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Freedom of speech?

Reader comment on item: Profs Who Hate America

Submitted by John B. Taylor (United States), Nov 12, 2002 at 23:07

If the opposition's opinion should be "muffled" so that nobody can hear them, then we have censorship regardless how you look at it.

Never mind the fact that attacking Iraq is questionable at best. Never mind the fact that US is pretty much all by itself in this quest. Never mind the fact that oil (a.k.a big oil companies) might have something to with the war plans. The only thing that seems to matter to some people is that no hot bloodied Americans should oppose the attack, much less question its validity. ..

This is a slippery slope, when we try to quiet the opposition. Suggesting that the universities themselves should censor any opinion against the official government position is the end of the freedom as we know it. Not just freedom of speech, but freedom in general.

This sort of censorship breeds fear, which turns into mindless submission. People will be affraid of voicing their opinion. Neighbors will turn in each other by claim what the other has said. Fellow workers will be afraid to discuss anything in fear of losing their jobs. If you think this is far fetched just wait. Keep going down this road and see what happens. It won't be long when you can say: Welcome to the word of the dictatorship, allegedly the very same form of government that the US is trying to eliminate in Baghdad in the first place.
Submitting....

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Reader comments (199) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
just like to know no particular reason [12 words]Jose A. JustinianoSep 28, 2018 19:03245098
Right [5 words]china beadsAug 29, 2011 21:27188944
But they have nothing [53 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
KyleApr 17, 2008 15:29125999
Shame on most academics [120 words]John DoeFeb 21, 2007 21:2878263
1THIS IS WHY THERE ARE SO MANY LEFTIST PROFESSORS [175 words]RichardFeb 19, 2007 04:5977895
Professors Make It Their Business to Know [111 words]EmpathyOct 28, 2006 20:3064703
The truth of the matter please? [41 words]Norman PetersonOct 14, 2006 13:1160338
Begs the question??? [125 words]Gueppe BarreMay 11, 2007 23:1960338
1One sided, over emotional argument. [85 words]SophieMar 8, 2006 08:5239358
McCarthy was stopped Sophie [33 words]Daniel AllanSep 15, 2006 17:0139358
Professors who are terrorists [34 words]F. C. WeddleFeb 18, 2006 12:1036214
what ? [34 words]nicpSep 8, 2006 22:1536214
fighting for principles [198 words]keithMay 10, 2007 09:0836214
DO NOT HATE [474 words]JulieOct 8, 2005 14:5026720
Re: DO NOT HATE [173 words]MrMunkNov 2, 2005 22:0326720
Re: Do Not Hate [448 words]JeanneApr 10, 2006 13:2326720
Hate [101 words]Octavio JohansonApr 11, 2006 02:4026720
1Hindsight [117 words]Don MacKeenAug 10, 2005 05:0124532
I cannot agree with you more [196 words]Lilaine SternApr 24, 2005 17:0121784
Reasons Why We Have Two Political Partes And Why We Need Them [277 words]John NelmsFeb 4, 2005 02:0020101
A Terrorist Democracy Should be Adjudged as Such [245 words]Peter N. KirsteinJan 30, 2005 13:2919992
Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh and Professor Nicholas De Genova Should be deported! [13 words]SojanMar 10, 2004 04:4214154
