The arrival of Matt Bourgault on the HSU Quad last week placed the freedom of free speech issue into context. While Bourgault’s message may have been misguided, he owned the right to express it.
Our most important freedom as Americans is our right to free speech. The First Amendment says “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
With very few exceptions including obscenity, libel and privacy the supreme court has generally upheld the First Amendment as it stands. The First Amendment is what allows us to protest our government, have a free press, and openly discuss whatever we want publicly. It is an essential element of democracy.
For those who spat in Bourgault’s face, or tried to grab his sign, you spat on the face of free speech by its own definition.
Before we act out of passion we must think about our actions and imagine if it was ourselves in the same position. What if you stood on a street corner, or the Plaza, and wanted to legalize pot, urge people to go vegetarian, or hope to gain respect for the type of lifestyle you live and someone spat in your face? That person would not only be assaulting you, but would also be attempting to infringe on your right to express yourself.
That is the best thing about free speech - you are not required to agree with every message you hear. That is why you have the right to voice your opinion, or walk away and send a silent message.
An HSU faculty member expressed interest in an Academic Senate meeting to restrict the type of speech we allow on the Quad. Although Richmond and Snyder said they would look into it, Richmond expressed the need to follow the language of the First Amendment.
“It is important to uphold the right of individuals to speak, even when the speech is distasteful or worse,” wrote Richmond in an e-mail to the campus. (See “An Uncomfortable Message” on page 3 for more info.)
While it is shocking to hear messages so different from most of our own ideologies, restricting speech at any rate is a slippery slope that opens the door to censorship of any idea that someone finds offensive.
Many things spark controversy on campus, such as the budget cuts to our campus, but students are allowed to protest and have the right to voice their opinions.
That discussion is what democracy is all about.
1 comments
happiness any way they want as long as they are not harming someone else?I don't want my government attempting to protect me from myself.Today our government dictates what substances we may or may not consume. Note that Viagra
is OK but marijuana is not. Note that tobacco that contains nicotine but tobacco that contains
THC is not