@bleachbred Anyone who has a pulse is astute to the fact that debates over free speech and intolerance have been at the forefront of higher education over the better part of the past decade. Indeed, over the past several years, a number of television pundits, op-ed columnists and fellow academics (including myself) have weighed in on the various disruptions that have occurred on various college campuses. From ivy league schools to regional state universities. From elite liberal arts colleges to high powered research 1 institutions. Debate and reaction has often being nothing short of contentious and fierce.
The most recent upheaval occurred on March 27th https://www.youtube.com/watchv=QIpBiZj5s78 at Beloit College. A segment of students were outraged at the fact Erik Prince, an associate of president Trump and controversial founder of the security company Blackwater was invited to speak by the campus chapter of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), a conservative student group. Irate students banged ferociously on drums and built a pyramid of chairs on the stage whee Prince was schedule to deliver his talk.
The usually sedate, upscale, Midwestern campus known for its rigorous academic standards became a temporary hotbed of rabid attention and controversy as a plethora of media outlets focused attention on the school. College administrators were caught off guard and seemingly aghast at the sudden turn of events that unfolded. Chaos and dysfunction of the most volatile kind became the order of the day.
The fact that a percentage of students at Beloit College were offended and took it as a personal affront that Mr. Prince was granted permission to speak at their campus in and of itself is not surprising. This is particularly the case in regards to non-White, LGBTQ disabled and other marginalized populations who are more inclined to embrace and harbor more progressive and left leaning sentiments.
Truth be told, if we are being candid and keeping it real, the fact is that college campuses have been citadels of ample hostility and resistance for many students who fall into the aforementioned groups. Moreover, Jewish, Muslim and other students of specific religious groups have found themselves targets of frequent or sporadic ire from certain belligerent factions as well.
A number of college campuses have been less than welcoming places for students of color or in some cases, women. On the contrary, they have been environments rife with hostility, intimidation and occasional violence. Outside the ivory towers of the academia things are just as volatile. The state of political and civil discourse in our nation is nothing short of acerbic and acrimonious.
The 2016 presidential election resulted in one the most mean-spirited and divisive presidential campaigns in recent memory. Political, social, cultural and other sorts of websites and blogs provide promote and in some cases, embellish and tailor commentary that appeals to their specific audiences. The intense humidity has made the temperature uncomfortable and more than a few rational, open-minded people are understandably justified in being unsettled by the current state of discourse.
Discomfort aside, I still take real issue with how student protesters at Beloit reacted to the situation at hand. Despite whatever feelings of resentment and ill-will were harbored, by refusing to allow Mr. Prince to speak, his detractors granted him the moral authority to dictate the narrative.
The indisputable fact is that people like Laura Ingraham, Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Heather MacDonald and other provocateurs who are part of the rabid right wing echo chamber live to dissect, denounce and discredit their left wing opponents as being intolerant of diverse voices and opinions. In fact, they thrive on this sort of reaction from the left.
Such incidents provide them with ample ammunition to refer to such students as snowflakes as well as vilify academia, racial and gender pluralism and related entities that they fear, despise and associate with the “other.” Unfortunately, such unhinged reactions by students deftly play directly into their (the political, social and cultural right) sinister agendas.
No reasonable person is going to deny the fact that it is difficult to have to listen to rhetoric from others whom in some cases, dehumanize your very right to exist as a human being. Moreover, when you are in your late teens and early adulthood, your emotions are often tender, reactionary and fertile. You are often inclined to react in an irrational manner if you feel that you are being disrespected and discounted.
Personal feelings aside, the answer is not to prohibit others with whom you disagree the right to express their viewpoints. Rather, the appropriate and more effective response to challenge such abhorrent rhetoric is with concrete facts and logic that will effectively dispel such morally indefensible speech. To coin the old saying “sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
Free speech is crucial to our democracy. Either you have it or you don’t. It is important to remember that when you attempt to curtail the free speech of others, it may very well only be a matter of time before your voice can be stifled or outright silenced. Denying others the right to voice their opinions is a misguided and dangerous activity that can result in dramatic and disastrous consequences for all. Such dictatorial behavior cannot be condoned or tolerated in our society. Period!
