American Campuses: Not-So-Free Speech Zones
No, it isn't just outside of America where attempts to censor are rampant.
Ann Snyder blogs of some examples within the USA -- all of them fought by FIRE (great organization -- Foundation for Individual Rights in Education -- dedicated to defending free speech rights on college campuses):
Far from being bastions of free thought and critical inquiry, our universities, through speech codes, security fees, and other tactics, begin the "political correctness" indoctrination process early, teaching young Americans what they may and may not say (READ: think). Naturally, included in the realm of the verboten is expression deemed critical of Islam.Student group slapped with "security fee" for Wilders event:
In October of 2009, the student organization, Temple University Purpose (TUP), sponsored an event with Dutch politician, Geert Wilders, who currently faces prosecution for "hate speech" in the Netherlands. Several weeks later, the group received charges for an additional "security fee" for the event. Charging extra security fees for a controversial event because of a potential hostile reaction from the audience has been deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court because it financially burdens speech. Citing this precedent and through dogged persistence, the FIRE succeeded in having the fee withdrawn.College Republicans investigated for fake flag "desecration" at anti-terrorism event:
In 2007, San Francisco State University's College Republicans were subjected to disciplinary action for stepping on mock Hezbollah and Hamas flags as part of an anti-terrorism event. With help from the FIRE, the witch-hunt was ended and students escaped punishment. Later, with the assistance of the FIRE's Speech Codes Litigation Project and the Alliance Defense Fund, the College Republicans delivered a little disciplinary action of their own, raising and winning a constitutional challenge to the university's speech code."Portraits of Terror" art exhibit censored:
In 2006, then Penn State student, Joshua Stulman's exhibit "Portraits of Terror" was pulled by the university just three days before its opening. According to FIRE President, Greg Lukianoff, the exhibit was censored "twice: first because administrators didn't like what it had to say, and later out of fear that violence would ensue if his artwork were shown on campus." The FIRE has helped raise awareness of the incident through writing and a short documentary. Is there anyone out there with the courage to show this exhibit?
Maintaining free speech on campuses is an important part of maintaining it in general. Free speech about Islam is particularly endangered. Legal Project's Adam Turner blogs:
•On Sunday, October 3, the Washington Post and other newspapers chose to rerun an old Non Sequitur cartoon by Wiley Miller rather than use Miller's submission for that day. The papers' objection - Miller's use of a "Where's Waldo?" gag that replaced Waldo with Muhammad, which was meant to satirize the media's hesitancy to offend radical Islam. The Post's Style Editor Ned Martel defended his decision, saying the cartoon "seemed a deliberate provocation without a clear message." However, as Reason magazine reasoned, cowardice seemed the more likely culprit.•On Sept. 11, in East Lansing, Michigan, an unidentified man burned a Koran and scattered its ashes and torn pages outside of the Islamic Center. The response from the police - a full court press to track down this man, including a ridiculously excessive $10,000 reward for information relating to his capture. When the man voluntarily turned himself in, however, the Assistant City Attorney chose not to prosecute, not in the name of First Amendment freedoms but because there was no basis for trespass and "(f)rom a littering standpoint, my understanding is that no one would consider a desecrated version of the Quran as litter. That would be potentially insulting and provocative."
•In a follow up to the Koran burning case that started it all, Gainesville, Florida hit fringe pastor Terry Jones with an $180,000 fee for security costs. This in addition to his insurance being canceled and website being taken down. And Jones never even went through with the burning, ceding to the Administration's warnings that American troops would become targets in the Middle East. (I thought they already were?) If this fee is enforced, Jones will undoubtedly go bankrupt, and those contemplating a similar act will have been suitably 'warned' not to exercise their constitutional right to do so.
•Molly Norris, the Seattle cartoonist whose "crime" was merely sponsoring "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day" has "gone ghost" -- changed her name and identity and abandoned her livelihood - at the insistence of the FBI after Islamists marked her for assassination. Have many members of our government or the Western press stood up to defend her speech from the radical Islamists? Nope. Will any but the most courageous cartoonists be willing to take on radical Islamists in the future? Nope.
