By Josh Gilman:
You have almost certainly heard that Dr. Jordan Peterson is being threatened by the Ontario College of Psychologists for criticizing the Prime Minister. Many articles have already been written about the almost-unbelievable details of this story, but the point of concern for regular Canadians is not that a public figure like Jordan Peterson is under threat of losing his license. What is most concerning, rather, is the message they’re trying to send to the regular doctors, therapists, and psychiatrists who are simply trying to do their job and serve their neighbours.
They don’t work publicly, they don’t go on speaking tours, and they’re not writing books. But Peterson’s cancellation sends each of them a chilling message that if they post their political opinions on social media, they could lose their license and their livelihood.
Over the last few years, healthcare and other issues of basic human flourishing have become increasingly politicized. I have had a number of doctors and psychologists inform me that they have chosen to keep their personal opinions to themselves, rather than face the consequences of speaking out.
They routinely use alternative methods of communication and more secure messaging apps to discuss their thoughts on taxes, lockdowns, education, healthcare, or whether they bought Jordan Peterson’s book.
I remember speaking with a therapist whose material is taught in universities around the world. After questioning the benefits of the sexual revolution, however, she was uninvited from multiple professional gatherings and blacklisted by her peers.
These are professionals who are excellent at their jobs. These are professionals who train other professionals. They are at the top of their respective fields. And yet they are terrified of what could happen to them, their livelihoods, and their families if the people who regulate their industries knew about their personal beliefs.
I assume that Jordan Peterson is wealthy enough to sustain the financial cost of losing his license, though he would not be able to practice as a Clinical Psychiatrist in Ontario anymore. His high profile will also help him fight back against the College’s decision. But the message being sent by this regulating authority to professionals across Canada is this: if you step out of line, the ability to do your job will be taken away.
Justin Trudeau is not on the board of Ontario’s College of Psychologists, but a true leader would step up at this point and say “criticizing the Prime Minister is not a crime”.
After all, only 30% of Canadians support the Liberal Party. Being critical of the Prime Minister would actually represent the majority opinion in a country of 38 million people (only 5.5 million of whom voted for Mr. Trudeau). If this is how leaders treat the majority opinions of Canadians, how are they going to treat those who actually hold minority opinions?
A quick scan of history will demonstrate that many minority opinions have been the most transformational. You could use the famous example of Galileo’s astronomy or the lesser known example of Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis who was ridiculed for claiming that you should wash your hands before assisting a woman with childbirth.
I’m not claiming that Jordan Peterson‘s ideas are as transformational as handwashing, but whether it’s Jordan Peterson or a regular doctor, therapist or psychologist, someone has an incredibly important minority idea. Our society will suffer terribly—and not just politically— if we give in and let the cultural bullies threaten them into silence.
The phrase, “I may not agree with what you say, but I’ll defend your right to say it” has almost been repeated to the point of meaninglessness over the last couple years, but the fact is that if we lose this basic concept, we will lose the possibility of changing our world for the better. In fact, the world will become worse, and more than just democracy will die.