Sunday, September 14, 2008

Syracuse, Parents, and Freedom of Speech

Ok, let me just say first that the comments made by these Syracuse students were terrible and could have led to threats or bodily harm to this teacher, maybe not from these students, but possibly from other followers of the group. This kind of behavior stems from a lack of respect for others that has obviously been allowed to run awry for years. But, whose responsibility is it to teach these students the difference between right and wrong? Is it the university who should take on this responsibility? If it is, than should'nt that responsibility trickle down to high school and elementary school? Do we really want to hand over another aspect of our childern's lives to a system that can't keep up with their current responsibilities? I think not. The root of this problem in with the parents or guardians of this nations childern. Parents need to realize that it is up to them to instill respect and integrity and morals into our youth. It should not be up to the educational institutions to do it for them. And also, what gives the university the right to trample on these students freedom of speech? Now, like I wrote at the beginning, I believe that the actions of these students could have led to a tragedy, but does a publicly funded university have the right to limit freedom of speech? Does the local and county police in Vincinnes, IN have the right to arrest KKK members who hold a permit to have a non-violent rally in which they spew forth hateful and bigoted retoric? NO, THEY DON'T. Even though what they are saying is wrong, we as a nation cannot issue penalty because of a difference in opinion.

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