Mar 29, 2023·edited Mar 29, 2023Liked by Roy Edroso
When, oh when, will liberals realize that the only correct definition of free speech is when an audience is compelled to listen to a conservative. Too often this true definition of free speech is misapplied to the criticism of a conservative by liberals, but that is a mistake. The latter is clearly cancelculture.
Seriously, I cannot believe FIRE has the gall to describe the students' wish to disinvite Youngkin as “censorship.” Because the Governor of Virginia clearly has no other way to make his voice heard. If he’s not allowed to deliver this commencement speech he’ll be reduced to orating on soapboxes in the park to get his message out.
6100 signatures v. the head of the campus Republicans - maybe the hope that the present generation of students will be more antifa than their elders is true. Anyway, inviting a governor who campaigned against “Beloved” to speak at a commencement? The tone is most deaf at GMU.
So I'm thinking the way to deal with this is let Youngkin come and speak, but spend the entirety of his speech dissing him. Have ostentatiously loud conversations with the people sitting next to you. Ignore Youngkin entirely. If you can get someone from the administration to come out on stage during his speech and interrupt him to ask for quiet, that's a win.
Think of it as the school's final lesson in Life Preparation. Most of these kids will not be Masters Of The Universe. In their professional careers, they will have multiple instances of having to sit still while some asshole bloviates. In some of those instances, the speaker will know damn well he's wasting everyone's time. It is the duty of the employee to tamp down on the natural urge to say, "Will you please, please just fuck right off." The good employee understands the power dynamic and acts accordingly.
Typically, I agree that when universities or student groups invite speakers, they should be allowed to speak, no matter their politics. I saw Phillis Schafly as an undergrad. There were some protests but nobody shouted her down or made any threats and that was as it should be.
Commencement is different, perhaps. Maybe they shouldn’t invite divisive speakers for that occasion. But these days anyone with a political opinion is a divisive speaker, so what to do. My solution would be to play tapes of past Kurt Vonnegut commencement speeches at all commencements people become more feasible, or forever, whichever comes first.
I'm little puzzled about how the folks at FIRE think students should respond in these situations. The school invited Youngkin, many students didn't like the choice, so they wrote a petition and collected signatures. Which is itself free speech, no? Sorry, I know this is an obvious point, but some clarification would be helpful: Is it OK if students complain about a choice for a commencement speaker if they don't put their complaints into petition form? Would a polite letter to the University President be OK, or would that also count as an infringement of Yougkin's free-speech rights? How exactly is a petition different from a letter, except that is has more signatures on it?
Back to the sixties, man! Can we also get S. I. Hayakawa and Joe Stalin?
But seriously, are these folks serious? They threw Eugene Debs in prison for speaking to workers about the US staying out of WWI. On the same basis, maybe we can have the governor arrested for indecent speech. A parent can complain that their kid shouldn't be exposed to his ideas.
Isn't that how it's done these days? The RIGHT way?
Your donations are much appreciated and we're all looking forward to your memes and jokes. However, the Governor requests that you refrain from quoting or even paraphrasing a member of one of those "despised minorities" as many of the Governor's racially sensitive supporters may be in attendance. We checked Wikipedia and Brandeis is definitely out.
Above all, please don't mention the Governor's special puffy fleece version of an academic robe.
Now I’m sad because I can’t compel whoever I’d want to give me a platform of my choosing for the big bucks.
Gonna be crying all day now...
Fairfax will ever be the same...
When, oh when, will liberals realize that the only correct definition of free speech is when an audience is compelled to listen to a conservative. Too often this true definition of free speech is misapplied to the criticism of a conservative by liberals, but that is a mistake. The latter is clearly cancelculture.
Seriously, I cannot believe FIRE has the gall to describe the students' wish to disinvite Youngkin as “censorship.” Because the Governor of Virginia clearly has no other way to make his voice heard. If he’s not allowed to deliver this commencement speech he’ll be reduced to orating on soapboxes in the park to get his message out.
Like these fucks respect liberal/left viewpoints?
Screw that. Respect is earned.
6100 signatures v. the head of the campus Republicans - maybe the hope that the present generation of students will be more antifa than their elders is true. Anyway, inviting a governor who campaigned against “Beloved” to speak at a commencement? The tone is most deaf at GMU.
So I'm thinking the way to deal with this is let Youngkin come and speak, but spend the entirety of his speech dissing him. Have ostentatiously loud conversations with the people sitting next to you. Ignore Youngkin entirely. If you can get someone from the administration to come out on stage during his speech and interrupt him to ask for quiet, that's a win.
What if they all brought notes from their parents saying they aren't allowed to view this content?
Think of it as the school's final lesson in Life Preparation. Most of these kids will not be Masters Of The Universe. In their professional careers, they will have multiple instances of having to sit still while some asshole bloviates. In some of those instances, the speaker will know damn well he's wasting everyone's time. It is the duty of the employee to tamp down on the natural urge to say, "Will you please, please just fuck right off." The good employee understands the power dynamic and acts accordingly.
I am showing my support for Governor Youngkin by appearing as his warm-up act.
You mean Younkin plans to use the occasion as a political rally? Perish the thought.
Typically, I agree that when universities or student groups invite speakers, they should be allowed to speak, no matter their politics. I saw Phillis Schafly as an undergrad. There were some protests but nobody shouted her down or made any threats and that was as it should be.
Commencement is different, perhaps. Maybe they shouldn’t invite divisive speakers for that occasion. But these days anyone with a political opinion is a divisive speaker, so what to do. My solution would be to play tapes of past Kurt Vonnegut commencement speeches at all commencements people become more feasible, or forever, whichever comes first.
I'm little puzzled about how the folks at FIRE think students should respond in these situations. The school invited Youngkin, many students didn't like the choice, so they wrote a petition and collected signatures. Which is itself free speech, no? Sorry, I know this is an obvious point, but some clarification would be helpful: Is it OK if students complain about a choice for a commencement speaker if they don't put their complaints into petition form? Would a polite letter to the University President be OK, or would that also count as an infringement of Yougkin's free-speech rights? How exactly is a petition different from a letter, except that is has more signatures on it?
Back to the sixties, man! Can we also get S. I. Hayakawa and Joe Stalin?
But seriously, are these folks serious? They threw Eugene Debs in prison for speaking to workers about the US staying out of WWI. On the same basis, maybe we can have the governor arrested for indecent speech. A parent can complain that their kid shouldn't be exposed to his ideas.
Isn't that how it's done these days? The RIGHT way?
OK, OK. Today's REBID and all its attendant comments are cherce.
2 marks for the lot of you!
Dear Freespeechologist,
Your donations are much appreciated and we're all looking forward to your memes and jokes. However, the Governor requests that you refrain from quoting or even paraphrasing a member of one of those "despised minorities" as many of the Governor's racially sensitive supporters may be in attendance. We checked Wikipedia and Brandeis is definitely out.
Above all, please don't mention the Governor's special puffy fleece version of an academic robe.
Thank you for your cooperation.