de genova [41 words]wolcott,williamJan 3, 2009 21:4814154
why? [85 words]cieraFeb 11, 2004 11:5413846
Pity on Iraq...NOT !!! [113 words]Richeson ChappelleFeb 2, 2004 07:4113668
Professors [211 words]Joseph H.Dec 23, 2003 16:3412805
It's not that simple [94 words]TheStrayDec 16, 2003 11:0612675
Journalists who hate america [128 words]SCSep 28, 2003 10:5911539
Profs outside their specialization [211 words]JAAug 19, 2003 21:1610660
Noam Chomsky [52 words]jeohawkAug 4, 2003 01:2410434
Professors who spew Wahhabism garbage [74 words]Arthur S.Aug 2, 2003 15:1910415
View from Australia [148 words]John.HJul 30, 2003 22:0310355
Turns out of course that all of the professors were right [74 words]bilboJul 30, 2003 20:3810352
Qualifications? [154 words]Nick A.Jul 29, 2003 15:4910297
Reply to commenter re: Noam Chomsky the "Anti-Semite" [109 words]Chris B.Jul 26, 2003 05:2910252
Responsibilities of Freedom and the Freedom of Speech [167 words]Danielle ZeedickJul 13, 2003 14:549989
them and us [322 words]Wily S.Jul 2, 2003 22:319848
Professors represent the most educated, regardless of field. [436 words]Brandon WalkerJul 1, 2003 12:109788
America must fall [114 words]ObservantMay 18, 2003 12:419116
Not all americans. [111 words]xie danMay 25, 2003 17:449116
Only America is targeted by Jihadists? What fallacious ... , [124 words]FrankSep 30, 2010 12:019116
Perhaps professors try to expand your mind [182 words]Michelle HuffmanApr 21, 2003 13:258499
Gratitude [108 words]Joseph StalinApr 17, 2003 00:018416
1War...what is it good for? [74 words]Nadia ChoumanApr 12, 2003 10:028283
beware [149 words]Giacomo BruzzoApr 5, 2003 16:338072
people who hate america [87 words]marsha davidsofnApr 1, 2003 08:137840
Hey [47 words]An AmericanAug 13, 2007 04:067840
Power to the People [276 words]Suzanne McIntoshMar 31, 2003 04:037803
Another take on the revenge of the intellectuals [119 words]MatthewMar 23, 2003 19:067541
For those who still don't believe that professors/teachers are "leftistly biased" [286 words]MatthewMar 23, 2003 18:587540
Apologies from America [815 words]Thomas PaulsonMar 21, 2003 19:047501
About Time! [101 words]BMMar 21, 2003 01:007474
Freedom of speech in danger? [202 words]Rob RiedijkMar 4, 2003 20:347074
A view from Britain [670 words]Paul WakefieldMar 4, 2003 08:587039
Response to Paul Wakefield's comment [143 words]Joe VitaleJul 10, 2005 00:277039
The Hijacking of America [221 words]Student of LifeMar 1, 2003 08:026989
just another opinion....... [292 words]helgalaninngFeb 9, 2003 16:066509
The "elite" and the common man [137 words]danFeb 9, 2003 13:416505
It Doesn't Matter [53 words]Vincent BuddeJan 31, 2003 22:036217
Vincent Budde is right! [42 words]MatthewMar 23, 2003 18:446217
Americans and Jews aren't all bad. [68 words]Candia PlellJan 23, 2003 22:425916
Views of a complete outsider on why the world hates America [332 words]Hennie CoetzeeJan 18, 2003 19:525849
Reply to the "Complete Outsider" Hennie Coetzee: [1054 words]Leslie SzaboJan 23, 2003 18:095849
Response to Leslie Szabo [64 words]Robin RhodesMay 22, 2003 12:585849
You are ... [301 words]Daniel AllanSep 15, 2006 16:505849
not entirely true [63 words]James McMullenSep 6, 2007 22:055849
Americans DO NOT agree [302 words]Coilín ÓhAiseadhaJan 13, 2003 13:025698
