larger view

Colleges’ free speech a one way street article by Marlee Shrider

Did you guys read the paper today? (The Bakersfield Californian) Did you catch that article by Marlee Shrider? I found it to be very interesting, it got my skeptical cogs moving. In short she speaks about an incident at Los Angeles Community College, where a student was allegedly discriminated for his faith. From the article I get the sense that the instructor left the topic in his Speech 101 class open to whatever the person wanted to type. Apparently the teacher didn’t like the students speech based on the faith content. Even went as far as making obscene comments such as “fascist bastard” and “ask God what your grade is”. I am absolutely stunned that a professional, or someone who should be professional, would act in such a manner.

Is it possible that the grumpy one is sticking up for religion? Well in this case yes, not because I think religion is right, but because our fundamental freedom of speech is so important that one should be able to speak their mind no matter how goofy your ideas are. Of course this teacher is wrong on such a magnitude, especially in college, specially in SPEECH class!!

Many of you know that I am rather grumpy with religion, but I would never ever want to give up the right for free speech. In my opinion the way to fight religion is with free speech, we will spread FACTS (which religion has very few) and not by discrimination in school; which should be open to any inquiry, as far as speech goes. The discrimination should take place where it’s warranted, that’s anytime religion gets into the science arena, then the ridicule and bashing, and the teeth and claws must be taken out. Not in speech class, where the teacher leaves the subject open. If the teacher didn’t want a speech on religion, then he should have at the very least set some ground rules.

To counter point let me quote Mark twain “As an active privilege, it ranks with the privilege of committing murder; we may exercise it if we are willing to take the consequences.”
- "The Privilege of the Grave

So I think he’s doing the right thing in suing the college, and standing up for his rights. Apparently he paid the price for speaking his mind on the subject. Hopefully our courts will do the right thing.

She did touch on a good point, Marleey Shrider, that point was that the student should not have gotten in trouble because it offended someone else. Whether we like it or not, there are going to be people with different ideas, point of views, and life styles. If we shut up, arrested, alienated everyone with ideas we didn’t like we might be a much worse place. I think there’s plenty of places like that in the middle east and many other places in the world. Hope you all have a good day, hope the acts of this teacher at the very least make you just a tad bit grumpy, have a good day!

http://www.twainquotes.com/...