Clarifying The First Amendment Necessary
Roy Maynard
Look, if you want a guaranteed audience that will listen to your crackpot theories, weird observations and uninspired opinions, do what I did -- become a teacher.
But first, please re-read the First Amendment and let's all become clear on what it says, and what it doesn't.
I am speaking, of course, to the self-promoting dictators and smarmy college students and (and both of those groups' supporters) who have invoked the First Amendment lately to cover for bad behavior.
You have a right to speak, I grant you. But I don't have to listen.
When Columbia University hosted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, it justified this bizarre decision by citing the First Amendment.
"The scope of free speech and academic freedom should itself always be open to further debate," Columbia President Lee Bollinger said in his introduction of the tyrant. "As one of the more famous quotations about free speech goes, it is 'an experiment, as all life is an experiment.' I want to say, however, as forcefully as I can, that this is the right thing to do and, indeed, it is required by existing norms of free speech, the American university, and Columbia itself."
Bollinger went on to chastise Ahmadinejad, but good.
"Frankly, and in all candor, Mr. President, I doubt that you will have the intellectual courage to answer these questions," Bollinger said. "But your avoiding them will in itself be meaningful to us. I do expect you to exhibit the fanatical mindset that characterizes so much of what you say and do. Fortunately, I am told by experts on your country, that this only further undermines your position in Iran with all the many good-hearted, intelligent citizens there."
Strong words, and well deserved.
But here's the salient point: Columbia interprets "free speech" to mean "free forum." It doesn't mean that by giving Ahmadinejad a microphone and an audience, Columbia inadvertently bolstered the little dictator's standing among his extremist constituency.
A few days earlier, college student Andrew Meyer was Tasered by campus cops at a University of Florida appearance by Sen. John Kerry. Whether Meyer was under control, rowdy or potentially dangerous is something the state of Florida is now investigating.
But the college newspaper at Colorado State University editorialized on the matter with four words: "Taser this: (expletive deleted) Bush."
I'm having trouble with the logic here. Bush is to blame for what campus police did in Florida?
Nevertheless, the paper's (paid) editorial staff is now crying "freedom of the press" as a defense for their actions.
Other university newspapers are jumping on this bandwagon.
"The Rocky Mountain Collegian and The Times have laid out excellent examples for the rest of America to follow: Don't take your freedom of speech for granted and don't be afraid to use it," the Daily Aztec of San Diego State University opined. "Censorship of the press is an issue that must not be tolerated and is a war that can only be won in ink and paper."
Please.
When I was the editor of my college newspaper, many years ago, I was reminded (several times) of a few free market facts. When I used the phrase "freedom of the press," my college president would nod, then explain that while the press may be free, the newspaper costs money to publish. And since the money was his (or at least the college's), he was going to have a say in what went in it.
I'm sure student journalists everywhere join me in righteous indignation; but the fact remains he was right. I was - and am - free to publish my own newspaper. But no one owes me space in their newspaper to publish anything I want.
To put it another way, no one owes me a platform.
The freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment are clear: freedom of speech (not a guaranteed audience), freedom of the press (not a free forum), freedom of religion (and not necessarily freedom from religion, even if I am offended by nativity sets in public view), and freedom peaceably to assemble (which is why the cops are sometimes called out to my family reunions).
When I expect more, then I'm abusing that freedom. That's the real threat.
Early Returns is the political observations column of staff writer Roy Maynard, who can be reached at 903-596-6291 or at roymaynardtmt@gmail.com.
But first, please re-read the First Amendment and let's all become clear on what it says, and what it doesn't.
I am speaking, of course, to the self-promoting dictators and smarmy college students and (and both of those groups' supporters) who have invoked the First Amendment lately to cover for bad behavior.
You have a right to speak, I grant you. But I don't have to listen.
When Columbia University hosted Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, it justified this bizarre decision by citing the First Amendment.
"The scope of free speech and academic freedom should itself always be open to further debate," Columbia President Lee Bollinger said in his introduction of the tyrant. "As one of the more famous quotations about free speech goes, it is 'an experiment, as all life is an experiment.' I want to say, however, as forcefully as I can, that this is the right thing to do and, indeed, it is required by existing norms of free speech, the American university, and Columbia itself."
Bollinger went on to chastise Ahmadinejad, but good.
"Frankly, and in all candor, Mr. President, I doubt that you will have the intellectual courage to answer these questions," Bollinger said. "But your avoiding them will in itself be meaningful to us. I do expect you to exhibit the fanatical mindset that characterizes so much of what you say and do. Fortunately, I am told by experts on your country, that this only further undermines your position in Iran with all the many good-hearted, intelligent citizens there."
Strong words, and well deserved.
But here's the salient point: Columbia interprets "free speech" to mean "free forum." It doesn't mean that by giving Ahmadinejad a microphone and an audience, Columbia inadvertently bolstered the little dictator's standing among his extremist constituency.
A few days earlier, college student Andrew Meyer was Tasered by campus cops at a University of Florida appearance by Sen. John Kerry. Whether Meyer was under control, rowdy or potentially dangerous is something the state of Florida is now investigating.
But the college newspaper at Colorado State University editorialized on the matter with four words: "Taser this: (expletive deleted) Bush."
I'm having trouble with the logic here. Bush is to blame for what campus police did in Florida?
Nevertheless, the paper's (paid) editorial staff is now crying "freedom of the press" as a defense for their actions.
Other university newspapers are jumping on this bandwagon.
"The Rocky Mountain Collegian and The Times have laid out excellent examples for the rest of America to follow: Don't take your freedom of speech for granted and don't be afraid to use it," the Daily Aztec of San Diego State University opined. "Censorship of the press is an issue that must not be tolerated and is a war that can only be won in ink and paper."
Please.
When I was the editor of my college newspaper, many years ago, I was reminded (several times) of a few free market facts. When I used the phrase "freedom of the press," my college president would nod, then explain that while the press may be free, the newspaper costs money to publish. And since the money was his (or at least the college's), he was going to have a say in what went in it.
I'm sure student journalists everywhere join me in righteous indignation; but the fact remains he was right. I was - and am - free to publish my own newspaper. But no one owes me space in their newspaper to publish anything I want.
To put it another way, no one owes me a platform.
The freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment are clear: freedom of speech (not a guaranteed audience), freedom of the press (not a free forum), freedom of religion (and not necessarily freedom from religion, even if I am offended by nativity sets in public view), and freedom peaceably to assemble (which is why the cops are sometimes called out to my family reunions).
When I expect more, then I'm abusing that freedom. That's the real threat.
Early Returns is the political observations column of staff writer Roy Maynard, who can be reached at 903-596-6291 or at roymaynardtmt@gmail.com.
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