Opinion: Using Freedom of Speech the Right Way

Story by Broadside Opinion Columnist Scott Mason. Photos by Marian McLaughlin.

Freedom of Speech is something we all have pondered the meaning of. Does it mean we can swear at our professors, write profanity in our essays, pay no heed to soccer moms at George Mason University soccer games? Does it mean that college newspapers can write and publish what ever they want? Does it mean that a preacher from somewhere other than our campus can come and berate college students by condemning them to Hell? Well, this is where it gets tricky. In most of these cases, the act of speaking freely doesn’t incite violence, so there is one bench mark.

Profanity can be offensive, so that will probably be a no, unless you want to be screaming “don’t tase me bro” along with your expletives. What it really comes down to is the subjectivity of the presiding authority, i.e. the professor or the George Mason University Police Department, as the case may be. What really affects us is how we use and react to the Freedom of Speech that has been endowed to us by numerous state constitutions as well as the United States Bill of Rights. For example, the Ku Klux Klan used to hold meetings on the steps of my county’s courthouse in Florida. They are given the right to demonstrate and rally there, as long as they don’t start or instill violence in the crowd. However, my high school history teacher decided it would be an absolutely brilliant idea to go down and heckle the Klan during a rally. He was then chased away, with the violence of the Klansmen deterring any hope of repeating his moment of bravery and stupidity. In cases like this or the instance of the preacher, who has been coming to campus lately, we need to realize that although we, as observers may not be the violent ones, sometimes the speakers only need a light breeze to turn a candle into a forest fire.

Intolerant people will say what they will. We can’t stop them. We can’t refuse to publish negative opinions about LGBTQ issues, because even if we did take away their right to be published, they could just go blog about it instead. What we need is to write, or speak in opposition to these quagmires of intolerance with succinctness. To clearly and rightly respond in ways that make a statement no matter what the degree of disagreement is.

The Cru people had a couch out on the North Plaza during all of the hoopla with the preacher. They had a white board stating “Tired of being yelled at? Come talk to us.” This is what we need—fewer screaming responses and more rational dialogue between forces. We have a responsibility to give each other the benefit of the doubt that all points are valid at first, then we are welcome to disagree. We also have a duty to think before we speak. The old adage states “it is better not to speak and be thought to be wise, than it is to speak and be thought a fool.” So, I may be free to speak, but I know that I am held accountable for all that I produce.

I know that there are people who will say I am wrong, and if I truly am then I have no problem admitting it. And I would rather sit silently than offer criticism on a subject I know nothing about. Freedom of speech does not mean you must speak free of thought and thorough examination. The American ideal of freedom of speech is different than around the world. Other places believe in complete freedom, and others construe their idea of freedom of speech to mean the free dispersal of government messages or free speech of those who agree with their awesome leader. There are many different views in this country of what the freedom of speech means, and even on this campus a plethora astounds.

Irrational demands made by students marching into the Broadside office, the Provost’s office or President Merten’s office are not the answer. Neither is screaming back at the man professing his hate behind our beloved statue of George.

The answer is setting up that symbolic couch and inviting people to have a seat and talk. Respect is required in dealing with the despised. Poise will win over profanity. And great ideas, noble ideas sound ignorant and blunt when coming through a bullhorn. Step above the fray and let your ideas shine, and undoubtedly people will see the light.

Please take heed when you disagree with your friends over political issues as we draw closer to the election. You just might soften a heart, change a mind or alter an election. Happy debating, everyone.