Thursday, April 3, 2008

Afraid of Free Speech? (Part 2)

In an earlier post I discussed how free speech is suppressed in the public schools in the teaching of biology. Only the theory of evolution can be taught – alternative viewpoints are not allowed. This is because the pro-evolution crowd is afraid to have a free and open discussion of other possibilities because the flaws of their position will be exposed.

Another area where free speech is severely limited is in universities. The movie “Expelled” by Ben Stain reveals how the academic community suppresses free exchange of ideas (coming out on April 18). In these institutions of higher education, formerly bastions of free speech, open debate, and free thinking, political correctness now reigns supreme. As a result, politically conservative viewpoints are not allowed to be discussed. Anybody deviating from the PC party line is condemned. Why the harsh treatment? Because if there is a free and open discussion of various viewpoints, the weaknesses of the so-called liberal viewpoints will be exposed.

We see this to some extent in the public schools, although it is frequently suppression of any statements of Christian or biblical viewpoints. This tyranny masquerades under the constitutional separation of church and state, yet there is nothing in the constitution that says a child can’t mention his or her religious beliefs in school. The school isn’t endorsing what the child says! The darkness doesn’t like the light.

The United States Constitution specifically makes provision for all kinds of viewpoints to be expressed freely in the marketplace of ideas. The motivation behind freedom of speech and freedom of assembly is the freedom to criticize the government without fear of arrest or retaliation. However, by virtue of these freedoms, all viewpoints can be discussed openly, not just political ones. Public schools and universities have forgotten about these freedoms, so suppress any views that aren’t politically correct or may have something to do with a student’s religious beliefs. This behavior, of course, is in direct contradiction to that student’s constitutionally guaranteed freedoms and in contradiction to the school’s purpose of being a forum for various viewpoints in a free-thinking and open learning environment. How this happened, I don’t know. But it makes the universities hypocrites, and my alma mater gets no contributions from me. I won’t support or endorse such a system.

You can always tell when there are worldviews are vulnerable, because alternative views are severely suppressed. More on that in a future post.

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