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Freedom also dies in the light of day
By Kent R. Kroeger (February 28, 2022)
“My definition of a free society is a society where it is safe to be unpopular.” Adlai Stevenson
“If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” George Orwell
Freedom can never be taken for granted.
Russia’s violent and ill-advised invasion of Ukraine brings this reality into immediate focus.
But the events in Ukraine overshadow decidedly smaller, long-festering threats that nonetheless, in the collective, may be eroding freedoms worldwide with as much certainty.
One such small threat was highlighted by a recent news story that warranted little more than a minor headline on sports news websites such as ESPN.com and CBS Sports.com.
On February 25th, Callaway Golf, the largest golf equipment manufacturer in the U.S., decided to “pause” its business relationship with legendary golfer Phil Mickelson, a six-time major champion, over “controversial” remarks he made in an interview about Saudi Arabia, the country financing a new professional golf league to compete with the dominant PGA Tour.
Earlier in the week, KPMG (a Big Four accounting firm), Workday (a large U.S. software firm) and Amstel Light terminated their…
