I can't resist "expressing myself" on any "free speech" wall and support my favorite on-campus organization! CLICK (on the picture) to see who it is!
Unless you have had your work or your existence censored or found yourself defending your free speech in a court of law, you probably take it for granted that you can have ‘an opinion.’ You might even think that having a popular opinion might protect you; however, this hasn’t worked in Syria, Iran or other places where the exercise of an opinion, no matter how innocent, is immune from persecution or death. I may seem a bit corny to remind others that many of those who signed the Declaration of Independence paid a great price for their exercise of free will. Free Speech is what democracies do…. it is what we are and without it we are like every other despotic system.
In the competitive market place of ideas, speaking freely allows us all to test our values and beliefs and redefine or reshape them, but this is heresy in many parts of the world. ‘Speech’ via ‘speech codes’ is also a central concept under attack in our academic environments. For those who would like to turn the direction of a new generation of our youth, they must manipulate our language to restrict the use of words, meanings and general expression. If you forbid some topics from being studied or discussed ( in some circles , these are referred to as ‘the undiscussables’) then the censors win and we lose and human progress is halted and frozen in time. Let me just add, that this is not a good thing.
Not every university is backward, the University of Virginia has earned the coveted ‘GREEN’ light designation from FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education). Only a few universities have been so honored. I recommend that you take the time to see what FIRE does to support free expression on college campuses…. and do what you can to support them. They deserve all our support no matter your political orientation.
I have been named in a suit back in December for blogs related to an issue of great ‘public interest.’ CHECK CalCoastNews.Com and their archive for more.
After some thought on seeing what is appearing to be okay to say and do on college campuses and in the media, I thought it might be important to talk about something that very few people seem to value anymore and appear to be willing to trade in for a little collegiality–I am speaking about our right to be heard and our right to express our opinion. Progress cannot occur if some opinions and ideas are viewed and treated as heresy and others are not.
“We are not afraid to entrust the American people with unpleasant facts, foreign ideas, alien philosophies, and competitive values. For a nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people.” ~John F. Kennedy
REAL HATE
A recent news report about McGill University told the following story:
“A McGill University student is under investigation by police after he allegedly made death threats using his Twitter account. The student, Haaris Khan, was watching a documentary screened by the Conservative Party’s campus arm, Conservative McGill, when he appeared to become increasingly agitated and expressed himself on Twitter using his BlackBerry. “I’ve infiltrated a Zionist meeting. I feel like I’m at a Satanist ritual,” he allegedly wrote at the March 8th screening. “I want to shoot everyone in this room,” another tweet said. “Never been this angry.” The tweets call the documentary a “Zionist/Conservative propaganda film” and the gathering, which attracted about 20 students, “a secret Zionist convention.” Then: “I should have brought an M16.”
The article goes on to say that Khan continued tweeting the following day: “The jihad begins today.” (thestar.com)
“INDOCTRINATE U. “ – the movie
The movie they were watching at McGill University is called ‘Indoctrinate U,’ which has – interestingly enough — nothing to do with Islam, Jihads or Pita Bread. What makes it interesting to us, is the fact that some local San Luis Obispo heroes, villains and our very own Cal Poly plays a part in this fun story that rivals the best old fashioned Melodrama. (BTW, you can see excerpts of ‘Indoctrinate U.’ on YouTube and, if you look very closely, you can even see a clip or two of me providing wisdom.) The film is actually about the suppression of constitutionally protected free speech in academia. Are you confused? Why would anyone react so violently to a movie about free speech?
Here I am a few years back, and a bit chubbier, being filmed for Indoctrinate U.>
The answer to this question is very troubling. On college campuses today, the suppression of free speech has been used to freeze discourse, specify approved points of view, and indoctrinate students and faculty to the accepted truths as seen by those in charge. ‘Accepted views’ become a litmus test for any candidate being hired into academia. Then we get reports saying that American students are not very good at debate any more. Can you possibly imagine why, when all differences from the “approved” opinions are suppressed?
THOUGHT POLICE
A common tactic of the ‘thought police’ is to accuse someone of being ‘racist’ or as using ‘hate speech.’ This is a way of maintaining power over any group. However, there are some groups that it is still okay to hate.
In American society today, there are two groups: those groups that are okay to hate and a second protected class that is not okay to hate, or criticize, or even “tolerate,” because “tolerate” implies you’re putting up with someone instead of “celebrating” him or her. On the surface, most people can throw some candidates into each pile for discussion. It may be okay to say that you hate child molesters but you think hating a particular ethnic group is wrong.
The Supreme Court continues to rule in favor of ‘free speech’:
“Freedom to differ is not limited to things that do not matter much. That would be a mere shadow of freedom. The test of its substance is the right to differ as to things that touch the heart of the existing order. If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.” – Supreme Court Ruling West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624
WHO IS IT OKAY TO HATE? – U.C. Davis Case & Academia
I have a family of teachers and I have taught quite a bit myself and although there are many wonderful people in the profession; as a whole, it is a mess.
The two groups that are still okay to hate, particularly on college campuses, are Christians and conservatives.
