The editors of the Wall Street Journal report on a Brookings survey that found that students at American institutions of higher learning are rejecting liberal values:
‘Freedom of speech is a principal pillar of a free government,†wrote Ben Franklin. “When this support is taken away, the constitution of a free society is dissolved.†Imagine what Franklin, James Madison and the other Founders would make of a new Brookings Institution survey showing that American college students have no clue what the First Amendment means.
John Villasenor surveyed more than 1,500 undergraduates, and among the alarming findings: Most American college students do not know that even hate speech is constitutionally protected; half agree that it’s okay to shout down a speaker whose views they don’t agree with; and nearly one of five believe it is acceptable for a student group opposed to a speaker to use violence to keep him from speaking. Some of the answers vary by political identification, but overall the findings suggest great confusion.
Mr. Villasenor’s conclusion is blunt. “Freedom of expression,†he says, “is deeply imperiled on U.S. campuses.†We’d take that further. Given that a functioning democracy rests on free expression, what do these results say about America’s future when these students leave school and begin to take their places in public life?
This survey provides additional evidence that the deeply illiberal incidents that have occurred at various colleges and universities around the country are indicative of something that’s more than anecdotal.
You’re using “liberal” in its 19th Century meaning, which has been superseded. The word connotes an authoritarian nanny state, so the students rejecting the 1st Amendment are properly called liberals.
Words change.
Yes. Progressives are not necessarily liberals. It’s a Humpty Dumpty world.
The kids have grown up with a culture of internet trolls, and real-life trolls — I think they are just less willing to tolerate bullsh^t a^^holes.
There has also been an increase in the number of complete do^chebag trolls, like Milo Yiannopolis (probably misspelled) who are doing their utmost to speak on campuses. These aren’t people that are speaking to educate, or persuade, they are just trying to piss people off.
When people misuse free speech to just be an as^hole, it undermines support for free speech.
It’s like irresponsible gun owners, and nutjobs with their open carry demonstrations — it undermines support for unlimited gun rights.
This is a major reason I’ve become a more activist free-speech purist recently. If we lose this, then our country as we know it is doomed.
“These aren’t people that are speaking to educate, or persuade, they are just trying to piss people off.”
Let’s stipulate that you are correct about this Milo character. Can you come up with 4 additional examples? 5 seems a modest request. Further, have you ever considered that no one places a gun to heads and forces attendance, and that it is the counter protesters that precipitate the violence?
Guarneri: I’ll give you two big names: Ann Coulter and Donald Trump.
There are lots of smaller names, but I don’t spend my time in the cesspools of humanity that is the alt-right.
Meh. We have no basis for comparison. I suspect that if this survey was conducted over the last 75 years there would have been periods when the answers would have been similar, maybe worse.
Steve
I think Gustopher’s on the right here. There are certain “stars” that seem to get college lecture invitations of a type these days — Noisy, well hyped, provocative to liberals. Milo, as an example. Ann Coulter. Fox TV announcers. Sheriff David Clarke and Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Are there Republicans who don’t get speaking invitations? Jon Huntsman, perhaps. Paul Ryan. Mitch McConnell. Lindsey Graham. Dana Rohrabacher. Susan Collins. Deb Fischer. Anybody ever hear of these folks? Or shall they all die in obscurity?