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Freedom of Speech Abuse on Campus Geoff Metcalf
"I may not agree with what you say, but to your death I will defend your right to say it." - Voltaire Just because you can doesn't mean you should . . . I have often observed that if science or government can do something, inevitably they will do it: Cloning, nuclear proliferation, biological and chemical warfare and lite beer are all things the world could do nicely without. Freedom of speech is a constitutionally guaranteed God given inalienable right. However, those who abuse that right are as worthy of censure, criticism and ostracizing as any Nazi prohibitionist or tin pot dictator with a funny hat. College students often fall victim to excess as they "stretch" and try to become more adult. The abuse of freedoms is invariably a "whoops." Story Continues Below
Their very immaturity is magnified by their excesses.
Yeah, I realize as I write this, they share weaknesses of many elected officials (even some without the Kennedy family name) who are supposed to be grown ups. Recently The Associated Students of the University of Oregon (ASUO) refused to apologize for an obscene anti-Christian offense in the campus rag "Insurgent." The paper's depiction of a naked, turgid homosexual Jesus was way beyond the pale. Arguably the motivation for the adolescent attack on Christians was influenced by the belief they could get away with it and tick off the establishment "man." However, the sophomoric denseness of the poorly conceived and executed offense, beyond being tasteless, was also cowardly. The very students defending the indefensible and refusing to concede an apology to another student group (Students of Faith) would be loath to satirize blacks, gays, or Muslims. If those at the "Insurgent" were true to their alleged (albeit bogus) principles they would be more the equal opportunity offender:
Not gonna happen! The ASUO is a gaggle of pampered, spoiled brats who deserve (in addition to censure) defunding, a spanking, and being sent to bed without dinner. Take away their car keys, parent paid VISA cards and Game Boys. This collection of post-pubescent students threw an indignant hissy fit which resulted in the university radio station dropping a conservative (albeit popular) talk-show host. The sensitivity-challenged editor of the campus rag was quoted as saying, "I have to say it is really fun to offend people. It is fun to break the rules. If it pisses people off . . . good; that's the point! So read, get pissed and talk about it." What editor Jessica Brown hasn't yet absorbed is a basic empirical truth: There are consequences to what we do and don't do. If she wants to have fun offending people, you don't get to do it with the money of the offended. So far, the University President Dave Frohayer is missing in action. The designated "grown up," and authority figure of the university, apparently is as gutless, clueless, and impotent as his young charges. Frankly, offensive satire has it's place . . . "Saturday Night Live," "The Simpsons," "South Park," "Howard Stern," and assorted copycats have all demonstrated the capacity for excess ranging from subtle to outrageous…but they are all commercial ventures and in some measure accountable to the folks paying the bills. Every student at Oregon is required to pay $191.00 per term in student dues. A portion of that money goes to support the "Insurgent." The "Insurgent" is therefore responsible to the University, and the university is responsible to the students. They should all be demanding a partial refund. The French playwright Jean Genet once observed, "To achieve harmony in bad taste is the height of elegance." Monty Python, George Carlin, and Dennis Miller have succeeded in harmonizing bad taste with a degree of "elegance." The miscreant students at Oregon and the grown ups tasked with bridling their youthful enthusiasm are just stupid, rude and grossly insensitive.
Editor's note:
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