Dr. Elwood Watson is a professor of history, African American Studies, and Gender Studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker. His forthcoming book Keepin’ It Real: Essays on Race In Contemporary America will be published by the University of Chicago Press later this year.
The most recent upheaval occurred on March 27th https://www.youtube.com/watchv=QIpBiZj5s78 at Beloit College. A segment of students were outraged at the fact Erik Prince, an associate of president Trump and controversial founder of the security company Blackwater was invited to speak by the campus chapter of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), a conservative student group. Irate students banged ferociously on drums and built a pyramid of chairs on the stage whee Prince was schedule to deliver his talk.
The usually sedate, upscale, Midwestern campus known for its rigorous academic standards became a temporary hotbed of rabid attention and controversy as a plethora of media outlets focused attention on the school. College administrators were caught off guard and seemingly aghast at the sudden turn of events that unfolded. Chaos and dysfunction of the most volatile kind became the order of the day.
The fact that a percentage of students at Beloit College were offended and took it as a personal affront that Mr. Prince was granted permission to speak at their campus in and of itself is not surprising. This is particularly the case in regards to non-White, LGBTQ disabled and other marginalized populations who are more inclined to embrace and harbor more progressive and left leaning sentiments.
Truth be told, if we are being candid and keeping it real, the fact is that college campuses have been citadels of ample hostility and resistance for many students who fall into the aforementioned groups. Moreover, Jewish, Muslim and other students of specific religious groups have found themselves targets of frequent or sporadic ire from certain belligerent factions as well.
A number of college campuses have been less than welcoming places for students of color or in some cases, women. On the contrary, they have been environments rife with hostility, intimidation and occasional violence. Outside the ivory towers of the academia things are just as volatile. The state of political and civil discourse in our nation is nothing short of acerbic and acrimonious.
The 2016 presidential election resulted in one the most mean-spirited and divisive presidential campaigns in recent memory. Political, social, cultural and other sorts of websites and blogs provide promote and in some cases, embellish and tailor commentary that appeals to their specific audiences. The intense humidity has made the temperature uncomfortable and more than a few rational, open-minded people are understandably justified in being unsettled by the current state of discourse.
Discomfort aside, I still take real issue with how student protesters at Beloit reacted to the situation at hand. Despite whatever feelings of resentment and ill-will were harbored, by refusing to allow Mr. Prince to speak, his detractors granted him the moral authority to dictate the narrative.
The indisputable fact is that people like Laura Ingraham, Ben Shapiro, Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens, Heather MacDonald and other provocateurs who are part of the rabid right wing echo chamber live to dissect, denounce and discredit their left wing opponents as being intolerant of diverse voices and opinions. In fact, they thrive on this sort of reaction from the left.
Such incidents provide them with ample ammunition to refer to such students as snowflakes as well as vilify academia, racial and gender pluralism and related entities that they fear, despise and associate with the “other.” Unfortunately, such unhinged reactions by students deftly play directly into their (the political, social and cultural right) sinister agendas.
No reasonable person is going to deny the fact that it is difficult to have to listen to rhetoric from others whom in some cases, dehumanize your very right to exist as a human being. Moreover, when you are in your late teens and early adulthood, your emotions are often tender, reactionary and fertile. You are often inclined to react in an irrational manner if you feel that you are being disrespected and discounted.
Personal feelings aside, the answer is not to prohibit others with whom you disagree the right to express their viewpoints. Rather, the appropriate and more effective response to challenge such abhorrent rhetoric is with concrete facts and logic that will effectively dispel such morally indefensible speech. To coin the old saying “sunlight is the best disinfectant.”
Free speech is crucial to our democracy. Either you have it or you don’t. It is important to remember that when you attempt to curtail the free speech of others, it may very well only be a matter of time before your voice can be stifled or outright silenced. Denying others the right to voice their opinions is a misguided and dangerous activity that can result in dramatic and disastrous consequences for all. Such dictatorial behavior cannot be condoned or tolerated in our society. Period!
Dr. Elwood Watson is a professor of history, African American Studies, and Gender Studies at East Tennessee State University. He is also an author and public speaker. His forthcoming book Keepin’ It Real: Essays on Race In Contemporary America will be published by the University of Chicago Press later this year.