We have arrived at a really sad place in America where people are not willing to listen to each other. They even become violent when presented with a contrary opinion.
And there is a mob mentality. If you look at the thread I put in the education section about the disturbance at Middlebury, many of the people protesting Charles Murray's appearance freely admit that they never even read his book! They just heard through the grapevine a charge that Murray was a racist, and off they went.

There is plenty of blame to go around. For years we have been tearing at each other. Dehumanizing each other. Those on the right have delegitimized others with the charge that they are un-American. Those on the left have shut down others with the term hate-speech.

And then there are the provocateurs, who make a living throwing gas on the fire. Ann Coulter is a timely example. Long ago, Coulter decided that she could make a living by shocking people with provocative statements. Unfortunately, to keep in the spotlight, Ann is forced to keep saying more provocative things, pushing herself and her fans ever more towards the fringe. Until she became a caricature of herself. Some of what Ann says really is hate-speech.

It is tough to draw the line. 
Obviously I do not believe in violence.And I am very uncomfortable with bans.
But, let's face it, unlike a conservative author like Murray, Spencer is simply a white supremacist, nazi sympathizer, and provocateur. I'm not going to suggest to my students that listening to a speech given by him, or Ann Coulter is anything other than a waste of time.
I cannot understand why either of them would be invited to speak in the first place.
But, hey free country. Let them speak and then shoot down their stupid, hateful ideas with your own speech.
It wouldn't be difficult to do.

Last edited by Goose (4/20/2017 3:35 pm)