There is nobody I admire more than my parents. I'm inspired by their experiences, the lessons they imparted upon me, and the stories of the mistakes that they would rather me not make. They hold opinions that differ from my own, but I still love them, still look forward to seeing them, and still miss them when I’m away at school. Yet, from what I’ve gathered through personal experiences here at school, a differing opinion can make or break your social standing. It can make you the enemy. It can cost you a good friend.
“I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.” That’s a quote commonly attributed to the French philosopher Voltaire, but it was actually his biographer, Evelyn Beatrice Hall, who said it. Freedom of speech, freedom of expression, freedom to do and say as you please--for the most part--is written much more poetically in our Constitution. These rights protect the unpopular, they protect the minority, they protect the downtrodden and give everyone a voice. These rights allowed us to protest racial segregation in the 1950’s, to protest the Vietnam War in the 60’s, and to begin the fight for gay rights in the 70’s. Our mothers and fathers, and their mothers and fathers, started these fights and others on college campuses throughout the country.
We have always seen our colleges, our universities, as cathedrals dedicated to the exploration of ideas, without fear of reprisal. We are a better country, a more diverse country, a freer and stronger country because of this kind of exploration and these conversations. We made these changes though talking, debating, and through inquiry that happened in classrooms all over the country.
But recently, it feels like something has changed. Shaming, threats of violence, and demonizing those that think differently is the new status quo. Questioning someone’s “Truth” is met with derision and fierce anger bordering on hatred. Questioning and allowing differing opinions are seen by a growing minority as things that must be given up in exchange for social justice. By some, questioning certain sets of ideas and solutions are threatening and dangerous and prohibited.
This terrifies me. It terrifies me that this has lead to the limiting of discussions in our classrooms. People have become afraid to state their opinions or ask questions, and won’t look for their own answers out of fear of social and academic retribution. How can you disavow an idea before you’ve explored it? Before you’ve asked questions about it? Before you’ve heard the argument for it? Simply because something challenges your perception of reality, that doesn’t make it dangerous or threatening or even wrong. Freedom of speech applies to everyone, even the ideas you do not like.
I applaud those with open minds and hearts and I urge you to keep questioning, keep fighting, keep listening, and keep learning. You are the people who change the world for the better, and only you can help us get closer to truth. I also applaud those who stand strong and defend their convictions with passion. That is how our world works, when one person believes in something and another opposes this idea. They fight, they yell, and argue, all in the name of truth and the right answer. So I implore you all to keep fighting, keep yelling, and do not be silent until we find the right answers, whatever they might be in the end.
