The left's anti-speech

Today's Collegian chronicled the Feder hate crime speech, which was smothered by people who have no respect or understanding of the right to free speech.

“There’s absolutely no room for hate speech on this campus,” said winter 2008 graduate Natalia Tylim. Her friend, senior Katie Perry, concurred, adding “I think campuses are places for open-mindedness, and this is the opposite of that.”

Anybody who doesn't recognize the inherent contradiction in these statements needs to listen closer. I'm sorry, but it is actually nonsensical in a sort of baffling, if not irritating, way. At one end it is said that open-mindedness is what college campuses should embrace, and at the other its saying there is "absolutely no room" for this type of speech on this campus. What is meant by this quote is that "only those who agree with me can be considered open-minded and can exercise their right to free speech, but all those who disagree with me are close minded and do not have that right."

This is insanity and the people who squelched the speech the other night should be ashamed of themselves. Listen people, we never get through to people by shutting them up. Bellicosity and loud protestations meant to smother those we disagree with may silence our opponents, but will rarely persuade anyone. Persuasion is an art, not a shouting match. And if any commie liberal or kooky right-winger wants to ever be heard and have any affect on people, they'll scrap this intolerance and begin to listen and speak peacefully. Otherwise, no one will ever get anywhere.