You can imagine my embarrassment when I came across a San Francisco writer’s commentary on the assault on free speech our country has faced in recent years and saw my alma mater as an example of Orwellian like thought control. (SFGate.com “When Speech Becomes a Crime” by Cinnamon Stillwell, June 28, 2006)
I missed the 2003 story of College Republican Steve Hinkle being found guilty by Cal Poly for “disruption” for the crime of putting up a flier advertising a black conservative speaker. I wish I knew the final outcome for Steve – perhaps he switched sides and is now an ACLU lawyer. If everything I read in the UPI story rings true, that Steve faced trumped up charges and expulsion for posting a flier, then my alma mater should be embarrassed. I have my own opinions and voice them freely and, while I may disagree with another point of view, I have nothing but respect for those brave enough to stand for their beliefs. Likewise, I pity cowards who hide behind “politically correct” laws to squash the free speech and expression of others.
Ultra-conservatism sparked a liberal movement in the sixties that still burns today, what makes one think that ultra-liberalism has not perhaps sparked a new conservative movement? Bush 2000 could have gone either way; Bush 2004 was a solid victory. Right now Arnold ’06 is sounding pretty good to me.
Kurt A. Schwabe
Political science alum, 1992