In modern Western society, religious persons of almost every faith have had to accommodate themselves to offensive speech targeting their religion. Ask any Christian, Jew, Hindu, etc. But one religion alone - Islam - is protected from criticism these days. And everyone knows why Islam is so protected. If the adherents of Islam are offended, you see, the offenders of Islam will be targeted for death. Today, cowardice rules, and, as a result, Islam is untouchable by commentary or criticism.
Just like Sharia law demands.
This is the last day for FIRE's big fundraising push of the year. If you have even $5 or $10 to donate, you can do it here: https://myfire.thefire.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=202. In Milton Friedman's words:
Over the course of a long lifetime, I have witnessed a serious decline in tolerance and respect for freedom of speech in the academy. FIRE is currently the most effective force countering that trend. It deserves the support of every believer in a free society.
Thanks for the story and the link to donate. I hope FIRE gets far above what they need/hope for.
I donated OL and likely will continue to do so.
TW at December 31, 2010 1:54 AM
Ugh. This is sickening! We're letting ourselves be bullied out of our rights...
"Oh, we mustn't say bad things about Islam! They might launch terrorist attacks against us!"
Why are playing the pathetic little wuss on the school playground who let's the bully push him around?
Patrick at December 31, 2010 5:23 AM
Oh, it's worse than that. A former grad student at LeMoyne was removed from his program for writing that corporal punishment might have a place in school.
I don't suppose they gave him his money back, and I know damn well they didn't give him the two years of his life back.
MarkD at December 31, 2010 6:43 AM
Let us not forget that these events don't just hamper free speech about Islam. The Minutemen, the volunteer group intending to aid the Border Patrol, was shouted down by people who simply do not want their views expressed. Actually, the shouters reminded me just why I despise modern "liberals".
Radwaste at December 31, 2010 7:08 AM
Just kicked out some money to them.
More organizations need to have a Paypal account.
Jim P. at December 31, 2010 7:28 AM
Where did America go? To the left of the European Alliance. The progressives in this country are winning, and our constitutional rights are in danger of being completely disregarded for political correctness. It’s time for a real change and that starts with voting every incumbent out at ever opportunity. VOTE THEM OUT!!!!
I have made no doubt as to where I stand on religion on many of Amy’s blogs. But of all the ridiculousness’ that resides in religion none is more absurd than having a pedophile as your prophet. How in the world can anybody with even 2 brain cells to rub together come to the conclusion that following the teachings of a man that had sex with a 9yr old a good idea. Of all the arguments you can make against the absurdity of religion, this one tops them all. The followers of this pedophile are who we are kowtowing to? What a bunch of pussies we have become.
Oh yeah I more thing, FUCK ISLAM AND ITS FOLLOWERS!!!!!
Ed at December 31, 2010 8:08 AM
Ed, and who do you think we should vote in? You expecting King Arthur and the rest of the knights of the Round Table to start running, so we can usher in an age where the government is as pure as the driven snow?
Patrick at December 31, 2010 8:17 AM
Radwaste, like conservatives never had any plants in an audience to shout down town hall meetings. I know, it's all liberals. Liberals are responsible for all the world's ills.
Patrick at December 31, 2010 8:19 AM
The government will never be as pure as the driven snow, because it is the government.
I'm completely sick of liberals and conservatives both. For every liberal shouting, "We must have free shit for everyone, paid for by everyone else!" there's an equally idiotic conservative shouting, "The problem is we've lost God and have free sex!"
I'm becoming more of an anarchist (and misanthrope) all the time.
Pirate Jo at December 31, 2010 9:36 AM
Welcome to the club Pirate Jo, we only have two questions we ask each new member.
Do you or anyone you know work for the CDC?
And can you get ahold of any weponized ebola or spanish flu?
lujlp at December 31, 2010 9:44 AM
>I know, it's all liberals. Liberals are
>responsible for all the world's ills.
At least you finally admit it. I kid. Really.
