Fanning the Flames: The Freedom Project Blog

11.08.2006

Freedom of Speech?

By Shawn Healy
Only for those whom I agree with... That's the consensus that has taken hold on college campuses across America, and apparently on the other side of the pond too. College campuses have stood historically as bastions of liberalism, and the epicenter of the free speech movement(Cal-Berkeley). Despite past victories, modern activists have too often operated under a double standard when it comes to speech, particularly when universities invite guest speakers with a conservative perspective.

One need look no further than the melee at Columbia University early last month when a leader of the Minutemen Militia was silenced by more than verbal barbs, but physical obstruction. I witnessed similar intolerance for viewpoints that conflicted with mainstream liberalism throughout my academic career.

1. David Horowitz interrupted throughout a 2002 speech at the University of Illinois at Chicago by members of the student Socialist Party.

2. Ralph Reed, then head of the Christian Coalition, shouted down by students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

3. A similar performance with protesters literally bused in to obstruct a speech by Ward Connerly, former California Regent, and an African-American who opposes affirmative action.

College should be a time when our worldview is consistenty challenged by perspectivies different from our own. In my experience, this only serves to strengthen our own convictions and to better articulate our values. Moreover, occasionally we encounter information that forces us to re-examine our worldviews and adopt alternative viewpoints. Such reflection is a component of academic growth. Institutions and student bodies who fail to embark in this process short-change themselves and our society. Intolerance from all directions can only be defeated with more speech, not less.

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SHAWN HEALY

Managing Director

McCormick Freedom Project

Shawn is responsible for overseeing and managing the operations associated with the McCormick Freedom Project. Additionally, he serves as the in house content expert and voice of museum through public speaking and original scholarship. Before joining the Freedom Project, he taught American Government, Economics, American History, and Chicago History at Community High School in West Chicago, IL and Sheboygan North High School in Wisconsin.

Shawn is a doctoral candidate within the Political Science Department at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he received his MA in Political Science. He is a 2001 James Madison Fellow from the State of Wisconsin and holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, History, and Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

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About Fanning the Flames and the McCormick Freedom Project


Fanning the Flames is a blog of the McCormick Freedom Project, which was started in 2006 by museum managing director Shawn Healy. The blog highlights the news of the day, in hopes of engaging readers in dialogue about freedom issues. Any views or opinions expressed on this blog represent those of the writers alone and do not represent an official opinion of the McCormick Freedom Project.



Founded in 2005, the McCormick Freedom Project is part of the McCormick Foundation. The Freedom Project’s mission is to enable informed and engaged participation in our democracy by demonstrating the relevance of the First Amendment and the role it plays in the ongoing struggle to define and defend freedom. The museum offers programs and resources for teachers, students, and the general public.


First Amendment journalism initiative


The Freedom Project recently launched a new reporting initiative with professional journalists Tim McNulty and Jamie Loo. The goal is to expand and promote the benefits of lifelong civic engagement among citizens of all ages, through original reporting, commentary and news aggregation on First Amendment and freedom issues. Please visit the McCormick Freedom Project's news Web site, The Post-Exchange at