Bad for the goose, bad for the gander
If it’s stupid in one direction, it’s stupid in the opposite direction. I’m talking about campus movements undertaken by students to rescind speaking invitations because they disagree with the speaker’s politics.
Typically, it’s left-leaning students (now there’s a redundancy) who want conservative political figures banned from campus — the most recent example being the movement to keep former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, a Bush appointee, away from the upcoming graduation ceremonies of the University of North Carolina law school. But at American University in Washington, D.C., a group of students - most of them Republicans — is now petitioning to have U.S. Rep. Barney Frank given the bum’s rush as commencement speaker. Do I have to mention Frank is a hard-shell Democrat?
This is silly, kids. You should listen to contrary opinions occasionally. It’s a fine way to test the foundations of your own beliefs. Try to avoid living in an echo chamber (unless your ambition is to be the host of a nighttime show on Fox News or MSNBC).
But if you absolutely have to silence the opposition, take a page from the playbook of the pros at UNC. When conservative politician Tom Tancredo visited Chapel Hill last week, they showed how it’s done: They chanted so loudly that Tancredo couldn’t speak; unfurled a large banner in front of him to block his view; pounded on windows until one finally shattered; baited campus police into breaking out the pepper spray; and generally created such a ruckus that Tancredo gave up and went home.
Forget petitions. That’s how you keep ideological enemies quiet. It worked beautifully at UNC: Tancredo was silenced, no one was held accountable for the near-riot or damaged property, and the university administration did little more than wring its hands and bleat its apologies.
Of course, I’d advise that people organize their thoughts and make a coherent, persuasive case for their beliefs. But I’m old school.
April 22nd, 2009 at 7:23 am
I’m old enough to remember the brew ha-ha over the “Speaker Ban Law”. It was an effort to keep the communist from speaking at state campuses. Students protested and shouted and the ban was lifted. In the end, the consensus was university campus is a place to exchange and debate ideas. Now students are protesting and shouting to ban speakers from campus. I think some of those folks should go back and read some newspaper clippings from 40 years ago. They may be shocked an which side of the issue they’re on.
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:44 am
I’d draw a distinction between attendance optional events such as Tancredo’s speech and university wide events such as graduation.
Meanwhile, just to double down on stupidity, UNC has invited false rape accuser Crystal Gail Mangum to speak about “social justice”. Asking her actual questions not permitted. And boy are they concerned about her safety. Who will “security” be? The Black Panthers?
http://www.dailytarheel.com/news/university/lacrosse-accuser-to-speak-1.1726947
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Following Mangum’s speech will be a question-and-answer session with the audience. Questions will be submitted beforehand to organizers to prevent questions related to the Duke lacrosse team.
Organizers are ensuring that security will be present at the event in light of last week’s protests that prevented former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo from speaking.
“We do not want this to be a negative experience for her, and we are concerned for her and others’ safety,” Dickerson said.