Student free speech vs. taxpayer rights

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There are several issues at work here

First, the philosophy that all ideas have equal merit. It isn't true. A film
that labels itself XXX (the MPAA doesn't give XXX ratings; it's done for
promotional purposes by the movie maker) has zero merit. There is no
need to debate it, no need to screen it, no need to do anything other
than condemn it. The idea that you need to "consider its merits and
statement" is nothing more than self-indulgent sophistry wrapped up
in elitism.

Second, the idea that right to speak means right to be heard. It
doesn't.

Finally, the idea that free speech means shocking the establishment. It
doesn't. The primary purpose of free speech was to protect protest
against political power. We have totally lost site of that. So we make a
huge stink about porn in a classroom and cheer campaign finance
reform, failing to recognize that the former has nothing to do with
free speech, while the latter has everything to do with it.

Posted by: frgough   Posted on: 04/08/09 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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