Look closer. Think harder. Choose the sound argument over the clever one.

Monday, June 25, 2007

Speech Suppression

I was on campus at Depaul the other day, and saw posters proclaiming very noble campus ideals. The first said hate-speech has no place there. The second said they embraced diversity.

Wonderful. Except that those in charge can dispose of anything they really disagree with by casting it as hate speech.

George Will says it better than I could:

And it was predictable that speech suppression would become an instrument of cultural combat, used to settle ideological scores and advance political agendas by silencing adversaries.

Here's the "hate speech" he cites:

Marriage is the foundation of the natural family and sustains family values.

With every bit of authority comes the ability--and willingness--to abuse it. Speech codes included.

Via Instapundit


Comments:

(Please keep in mind that each commenter's opinions are only his/her own.)



More scrutiny, please.

George Will was only quoting the italicized words in his article, not the entire sentence that you reproduced. Here is the language from the district court opinion.

The flyer was entitled “Preserve Our Workplace With Integrity” and stated, “Good News Employee Association is a forum for people of Faith to express their views on the contemporary issues of the day. With respect for the Natural Family, Marriage and Family values. If you would like to be a part of preserving integrity in the Workplace call Regina Rederford @ XXX-XXXX or Robin Christy @ XXX-XXXX.”

I bolded that last part because if one of my employees posted this to a workplace bulletin board when she knew she had gay coworkers, I would (1) take it down, and (2) consider firing the employee for showing no judgment. The bolded text transforms a more acceptable statement of belief into a call to purge the office of homosexuals.

The tag "hate speech" is often applied without reason, but you should read the opinions (or at least browse them, like I did) before taking Will's word for it in this case.

Good seeing you guys the other day.
 

Post a Comment



<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?