What about freedom of expression?? [5 words]FaizanDec 14, 2002 02:034608
Free Speech includes Illinformed [295 words]Ellen Miller EisenbergDec 4, 2002 11:594417
Ready-made answer [81 words]Santiago del Castillo EspinosaNov 30, 2002 14:504327
Professors and the Byzantine empire [195 words]Coulter, TimNov 28, 2002 00:084303
Jews Denied Rights of Other Minorities [162 words]Marian HenningsNov 26, 2002 12:154237
A proposal for real diversity [136 words]Steven Malcolm AndersonNov 26, 2002 02:494210
Responsibility of Freedom [369 words]J. RivardNov 25, 2002 20:464203
Two Sides to Every Issue [199 words]Cheryl HarshmanNov 25, 2002 18:494200
Vietnam a different case [268 words]Marian HenningsNov 25, 2002 12:494197
Reply to commenter Marian Hennings [1069 words]Chris B.Jul 26, 2003 05:144197
Too many bleeding heart liberals [115 words]Christopher GNov 25, 2002 03:034195
Too many bleeding hearts? [112 words]BethSep 3, 2007 16:404195
Whose reality? [275 words]Dr Robert JacksonNov 23, 2002 13:214172
The issue is academic objectivity, not free speech [577 words]Ron WebsterNov 21, 2002 19:394131
Tom Paulin Re-Invited to Harvard [94 words]Mayra LichterNov 20, 2002 15:484096
A response to Arlinda De Angelis. [73 words]Jens BayNov 19, 2002 10:034017
A response to Jens Bay's comments. [161 words]John ReindersNov 19, 2002 14:024017
Correction for commenter Mr. Jens Bay. [173 words]Ron McGailNov 20, 2002 15:234017
1On Philistina [117 words]Allen SmithDec 8, 2012 15:054017
So Far Removed From Reality [125 words]George McFaddenNov 19, 2002 09:104014
Saddam the Muslim killer [61 words]Nachum bin MordechaiNov 18, 2002 15:213999
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Hold on a minute [370 words]Stephen WaltonNov 18, 2002 12:483997
I agree with Stephen Walton [14 words]Phil AccordinoNov 20, 2002 13:393997
Wishful Thinking = Apocalypse Now [257 words]George McFaddenNov 18, 2002 07:193993
More on Eric Foner [84 words]Mark JacobsenNov 17, 2002 16:143988
What sort of peace? [312 words]R. L. KaylorNov 17, 2002 02:543978
Are we so different? [75 words]Alexander M. BerlinNov 17, 2002 02:433977
What to do? [100 words]Jeff ChitwoodNov 16, 2002 10:533967
The academic "ghetto" [124 words]MontyNov 16, 2002 04:323956
The Tyranny of the Professors [109 words]Professor Joshua HoffmanNov 15, 2002 17:423950
Dr Pipes is correct [56 words]L. McClain, PhDNov 15, 2002 15:193946
Academics often can't handle simplicity [422 words]Jonathan PfefferNov 15, 2002 09:483940
Free speech or Free hate [189 words]Chuck EdmondsNov 15, 2002 03:103936
Low salaries, no influence is a major factor [60 words]Reuven Magal, PhdNov 14, 2002 23:413933
The Revenge of the intellectuals [394 words]Jonathan PfefferNov 14, 2002 23:153932
Rampant Equivocation [276 words]David SoliminiNov 14, 2002 20:563928
What about South Korea? [113 words]J. A. TillmanNov 14, 2002 17:313924
Who has a burden of proof? [148 words]Boris FrenkelNov 14, 2002 16:253919
Don't Mix the Anti-Semites with the Anti-War Professors [61 words]Hersh AdlersteinNov 14, 2002 16:113918
Tom Nagy and others [78 words]Angela HeckNov 14, 2002 12:283909
Pluriverse Reality...Universe Myth [165 words]Addi KeimNov 14, 2002 10:233907
1Supervision? [93 words]Jack CaughranNov 14, 2002 10:133906
