Missouri student loses driving rights for flying Confederate flag

[mike_c]

157. that's a tougher question than it seems....

I mean, on the one hand, I accept that the university has an interest in limiting speech that infringes on other peoples' enjoyment of their time in school, as well as a legitimate desire to avoid association with hate speech-- but on the other hand, I also accept that everyone has the right to speak their mind, even when what emerges is odious. Further-- and I think this is IMPORTANT-- one primary function of the university is to serve as a sounding board for ideas, and a forum for discussion. My personal view is that the best way to smash bigotry is not to ban talking about it, but rather to shine a bright light on it.

It's telling that most instances of genuine hate speech that I can recall on my campus were anonymous, e.g. stuff chalked on the quad, or hateful notes posted on doors. In those instances, the persons doing the speaking were malicious, and sought to avoid discussion by refusing to take responsibility for their words or deeds. I cannot respect that, even if I accept their right to say what's on their mind.

Finally, it's one thing to call someone names, and quite another to suggest that the group they belong to is somehow bad, or whatever, for purposes of discourse. The latter is what we DO at universities. It's part of that process of shining light on ugliness. It's one of the things that academic freedom is meant to protect.