This isn't so much about politics as it is who you are as a human being.

On Sunday, September 25 a series of screenshots from the popular group messaging app GroupMe was posted to Twitter. The account which published them - @NoActOfOurs (a reference to a line in Penn State's alma mater - "May no act of ours bring shame to one heart that loves thy name") - attributed these messages to a "Penn State Trump GroupMe." The content of those messages is nothing short of disgusting. Most were in regard to the decision by the Penn State College Republicans' choice not to endorse Donald Trump for the 2016 presidential election. Members of the group chat focused their anger on PSCR's president, Michael Straw.

A second batch of screen-grabs was released the following night, just before the first presidential debate. These messages were even more shocking than the first; the members of the chat shifted from homophobic slurs about Straw and jokes about throwing him thrown from a crane. Furthermore, the chat members claimed that Republicans who did not support Trump were "a bunch of fucking CUCKS who should fucking DIE." Both full groups of images were published and shared by student/journalist Patrick Cines on his blog (first group) (second group). Cines writes on his posting of the first group, "Have they violated school rules or the law? No. I’m all for freedom of speech, but what they’ve said is simply toxic and it’s a shame that I go to the same school as these students." Further messages include, "Islam is a fucking cancer. My aunt is currently dying of cancer and I still think Islam is worse than that," "They take retarded autistic kids if those retarded autistic kids can go out and canvass correctly," and, "He's a queer, probably takes it up the ass from cheatin' lyin' Ted."

The university has not yet become directly involved in the situation, but the the ripples from this incident have slowly moved outward. The Penn State Speech & Debate Society, who was to moderate a debate between Students for Hillary and Students for Trump (aka Bullmoose Party, We Are For Trump) on September 27, pulled out of the debate due to the Students for Trump's refusal to denounce the comments expressed by some of its members in the leaked messages. Attention to the incident grew to the state level when state news site PennLive published an article detailing the 'Trump-sized soap opera' between the College Republicans and Students for Trump.

Here's where I want to step in. Let me say first that these messages are not the official GroupMe messages of Students for Trump. I do not believe that everyone in that organization would even think about saying such things. I've got a friend in the group, and he is a good and respectable human being - I would expect many others are similar. I will say the same about Trump supporters in general; most are probably good, average individuals, and I know plenty that are good, average individuals. But the people who said these things ought to be ashamed. Students for Trump members were involved, and, as PennLive acknowledged, some were even on the group's executive board. This does not damn the entire group. But it most certainly is upon the leadership of the group to stand up and denounce what was said. That's what leadership is: you take responsibility for the people who you lead, and when a number of them mess up, it is upon you to deal with it. All you need to say is that those views are not the views of Students for Trump and that it was in bad taste for those people to say such things. That's it.

I think what much of this situation boils down to is the question of free speech. I suppose some conservatives would say I'm not a typical liberal when I say this, but I am a staunch defender of free speech, even when it crosses what I believe. Take, for example, Breitbart contributor Milo Yiannopoulos. I think the guy is a complete jackass and some of the shit he says is downright reprehensible. But y'know what? He has the right to say that stuff, and I will defend that right to the death, just as I believe every American should. That's why Yiannopoulos says the things he does: to demonstrate the breadth of ideas that are protected by the right to free speech (even the dickish and distasteful ones). Free speech is one of the dearest liberties of this nation, and the only limitations that can be imposed on it are very specific cases which pose a 'clear and present danger' to the lives and property of others. The state and state institutions cannot censor those who are considered inflammatory or controversial. Our sacred Constitution defends against that.

But, there is a caveat. Just because you have the right to say something doesn't necessarily mean you should. Sure, you have the right to be a racist, homophobic, Islamophobic piece of shit and you can spray your drivel pretty much wherever you like. You are protected by the First Amendment if you want to do that. But you need to remember that the First Amendment does not protect you from being called out as a despicable human being. I'll defend you from being silenced by anyone, but I have no qualms turning around from defending you and calling you an asshole. Thus, don't piss and moan about being 'attacked' when you're called out for remaining ambivalent about the awful things said by the people you associate with. That's the true nature of free speech - yes, you have the right to express ideas and assemble with others who share those ideas, but be prepared to be held accountable for what you express. Democracy is about responsibility. Stand up and start carrying it like a citizen should. Being an American is about honor and dignity. Start acting with a little of both.