Students at Columbia showed up to hear Ahmadinejad, who is pretty much intolerance personified, because they supported his freedom of speech and wanted to hear his thoughts.
Meanwhile, Stanford students are screaming for Rumsfeld, Condi, and the whole Hoover Institute to be removed from campus because they support a "neocon war-mongering agenda."
What happened to tolerance and free speech?
2007-09-26 09:59:21 · 13 answers · asked by Carrot 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Can someone explain to me how Stanford students (and professors) preventing people from appearing on campus is an example of free speech? It seems to me that it is the opposite of free speech -- it's censorship of opposing views.
2007-09-26 10:24:38 · update #1
The right to voice an opinion doesn't mean persons will agree. You may have a right to free speech but you need to be responsible in the content. Persons haven't a clue.They get so wrapped up in some smaller context that they ruin the idea of learning from listening to another opinion. The right to scream until your heard seems to be America's platform. It is right to disagree if that is what you wish to do but diplomacy and creativity to show the other person why they may be wrong is missing in the equation. To insult someone because they do not have the same opinion is not responsible free speech. Americans need to learn how to practice free speech and how to change hearts and minds with facts and tolerance. Screaming and insulting just shows how small minded one can be in debating or is it to show the correct point of view. America wants to win regardless of her tactics. This needs to be worked on. Thank you for bring in this to the attention of others who think that who ever yells the loudest wins.
2007-09-26 10:15:13 · answer #1 · answered by nsprdwmn 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
They are both examples of free and open speech.
Add:
The Hoover institute is a think tank at Stanford University that has long been influential in Republican politics.
8 Hoover fellows advised Donald Rumsfeld.
Anti war protesters collected 600 signatures in protest of Hoovers involvement with the current admin. The protesters are a student anti war group and number about 50 students.
These students have the right to protest. It is free speech, regardless of anyones personal opinion.
2007-09-26 17:03:52 · answer #2 · answered by maxmom 7 · 4⤊ 3⤋
Both are examples of "freedom" being exercised. The students at Stanford can make the most of this simply by NOT GOING to any speeches or lectures given by the "war mongerers".
Giving a speech to an empty room can't be fun!
2007-09-26 17:07:29 · answer #3 · answered by afreshpath_admin 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Yeah, Stanford students surely need a lesson in free speech. But I think this may just be a vocal minority. At least I hope that is the case.
2007-09-26 17:09:28 · answer #4 · answered by iwasnotanazipolka 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Absolute tolerance impedes free speech. Absolute free speech means we're allowed to be intolerant.
The point? Tolerance is a relative, vague term that risks hypocrisy. If we preach tolerance, don't we tend to be intolerant of intolerance?
2007-09-26 17:08:13 · answer #5 · answered by Buying is Voting 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Liberals do not accept tolerance and free speech. They only wave the terms around to mean "tolerance for the left" and "free speech for the left". However, liberals are, deep down, a pack of fascists who would be happy to send everyone who disagrees with them to extermination camps.
2007-09-26 17:04:42 · answer #6 · answered by Hoosier Daddy 5 · 9⤊ 4⤋
Jim Gilchrist was attacked on stage by the left at Columbia. Libs! Go figure!
2007-09-26 17:06:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 3⤋
...ask the univercity student who was tasered in Florida for asking John Kerry an impertenent question...
2007-09-26 17:15:35 · answer #8 · answered by Galen W 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Were the neocons allowed to speak or not?
2007-09-26 17:10:10 · answer #9 · answered by LatexSolarBeef 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
With liberals, it only works when the speech supports their agenda.
2007-09-26 17:06:36 · answer #10 · answered by regerugged 7 · 7⤊ 5⤋