Steve at December 31, 2010 10:11 AM
Patrick, all you have to do now is show that free speech is NOT a basic tenet of the modern liberal. They say it is - and then show up to shout down anyone they disagree with.
Got a case where a conservative audience shouted down a liberal speaker, prevented them from appearing, etc?
There are idiots in every camp. I suggest that when you are a member of a particular camp that you not make excuses - when your group shouts down a speaker, your members espouse morality while cheating on their wives, your leadership lies or you act selfishly as a matter of course.
Radwaste at December 31, 2010 10:37 AM
I don't kid about it at all Steve.
Modern American Liberalism is a direct descendent of the teachings and philosophies of Marx and Engels.
And you'd be hard-pressed to argue that Marx and Engels are not to blame for damn near all the world's ills.
Were it not for Marx and Engels there would have been no:
Marx and Engels, and all of those who followed them and built upon their teachings are responsible for more human deaths throughout human history than anything other than natural causes.
So, Yeah. Liberals are to blame for all the world's ills, and we would be better off without them.
brian at December 31, 2010 10:52 AM
Yeah, you no-good, latte-drinkin', asparagus-eatin' libruls! Now what durn fool stole my tabacky!?!
Old RPM Daddy at December 31, 2010 11:06 AM
Brian, you're a dutiful parrot of Rush Limbaugh, but past time you learned to turn off the radio and learn to think for yourself.
Patrick at December 31, 2010 11:29 AM
I tend to agree w/ the observation that institutional opposition to free speech, and debate, arises primarily from the Left in the US. There are some examples on the Right, but they are far less common or significant, typically coming from religious conservatives with little actual influence. Also the Left is effectively the sole sponsor of legislation and legal interpretation that seeks to restrict speech and association in the commercial and civil domains. The primary exception being areas of security and policing, where conservatives tend to be more hard-line.
I work and socialize among Progressives. They are rather proudly anti-democratic and skeptical of the claims that free speech and association should be privileged among rights claims.
juno at December 31, 2010 11:50 AM
That's a lie, and you and I both know it. Truth be told, I've not been listening to Limbaugh lately because he's just not interesting any more.
On the subject of thinking for oneself, I have only this to say: "Physician, heal thyself."
I'd wager I've wasted more cycles thinking about the negative impact of collectivism than you've spent on any serious intellectual endeavor.
brian at December 31, 2010 12:06 PM
You'd lose that bet, Brian. I'm in the process of writing a novel...in addition to being a full-time student, pursing my teaching certification.
Thinking about the negative impact of collectivism? You really have no idea how that sounds, do you? You have chosen something that you're prejudiced against and have chosen to focus on the negative aspects of it. Gee, how open-minded of you. And you consider this an intellectual pursuit. It would approach intellectualism if you examined the positive aspects as well as the negative. Not saying you have to come down on the side of collectivism -- I certainly wouldn't -- but admitting that it does have positives would be a big step in making this an intellectual endeavor. Stretch a little Because as it is, you're simply brooding over wrongs ala Madame Defarge.
And in the interest of being helpful, even though you may think I'm just trying to be an asshole, you strike me as a person that focuses on the negative a lot. It would do a world of good, if you admitted that certain things you don't like have positives. Again, I'm not suggesting that you should become a liberal. But stretch your mind to the possibility that liberalism has brought some good things into the world.
Viewing the world in terms of black and white is not intellectual. In fact, it's anti-intellectual.
Finally, it's no lie at all to say you're a dutiful parrot of Rush Limbaugh. You don't listen to him lately, huh? So, this hiatus comes after how many years of faithful devotion. Your own previous posts show me all too well who does your thinking for you. You've stopped listening? Good. But you haven't stopped thinking like him.
Patrick at December 31, 2010 1:29 PM
"You'd lose that bet, Brian. I'm in the process of writing a novel...in addition to being a full-time student, pursing my teaching certification."
Well now we know exactly where you are coming from. Any attempt at a reasonable conversation with a liberally indoctrinated college student with zero life experience is futile to say the least. Get back to us when you have lived in the real world for a little while.
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy.”