Response to Mr. Caughran [301 words]Rick BrightNov 20, 2002 05:163906
So what? [64 words]Jack CaughranNov 20, 2002 16:443906
To Mr. Caughran "So what?" continued [415 words]Rick BrightNov 21, 2002 04:333906
hi [10 words]Carol CaughranMar 5, 2007 19:443906
Great examples! [135 words]Tom BurkeNov 14, 2002 05:443903
The role of a university [123 words]NabeelNov 13, 2002 23:493893
Intellectuals [41 words]Graham LaszloNov 13, 2002 22:123891
Peter Kirstein [71 words]Tom SciaccaNov 13, 2002 21:313890
What University Teachers Should Be Allowed to Say Publicly [66 words]Frank A FergusonNov 13, 2002 20:463889
WHO pays WHOM? [35 words]Donald I. FairmanNov 13, 2002 19:473888
Excellence [258 words]Evan CowartNov 13, 2002 19:223886
You are so right about professors [66 words]EM GreffethNov 13, 2002 19:043884
The bright light of Truth [330 words]Colleen CurryNov 13, 2002 18:123882
Marxists on the march [84 words]PeteNov 13, 2002 17:383880
Neglected intellectuals. [228 words]David KwavnickNov 13, 2002 17:193878
Grass roots organizations attempting to address this problem? [89 words]Tim StolzerNov 13, 2002 17:103876
Reply to Tim Stolzer's comment [201 words]J. Keen HollandNov 14, 2002 01:523876
Disloyal Americans or just plain ignorant? [83 words]John B. JaymesNov 13, 2002 16:073872
College Professors [94 words]Carole PhilippsNov 13, 2002 15:263871
The Persecution is Real [298 words]Denice Gary PandolNov 13, 2002 14:123869
Why the Left Hates America [86 words]David RichardsonNov 13, 2002 13:423867
Americans who hate academia [74 words]Railroad StoneFeb 7, 2006 20:353867
The Propagandists of Academia [301 words]Ron NormanNov 13, 2002 13:393866
In The Face Of Truth, Lie. [368 words]TaggeNov 13, 2002 13:323865
Professors and Motives [144 words]J. Scott DikesNov 13, 2002 13:283864
Students: You have a choice. [183 words]W. CrumNov 13, 2002 13:103863
US wants Oil ?? [34 words]PeterNov 13, 2002 13:043861
War for oil [120 words]Lloyd DrakoNov 13, 2002 18:093861
99 cents a gallon... [192 words]P.A.Nov 21, 2002 13:573861
Oil is part of the issue [391 words]B.W.Nov 23, 2002 14:243861
I hate America [227 words]HibahNov 13, 2002 12:443860
Reply to Hibah [266 words]KenNov 15, 2002 00:233860
In response to Hibah Who Hates the Americans and the Jews [53 words]Arlinda DeAngelisNov 18, 2002 22:243860
Hibah [633 words]mikeFeb 15, 2003 00:413860
TO "HIBAH" [66 words]A PROUD AMERICANJun 19, 2003 22:213860
Hibah ... [225 words]The fruit is taunting meJan 3, 2006 15:173860
I think ... [85 words]Jack StrawSep 30, 2006 18:063860
Tenure vs. Treason [438 words]TMKNov 13, 2002 12:283858
Balance between Treason and Criticism [1136 words]Christopher J ColnaJan 18, 2007 17:363858
The article is totally true [79 words]Sam BaldwinNov 13, 2002 12:163856
Freedom to Hate: Academic Freedom [263 words]Aviva BeinhauerNov 13, 2002 11:273851
From a Student's Point of View [299 words]Ray SchmidtNov 13, 2002 11:253850
If it's too liberal for you, don't go there. . . [638 words]OsrhoeneNov 13, 2002 10:153847
I agree with Osrhoene - Why adults rant [151 words]Ben MuraneNov 19, 2002 22:463847
I agree with the professors [141 words]Rasheed Abou-AlsamhNov 13, 2002 08:333846
Inability to Think Critically [287 words]Gerald McCutcheon, Jr.Nov 13, 2002 13:053846
The Left is All That's Left [172 words]Allen E. WiesenNov 13, 2002 08:313845
