and elsewhere--who say they feel uncomfortable discussing issues like affirmative action, gay rights and abortion in liberal-dominated sections led by liberal section leaders. These concerns--like the concerns of women who say they feel uncomfortable in male-dominated sections led by male section leaders--may not be deserving of a full-scale Newsweek/Time/ New Republic/CBS/NBC/ABC media blitz, but they should still be addressed.

In mid-January, Joel D. Hornstein '92 stood on the steps of Widener Library and said that, as far as the Gulf War was concerned, "the time for debate is over." We found Hornstein's attempt to halt discussion despicable. "The time for debate is never over." we insisted. "Never." Debate educates, debate enlightens. Debate prevents antagonism from festering beneath the surface. Debate gives unpopular intelligent viewpoints a chance to be aired. Debate gives unpopular idiotic viewpoints a chance to look idiotic.

There isn't much left to say about PC that hasn't been hashed out time and time again. This much is clear--it's time to stop the antagonistic name-calling. By now, everyone should understand the dangers of thoughtless PC intolerance. By now, everyone should understand the dangers of thoughtless anti-PC intolerance.

Let's get on to more interesting debates.