This article(The Perils of Selective Free Speech) by Marilyn Penn, a free-lance writer in New York, was published by Family Security Matters. Penn hits the nail on the head when it comes to the complicity of American universities in the propagation of anti-Jewish hate on campus.
http://www.familysecuritymatters.org/publications/id.6403/pub_detail.asp
Her headline belies the thrust of her article, which verges on implication that some of these anti-Israel "hate fests" should be suppressed. In general, her headline is correct -- selective suppression of free speech is always more dangerous than simply allowing idiots to make public asses of themselves.
ReplyDeleteThe antidote is precisely for her, Gary, and others of like mind, to organize " a week-long hate fest dedicated to the condemnation of radical jihadi violence against Hindus, African animists, Christians, Jews, gays and women." Invite Hirshi Alli. Do call on the national guard for protection if necessary.
As for someone inventing an online game called "Lynch a Nigger," IF there is a consistent legal standard that online games where players perform acts that would be illegal if performed in real life, which would ban Grand Theft Auto among others, then by all means enforce it. Absent such a standard -- which might be very difficult to formulate with sufficient precision -- I would rather have racists playing on line than trying it out in real life. Do online games provide a catharsis, or inspire people to try it for real? That would be a fundamental question to whether such laws should be passed, and whether they would or would not violate the First Amendment.
Siarlys,
ReplyDeleteThat could start a whole new conversation about the First Amend. In universities, they always talk about freedom of speech though they will jeer you if you express conservative thoughts.
As for online games, pls don't drag me into that arena.
In universities, they always talk about freedom of speech though they will jeer you if you express conservative thoughts.
ReplyDeleteJeering is a from of freedom of speech, Gary. You have the right to say what you want; I have the right to boo it.
Yes Lance, you are correct. I am merely pointing out a fact. The university needs to find a new name for their institution.
ReplyDeleteI went to high school with some members of Young Americans for Freedom. I enjoyed indulging in friendly polemics with them. Universities could indeed use a little more of that spirit. I would work overtime to keep any of them from being elected to public office, but we could still have a friendly chat about it over lunch. In fact, in my local area, Muslim and Jewish students are having some difficult, but productive conversations in the wake of what, compared to California, are rather minor altercations.
ReplyDeleteSiarlys,
ReplyDeleteAre you referring to the Univ of Wisc at Milw? I wrote about that one.
Yes I am. Where do I find it? (I assume you were not present asking questions of the speakers. Neither was I.)
ReplyDeletehttp://garyfouse.blogspot.com/2010/05/incident-at-university-of-wisconsin-at.html
ReplyDeleteOK, I see that I actually responded to that one, and you acknowledged that the additional data I provided was correct.
ReplyDeleteApparently, it is not inherent in Islam to be incapable of having a difficult, but respectful and productive conversation with those of opposite viewpoint, after briefly coming to blows. Nor, I must say, is it inherent in being Jewish or Zionist to be incapable of having a coherent, rational, discussion with Muslims who are critical of Israel. Perhaps this approach should be tried at UCI.
A lot of Jewish students are trying, Siarlys, with limited results. The is also the Olive Tree Initiative, which funds sending groups of students to the ME to see for themselves. It also seems to have limited results.
ReplyDelete