Free speech on campus? Inviting fringe political ideas &c.?

[skip fox]

Last edited Mon Feb 20, 2017, 06:42 PM - Edit history (1)

I'm with Maher and Stewart but with a difference.

When I was an adolescent in Bowing Green, Ohio in the 1960's, Bowling Green State University invited Lincoln Rockwell, the leader of the American Nazi Party, to speak. Hundreds of people from town came. It was held in the basketball areans and the place was packed. My father took me and my sisters. It was fantastic. Rockwell spoke civilly and calmly. Afterwards, he was asked (civilly) a multitude of questions. It was a great night for my home town. No one was swayed, but we were all more informed.

The difference between Rockwell and a character like Milo What'shisass was that Rockwell was not a provocateur and didn't use abusive language.

We should invite speakers who disagree with us and make us think. I've been a professor now for 35 years and I love the fact we can discuss nearly anything at a university. We don't. of course, want people who will denigrate others, especially women or minorities.

*******************************************+
On edit: changed "degenerate" to "denigrate."

[Warren DeMontague]

1. Yeah, but then you guys had that massacre.

[Ken Burch]

2. And no one's gone bowling there since.

n/t.

[guillaumeb]

3. Coincidentally, George Lincoln Rockwell died in the massacre.

[msanthrope]

4. Dammit Warren! The OP had a very serious point to make. You're just degenerating him. nt

[skip fox]

5. Finding a spelling error sure aleviates anyone from taking a message seriously.

Doesn't anyone have a point of view on this important matter.

(And the "massacre" was Bowling Green, Kentucky.)

[msanthrope]

6. That's great that in the 60s, you got to see the head of the Nazi Party. Too bad there

were no black and/or women speakers that might have provided you with an alternative view of life.

A calm and civil Nazi is still a Nazi.

[skip fox]

8. I only mentioned Rockwell because he was the most provocative.

But we actually had many speakers. Feminism was not yet strong, but we had multiple black speakers.

It's always interesting to hear the other side.

Last week on the Diane Rhems radio show, I think, I listened to a group of concerned conservatives talk about their general proposal to attack climate change (which they saw as real and dangerous) through a carbon tax and dividends. This is the first time I have listened to realistic conservatives on this issue with a viable plan.

I've been very pessimistic on this issue for over a decade. I don't think we've crossed the line (of no return) but saw no political will to to slow petroleum usage. I thought our species was on the way out. Now I have a note (one a single note) of optimism.

[AngryAmish]

11. Feminism was not strong? Did you ever hear of the 18th Amendment

19th too. These were explicitly feminist ideas.

[former9thward]

7. Who appointed you the decision maker?

Groups should be able to invite who they want if other groups have that same privilege. The university does not get to pick and choose.

[skip fox]

9. I thought that was my point.

Bowling Green State University (perhaps prompted by a group) wanted Rockwell to come.

He did.

How was I making a decision? I'm not suggesting universities or any group should invite who they don't want.

On edit:

Now I see. It's my desire to see a variety of viewpoints at a university, or maybe the use of the word "should." But I'd stand by that. Universities should be a place to hear a variety of viewpoints. (Is that controversial? Then the notion of a university is controversial.)

[kentuck]

10. If "free speech" promotes criminal acts.

they should not be tolerated. That would include racism and sexual discrimination and child molestation.

[Bradical79]

12. There's a line

Milo used his platform to attack and harass specific students, which crosses a line. Another line would be directly promoting violent illegal acts like child abuse, rape, and murder.