Winston Churchill
Ed at December 31, 2010 2:00 PM
Patrick, you are an imbecile. Those who can, do. Those who cannot, manage. Those who can't manage get their teaching certificates.
I've actually looked for any positive aspects of collectivism, and there aren't any that pertain to human beings. Collectivism requires, at its core, automatons in order to work. If you'd looked at it as much as I have, you'd understand that.
Oh, and stretch as I might, I cannot come up with anything good that "liberalism" has brought into the world. If you want to talk about "Classical liberalism" great. But "liberalism" is now a loaded term that is a euphemism for all forms of left-wing thought, none of which have anything to do with the pursuit of individual liberty.
And unless you've listened to Limbaugh as much as I have, then all you know about him is what you get from Media Matters, which is a fundamentally dishonest organization whose sole purpose is to lie about conservatives and conservatism to aid Progressives. That you believe I don't do my own thinking tells me all I need to know about your character. Or rather, your lack thereof.
brian at December 31, 2010 3:17 PM
Ed, you're an idiot, I have to say. You assumed that I'm some fresh out of high school college student. Newsflash. Not everyone who goes to college is out of high school. Many people take college courses at various stages of their lives, and there's nothing wrong with that.
And Brian, you are a bigot, plain and simple. There's no other word for you. You are a smug, arrogant, self-righteous, obnoxious prig.
I have a successful career, thanks. I probably live better now that you ever will. As a matter of fact, I could retire now and live comfortably doing so. I choose to do something different and make a difference in the lives of young people.
My personal life is more successful than yours will ever be, and we've already heard in astounding detail what a failure your love life is. Had a successful relationship yet? No? Gee, couldn't be your winning personality, now could it?
Patrick at December 31, 2010 6:29 PM
Guilty as charged. I'm also right.
So do I. And I live well enough to meet my needs.
I've got plenty of friends. But as far as "love" goes, every time I meet a woman who acts like you, I don't bother talking to women outside of business or my circle of friends for a few years.
See, I don't need a "love life" to survive and be happy. And I don't define myself in terms of the relationships I have. I am me, and that is sufficient.
The fact is that you don't like being bested, so you always resort to the hair pulling and eyeball gouging when you lose. Luckily, I have short hair and glasses, so I'm well protected.
brian at December 31, 2010 10:50 PM
Brian, maybe someday if you best me, we'll find out. You have to wonder about the conviction of someone who has to declare himself the winner. Most people rely on observers to figure it out for themselves. But raising your own arm? Who are you trying to convince?
That aside, this seemed somewhat interesting, and this seemed the most appropriate thread. It's a quiz to determine where you are on the political grid, on a left-right/authoritarian-libertarian scale. Political Compass
Patrick at January 1, 2011 12:17 AM
"Ed, you're an idiot" "And Brian, you are a bigot, plain and simple."
Typical left rhetoric. Throw a temper tantrum along with name calling. How very mature of you. I stand corrected, you are not in your early twenties, you're about 3 years old for all the snotty, hold your breath, stomp your feet because you don’t agree with me tantrums you’ve been throwing. I love liberals, they make themselves such easy targets.
No kidding people go to college at all ages. My guess is you're not, nor ever have attended, any higher learning institution at all. Observed by the fact that you simply cannot act like a mature adult when people disagree with your philosophy. Or have you always been convinced of your superiority over all who disagree with you.
So is this how you act in all aspects of your life? (I’m smart, I go to school and I’m writing a novel so therefore I‘m smarter than you). That your right, everyone else is wrong and you're going to hold your breath and stomp your feet to prove it. Congrats, we now know that you're a pseudo intellectual with a severe persecution complex, along with narcissistic tendencies.
Ed at January 2, 2011 9:10 AM
Did anyone notice that the influence of Marx and Engels was not refuted?
There was a lot of other noise, so you might have missed that.
I'm still waiting for examples of "conservative" groups halting "liberal" speeches.
In the meantime: when you think "entitlement", how do you think the entitled describe themselves? "Liberal", or "conservative"?
Radwaste at January 2, 2011 10:12 AM
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