Up until very recently, the University of California at Davis had a statement on its website that said:
“The loss of power and privilege to those who do not practice the dominant culture’s religion. In the United States, this is institutionalized oppression toward those who are not Christian…”
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education said:
“… Even more shocking is the fact that under this definition, Christians cannot be the victims of religious discrimination. No, because Christianity is ‘the dominant culture’s religion,’ UC Davis maintained that Christians cannot themselves be subject to discrimination…”
At Cal Poly, just ask a member of Campus Crusade for Christ how they are treated by professors when their membership is known…. Here is the data on who is okay to hate:
The majority of American professors admit to ‘hating’ Christians (Profiles of the American University, by Gary A. Tobin and Aryeh K. Weinberg). Also on the list of people who are okay to hate are Republicans. Try to get a job in academia today if anyone knows you are a Republican. One Cal Poly professor told a classroom of students that the primordial ooze of evolution is where you would find Republicans. Substitute the name of any “protected” group into that sentence, and the professor would be national news. As it is, nothing will ever happen to this person, except maybe a pat on the back. Another professor, soon after the Arizona shooting of Gabby Giffords, told his class that “everyone would be happy if Dick Cheney’s airplane crashed.” I’m betting that these two professors are very likely to sport “Hate: See it, stop it” posters on their office doors.
WHO ARE WE ALLOWED TO BULLY?
“What progress we are making. In the Middle Ages they would have burned me. Now they are content with burning my books.” ~Sigmund Freud, 1933
I am sure you have heard how important it is to address bullying in the schools; however, it is the definition of who is protected and who is excluded that raises concern. Here is something surprising from the Washington Times:
“…Here is the catch. DOJ will only investigate bullying cases if the victim is considered protected under the 1964 Civil Rights legislation. In essence, only discrimination against a victim’s race, sex, national origin, disability, or religion will be considered by DOJ. The overweight straight white male who is verbally and/or physically harassed because of his size can consider himself invisible to the Justice Department. Apparently, the Justice Department is going by George Orwell’s famous Animal Farm ending: “All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.”
SUMMARY
The key to remember is that not all ‘hate groups’ wear hoods or black or green masks, some just hide in the public sector, or occasionally put on doctoral robes and teach in our universities or they may have traded in their protest signs and gone into indoctrinating our young.
There is a long road ahead of us. We must protect free speech, ensure a diversity of ideas on campus and change the faculty climate.
"nothin' finer than a fine lady with a gun" -- Frankie Figgs
Okay, this is a story about — well — self defense, heroism, saving the life of another and courage. These are things you will probably will not find on CBS, NBC, MSNBC or ABC. Try searching “Meghan Brown” ( or other relevant terms) on any of these sites and see what you find? Here are a few screen captures of what I found today!
Where is Meghan Brown? I am sure they would have covered her story IF she was the victim.
Meghan Brown’s story is inspiring. CLICK here to read it … The story is also covered by countless bloggers over the world… and the British Press!
FIRE President talks informally at Cal Poly on the need and the value of free discussion, open minds and free speech in American Universities.
It all starts with the ability to speak freely and openly on the issues of the day. To much progress and ultimately happiness has been lost throughout history by those who crush the ability of others to speak in order to protect their views. Convert to my way of thinking or die is not a new concept but an ancient one.
Last night, FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) President Greg Lukianoff discussed what free speech was and what it wasn’t. He regaled the audience with unfortunate stories of students that suffered serious abuse at the hands of administrators and it was unpleasant to hear. The most pointed reminder he gave was to remind us that these were all people expressing their right to speak and their lives could have been ruined without outside intervention.
Greg Lukianoff reminded us that although there are NOW more than a dozen GREEN light free speech schools when once there were none, there are still a couple thousand public colleges and universities that are failing to live up to the rights set forth in our Constitution.
Cal Poly has come a long way from the RED light school it once was and it was often commented that they were given their own attorney for a reason, but that is slowly changing. Today, they are a Yellow Light school and with just a slight more movement they could be GREEN.
To be fair, the internet, email and rudimentary websites had only been around a few years (4) when Catie Couric was attempting to describe the internet; however, she should have known more, much much more . Back in San Luis Obispo, we had only been accessing our email from home starting in early 1992. And does anyone remember Prodigy? Prodigy was one of the early web service provider that opened the door for many others. Soon, the more adventurous were learning basic computer languages then HTML and finally building their own sites.
Our daughter Karen had started her first website in 1995 as an unofficial Val Kilmer fan site which evolved though her athletic, academic and professional experiences. In high school, it was a great way for college coaches to see what she was doing without breaking any of those vaunted NCAA rules!
Going back a little farther, I also remember in the very early 80’s that a computer ‘upgrade’ required knowledge and use of a soldering iron. Do you remember the first innovative 5 1/4 floppy, and daisy wheel printers? The ‘typewritter’ was on the way out! Imagine my surprise when computer alterations and up grades became plug and play! We are very spoiled today with advances in technology and the abundance of information.
However, the NBC video brings home a tragic truth about how far behind many formerly great institutions have dropped since their once great leadership roles. It’s not only the traditional media that has fallen woefully behind, but also many academic institutions in responding to and understanding new media applications and the changing realities and expectations governing our world.
Although I will resist making any comments like “NBC News saw a huge increase in it’s audience with the vintage leaked footage on Youtube“…. it reminds me how really long ago that I had any reason to watch ABC, CBS or NBC…. and I am really not alone. The target audience of these stations is getting older and older. It’s not just demographic changes but lack of content that is killing the old ways.
BTW, I would like to thank the poor NBC employee who was fired over the leak and I wish them well… however, any PR professional worth anything could have given them advice on how to handle this better and … maybe …make it a plus… but NBC is very old school and they have forgotten that the world has changed, offering information to the public has become competitive and what you do privately ( as in firing employees) will be seen by all quicker than you can say YouTube.
