A Brief History
On April 9, 2016, the last place you would expect to find the cherished right to free speech under attack is at a college campus, especially traditionally liberal ones, and yet that is exactly what we are finding across the United States of America in academia, colleges and universities both liberal and conservative.
Digging Deeper
Under the guise of “protecting” students from any speech or expression they may find offensive under any circumstances institutions of higher learning (note the irony here!) are stifling the merest hint of opposing viewpoints. It has gotten, in a word, ridiculous!
Comedians such as Bill Maher and Jerry Seinfeld have either been banned from performing at universities or have been disgustedly scared off by intolerant students and administrators. Humor, with its biting irony, sarcasm and parody has traditionally been an important form of communication throughout history (Ben Franklin and Mark Twain would agree, as would Shakespeare), but apparently no longer.
Professors are encouraged to study and publish their evolving theories, and yet many a college is now stamping out any sort of analysis or free speech that defies the party line. At Emory University someone apparently wrote “Trump 2016” on a sidewalk in chalk, a message that will quickly disappear with the first rain or first few students walking across it. Yet the sissified babies going to school there (of course, just those wimps afraid of the same message they see daily on bumper stickers and yard signs!) are now afraid and no longer “feel safe.” Lord above, what if these ‘fraidy cats have to go to war?
Another college student was booted from her slot in student government for writing, again, in chalk, “Trump 2016.” This routine political opinion was labeled “hate speech!” What, any candidate you do not support is not permitted the support of other students? Ridiculous!
The latest trend and fad is now creating “safe spaces” at the campus, a place where students can be insulated against anything and everything that might scare them. What kind of wimps are we producing? What will these poor babies do when they see television commercials they do not like, or heaven forbid, real life news about distasteful events? Whatever happened to encouraging debate about differing ideas?
At Ohio State University (The Ohio State University), a retired professor has had his email privileges revoked because he finds the extreme feminist political correctness to be out of control. This professor finds the current definitions of “consensual sex” to be unrealistic and unworkable, a casualty of political correctness gone overboard. OSU apparently cannot tolerate their infinite wisdom being questioned and seeks to silence this voice of dissent. Hey, when did stifling dissent become the American way?
Question for students (and subscribers): Seriously, what lesson are we teaching our kids? Conformity is supreme? Dissent or disagreement is wrong? Whisper low or Big Brother will hear? It is time we put“Free” back in “Free Speech!” Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Adams, Nick and Dennis Prager. Retaking America: Crushing Political Correctness. Post Hill Press, 2017.
Horowitz, David. The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America. Regnery Publishing, 2006.
Trump, Donald J. Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again. Threshold Editions, 2015.
