Lately, I’ve been surrounded by people who call themselves revolutionaries. They are radicals; they are anti-establishment. They're filled with righteous and justifiable anger. They march through UMass and shout into a megaphone. They scream about the “patriarchy.” They scream about “assimilation.” They want us to challenge capitalism, which perpetuates systems of oppression, abuse, and violence. Never mind that the very reason they are at this university is because their parents worked diligently, saved money, and took advantage of this very system in many ways.
Maybe you’ve heard of these people? They’re the ones who talk of “safe spaces” and “trigger warnings.” They claim that, yes, words are dangerous. Words can hurt people and make someone feel “unsafe.” I am speaking to you from a position of privilege, they would argue. I do not understand the systemic and interlocking societal institutions which keep people marginalized and abused in this country.
So, the campus administrators, our wise paternalistic guardians, must protect us, you see. Students at Amherst College, who engaged in a protest earlier in the year, are a perfect example of this sort of entitled activism. They even released a list of ten demands, among them was this little gem: "Dean Epstein must ask faculty to excuse all students from all 5 College classes, work shifts, and assignments from November 12th, 2015 to November 13th, 2015 given their organization of and attendance at the Sit-In." At the same time as these students are ostensibly challenging authority they are appealing to those in power to protect them. My problem with the protests at Amherst College is quite simple: they stand in stark oppossition to true liberal thought. These students are not seeking to construct an environment where all views and opinions are heard equally. Quite the contrary, they want to create a space where only one view is heard and every other argument in opposition to their view is drowned out. This sort of activism stands in direct contrast to previous civil or political movements.
It stands in sharp contrast to the civil rights protesters of the fifties and sixties who fought their way through lines of riot police and fire hoses to gain equality. It is cowardly when compared to Malala Yousafzai, who was nearly assassinated by the Taliban for attempting to ensure educational access to young girls in Pakistan. These acts are truly revolutionary. There was no concern for Facebook likes or any other form of emotional validation. It is despicable to me when one considers that, even today, there are countries like Saudi Arabia, where women cannot drive and rape victims have virtually no legal rights or recourse. Why aren’t students protesting this?
This country was founded upon a belief in freedom of speech. It is the cornerstone of our constitution. Without the ability to say what we feel, no matter how egregious or offensive it may seem, we are no longer free. It is vitally important to stand up for the rights of the most reviled among us. It is not about your feelings. The world doesn’t care if you are upset. Emotional arguments and appeals mean nothing. The only way to live peacefully in a free and diverse society is to welcome opposing points of view.
But, I don’t know, maybe I should just check my privilege first.
