Mark’s Musings – May 31, 2017
Mark Fortune
For the vast majority of Americans our attention span quickly shifts away from observing a holiday like Memorial Day and more than likely to thinking about summer vacation, the July 4th holiday or what we are going to throw on the grill. I am sure there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of our countrymen that think Memorial Day is a time to relax, enjoy a round of golf, spend some time outdoors or the myriad of other things we can do in America. All of this is OKAY. But hopefully somewhere along the way all of us can take a few moments, or more than a few moments, to reflect on the sacrifice of our brave men and women that indeed made the ultimate sacrifice so we can enjoy our freedoms.
One of the freedoms that has endured from the birth of our nation is freedom of speech and expression. Some might say that this is the most important freedom of all. The right to say what you think – offer your opinion – whether at the family dinner table or discussing political differences with Uncle Ted or Aunt Martha at Thanksgiving while munching on a piece of pumpkin pie. You also have the right to submit a letter to the editor to a local print media – and be fairly confident that it will be published as is unless you are slandering someone or committing libel or just plain being false or nasty.
But somewhere along the way, in the past couple of years, our nation’s institutions of higher learning, that is, our colleges, have subverted (I think that is the right word?, help me out if not) this right.
The Wall Street Journal has taken up this topic on several occasions over the past few years. A Google search will bring up several related articles – and if you sort them – somehow by date – you may find an interesting angle to the theme of the articles. I will let you do that research on your own.
Meanwhile, one of the items brought up in the search is a book by Kim Strassel, a noted political columnist and member of the Wall Street Journal editorial board, who has published a book that focuses on what is happening in our nation with the right of free speech. Again, you can take this on yourself.
I find it quite interesting that during the turbulent years of the 1960s and 1970s our college campuses were indeed the torch bearer for freedom of expression with demonstrations and speeches against the Vietnam War, the draft and many other causes. Fast forward to now and the demonstrations have taken a decided tack against certain political leanings, indeed, those that clamored for the right of expression are part of the squelching. Again, research it for yourself. I may be way off target here. You are welcome to submit – as mentioned in paragraph two, a letter to the editor with your opinion.
And to end on a lighter note, way to go Cavs! And for those that follow hockey, the Penguins – not the ones from the Antarctic, the ones from Pittsburgh, made it back to the Stanley Cup Finals with a dramatic double overtime win against the Senators – yes, the ones from Washington – in game seven of the NHL playoffs. Can the Cavs take down the Warriors again this year or will the Warriors take two out of the last three? Should be some good basketball starting June 1.
Category: Mark's Musings, Opinion