Intelligence or wisdom [149 words]R. FrankNov 13, 2002 07:093844
Only Goes To Further Show Lack of Historical Knowledge [166 words]Lee KaplanNov 13, 2002 03:583843
Facts vs. distorted half truths [300 words]RonaldNov 13, 2002 03:173841
Vietnam's legacy [488 words]Dr. Arthur H. PitzNov 13, 2002 03:003840
Much ado about nothing [157 words]Charlie HallNov 13, 2002 02:513839
Professors Cannot Teach Against U.S. In The Dark! [51 words]Tova MatteroNov 13, 2002 02:293838
Finding Fault Without Hatred [35 words]Phyllis JoffeNov 13, 2002 02:113837
Purge the Academy! [98 words]Sean SmithNov 13, 2002 01:383835
Even Academics Should See That Ousting Saddam Hussein is a Moral Imperative [214 words]Keith PhucasNov 13, 2002 01:223833
What About Tom Paulin at Harvard? [37 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Mayra LichterNov 13, 2002 00:563832
U.S. Does Not Need Iraqi Oil [146 words]Dolce FarnienteNov 13, 2002 00:223831
Professors who are silent about oppression [210 words]Rachel NeuwirthNov 13, 2002 00:183830
Academic Freedom- Whose Definition? [190 words]Barry ShmooklerNov 12, 2002 23:383829
Right on the Mark! [42 words]Herb juristNov 12, 2002 23:213828
Freedom of speech? [235 words]John B. TaylorNov 12, 2002 23:073827
Ignorance [82 words]Bob PollockNov 12, 2002 22:103824
Beacon of hope [35 words]Muhammad SiddiquiNov 12, 2002 22:003823
The parallel universe of academia [208 words]Arlinda DeAngelisNov 12, 2002 21:233819
Correcting a commenter's misapprehension about US use of power [249 words]Jay VailNov 22, 2002 04:503819
Responding to Jay Vail [95 words]RebeccaJan 12, 2003 11:193819
Responding to Rebecca [226 words]TreyMar 21, 2003 14:303819
Red Lines [36 words]RDNov 12, 2002 18:563814
Traitors [97 words]Royce DavisNov 12, 2002 18:393813
Pipes has backbone [81 words]Saul CoopermanNov 12, 2002 18:273812
Simplistic "Scholars" [97 words]Gary CantorNov 12, 2002 18:143811
Rights of Dissent and Opposition [556 words]Richard M. WeinerNov 12, 2002 17:513806
Trust the students with more free speech. [89 words]T. KumarNov 12, 2002 17:483805
Financial Renumeration For These Professors [50 words]Gene BiegelNov 12, 2002 17:453804
Urgent issue at Harvard University Thursday the 14th [253 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
David HirschNov 12, 2002 17:433803
Just what have the profs done wrong? [1184 words]ThinkerNov 12, 2002 17:083800
How can we create a politically balanced atmosphere? [70 words]F. Dwight Leupp Jr.Nov 12, 2002 16:563799
Elect the faculty? [93 words]Grace MurphyNov 12, 2002 16:513794
University professors [92 words]Maxine CohenNov 12, 2002 16:113793
Saddam U. [48 words]Glenn KlotzNov 12, 2002 15:543792
You Are So Right--- [82 words]Joseph RotondoNov 12, 2002 15:533791
A Broad Spectrum of Opinion [103 words]Frederick MillerNov 12, 2002 15:223789
Questions Still Unanswered [96 words]Sandra ArtmanNov 12, 2002 14:553788
Toe the party line or shut up? [112 words]Charlie ZimmermanNov 12, 2002 14:183784
Professors -- Noam Chomsky [111 words]Nathaniel WarshayNov 12, 2002 13:493783
Malcontents [304 words]Tony DonovanNov 12, 2002 13:393781
"Academic Freedom" [314 words]Cubby S.Nov 12, 2002 12:503780
1You sir, are a threat to freedom [201 words]Chris ColnaJun 3, 2006 21:303780

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