Safe Spaces

I suppose many Americans are now familiar with the concept of safe spaces. The term, which is said to have originated during the 1960's feminist movement, then resurfaced in the 1990s gay and lesbian movement, is being used again, this time primarily by college and university students. If a student feels upset, particularly because an opposing or controversial viewpoint is being expressed by an individual or group, he or she can enter a designated safe space on campus. Here, he or she can feel safe and unthreatened. 

The concept of safe spaces raises a lot of red flags, most of which I will not discuss here. But, in my opinion, the need for safe spaces reflects the fragile emotional state of individuals and their inability or unwillingness to be exposed to any person or subject that makes them feel vulnerable. 

Such people, if they were to read this blog post, would probably feel like they needed to enter a safe space! After all, I just said something that has the potential to hurt someone's feelings and make them feel discriminated against. 

The New York Times ran an article by Judith Shulevitz. She quoted Adam Shapiro, a junior at Columbia University. He wrote, "Kindness alone won't allow us to gain more insight into truth." In an interview, he stated, "If the point of a safe space is therapy for people who feel victimized by traumatization, that sounds like a great mission."

'But a safe-space mentality has begun infiltrating classrooms, he said, making both professors and students loath to say anything that might hurt someone's feelings. "I don't see how you can have a therapeutic space that's also an intellectual space," he said.'

Well said, by a university student whose words, hopefully, are reflecting the viewpoint of other students as well. While no one should purposely attempt to intimidate or hurt someone else while expressing a viewpoint, people should be a bit more responsible for their emotions than to think only of retreat. After all, America was built upon freedom of expression. We allow it, even if we do not agree with one another. That is one of the things that makes America unique among the world's 196 countries. 

By the way, if you are someone who is easily hurt and needs a safe space, may I offer you the best safe space of all? It is the presence of your Creator who loves you beyond your greatest comprehension. Proverbs 29:25 says, "Whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe." Go there once and you'll never want to leave. God is the ultimate safe space.

Quotes from The  New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/22/opinion/sunday/judith-shulevitz-hiding-from-scary-ideas.html?_r=0