Don't Let Hate Speech Pollute U-M Workshop

Detroit Free Press ^ | 10/10/02 | Editorial

[machman]

A workshop at the University of Michigan advocating the strangulation of Israel will go on as scheduled this weekend, despite intense objections from Jewish students and community groups.

The Second National Student Conference on Palestinian Solidarity urges divestment in Israel by universities, nonprofit foundations, public funds and corporations until that nation agrees to cease to exist as a Jewish state and accedes to all Palestinian demands.

[machman]

The university is using the cover of the First Amendment to defend allowing its campus to be used for the workshop, which among other things will strategize on civil disobedience and other actions to exert divestment pressure.

Free speech is a powerful argument, and the university is correct in erring on the side of the First Amendment. But as host site for the conference, it now has a responsibility to make sure free speech doesn't become hate speech, and the campus' large population of Jewish students aren't made to feel threatened.

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Ok, I'm confused here, where has congress made a law that says terrorists can't voice their opinion? Would a university in using its better judgement to not allow this sort of thing to take place be somehow considered "congress making a law abridging the freedom of speech" of said terrorists?????

Come on Free Press, you know that these people will be promoting terrorist organizations, but you are stuck also with trying to not ofend your Jewish readers or your Arab readers, you can't have it both ways.

[Tacis]

The rumor is that once David Bonior leaves Congress, he will teach "The Destruction of America From the Inside" in a grduate program at the University of Michiganistan ay Ann Arbor.

[1bigdictator]

Curious as to why dissenting student groups opposed to this anti-semetic pogrom parading around as "free speach" don't counter w/ forums and workshops exposing violations of international law by Arab states, like the four unprovoked attempted invasions of Israel that lead to the annexation of the West bank; a good start would be an international boycott of all things Arab.

[kregger]

There is a big difference between the right to say something and responsibility associated with that right. Nobody is saying the University should cancel the conference on purely First Amendment grounds, but the University is acting as if the First Amendement requires it to allow the conference to go on as planned, which is bunk. In that regard, the University most certainly is using the First Amendement as cover.

[machman]

but the University is acting as if the First Amendement requires it to allow the conference to go on as planned, which is bunk

That's my point. The university, if they choose not to allow, is not violating the first Amendment. As in, congress has made no law restricting their speech, only that the school has decieded not to allow them to use their facilities, they can stand on the corner and chant and scream all they want.

[ladyinred]

When are people going to learn? It is not hate speech if it is referring to Jews, Christians, and the right wing. Then it is "free speech."

[justshe]

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