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News :: Right Wing |
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Conservatives Shout Down Graduation Speaker |
Current rating: 3 |
by CHE via pm
(No verified email address) |
26 May 2003
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Another example of the right's view of free speech, from Rockford, IL. Threatening behavior, unwillingness to allow others' ideas to be heard, and rudeness from a conservative minority won the day. |
Thursday, May 22, 2003
Drowned Out by Hecklers, Antiwar Activist Cuts Commencement Speech Short at Rockford College
By ELIZABETH CRAWFORD
Shouting and booing, a significant minority of students and family members drowned out the commencement speech on Saturday at Rockford College by Chris Hedges, a New York Times reporter and an opponent of the war with Iraq.
When Mr. Hedges -- a Pulitzer Prize winner and an author whose recent book, War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning (PublicAffairs, 2002), looks at war as an addiction -- announced that he would "talk about war and empire," several of the more than 400 students from the small liberal-arts college in northern Illinois turned their backs to him.
The situation escalated as Mr. Hedges continued by saying that the United States was an occupying force, rather than a liberating one, in Iraq. At that point, some audience members began singing "God Bless America" and chanting patriotic slogans.
Mr. Hedges said in an interview on Wednesday that two or three audience members went so far as to climb onto the podium from which he was speaking. "It was certainly unpleasant and unnerving," he said. "I have never had a response like that."
Ultimately, after the power to his microphone was pulled twice, Mr. Hedges cut his speech short at the request of campus security officers and was escorted away in a security vehicle while the new graduates received their diplomas.
Mr. Hedges said the aggressive responses of some audience members to his remarks both "surprised" and "saddened" him.
"I had seen that in Belgrade, but I wasn't expecting to see that here," Mr. Hedges said. He pointed out that all he had known of Rockford College before his speech was that the Nobel Peace Prize winner Jane Addams, also a pacifist who was shouted offstage once for giving an antiwar speech during World War I, had graduated from the college.
Many college officials and faculty members, including President Paul Pribbenow, were also surprised by the heckling, saying that Rockford College has actively sought to instill the ideals of civic engagement and activism in its students.
"As a part of college community values, we teach our students to listen and respect different points of view, even if they don't necessarily agree with them, and we expected that kind of response from our students and from our crowd," Mr. Pribbenow said on Wednesday. "Obviously, we can't control the crowd, but I am very proud of our students because they were listening, and it was mostly the audience members who had come to celebrate the day that were talking and being disrespectful."
Some professors, however, were critical of Mr. Hedges' speech and said that the hecklers' reactions were simply the consequence of the critical thinking that a liberal-arts college seeks to nurture.
Mr. Hedges was selected as the commencement speaker by an informal group, which included Mr. Pribbenow, after the originally scheduled speaker, Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois, canceled in March. The college is creating a formal committee to make recommendations for next year's commencement speaker.
Mr. Pribbenow said that in the future the college would try to pick speakers who would talk about issues that people graduating from college need to face, and whose topics would more readily reflect the event of graduation. He would not have them shy away from important topics, he said, but he would try to better inform speakers of what to expect and of the different values that the school and students hold.
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Comments
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Re: Conservatives Shout Down Graduation Speaker |
by Ed Mandel
crazyhawk22 (nospam) hotmail.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
26 May 2003
Modified: 03:53:01 PM |
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Secretary of Health & Human Services Tommy Thompson attempted to give a speech at the Barcelona, Spain International AIDS conference on July 10th, 2002. He was shouted down & rendered inaudible by liberal activists who jumped on stage & demonstrated while he was speaking. I heard about this particular story from Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! program. She did not indicate any problem with the fascistic behavior of the demonstrators. I guess this would be an example of liberal's rudeness & unwillingness to allow other ideas to be heard. |
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Re: Conservatives Shout Down Graduation Speaker |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 1
26 May 2003
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Dear PM,
Just taking a page from the leftist playbook. How many times has Clarence Thomas been shouted down or simply not allowed to speak at all by members of your "free thinking" crowd? I am sure you would welcome with open arms the inspirational message of a John Ashcroft or a Newt Gingrich.
The fact is, a commencement speech should be a discussion of accomplishment and the difficult road ahead. Instead, this jackass from the New York Times (not exactly the source of enlightenment these days) comes in a tells these kids what a rotten country they live in. It was inappropriate and I for one am glad to see conservatives fight back instead of letting you and your red brothers spout a bunch of leftist crap.
Jack |
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Great Example Of Bushs Brown Shirt Fascists At Work |
by Jack
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -1
27 May 2003
Modified: 01:41:53 AM |
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As shown in this Fascism is obvious part of ruling American policy today, get ready it is going to get much worse before the fascist freaks destoy this country which will make way for things to improve |
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Useful Link |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 6
27 May 2003
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The reality is that conservatives engage in behaviors intended to silence opposition as a matter of course. They rarely engage in any sort of dialogue, instead preferring to wallow in unsupported certitudes rather than constructively engaging with ideas they find threatening to their myopic world view, or even simply listening respectfully. One local example is the rejection by the pro-war crowd of an offer by AWARE to have a joint public forum between the two. The right prefers to only offer its message in ways that do not allow a dialogue or through media that they dominate.
Here's a useful link to other incidents in the New McCarthyism:
http://www.progressive.org/webex/mcwatch.html |
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Re: Conservatives Shout Down Graduation Speaker |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
27 May 2003
Modified: 04:10:39 PM |
Dear ML,
What times the pitty party? You said: "The reality is that conservatives engage in behaviors intended to silence opposition as a matter of course." Are you serious? What about the entire political correctness movement on college campus which defines hate speech as any conservative disagreeing with affirmative action etc. It is the liberals who routinely steal college newspapers and burn them rather than get a conservative viewpoint expressed. On this very site, I have been censored, for ideas that do not agree with yours. Check Hidden Articles.
This guy should not have been invited unless he was prepared to give a commencement speech. It was hardly the time for an Anti American speech.
Jack |
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Now, Now, Jack... |
by 5
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 5
27 May 2003
Modified: 06:17:20 PM |
I know that it is difficult for you to accept the "rules of engagement" on this open-publishing site, but...you have not been censored because of your conservative ideas. Posts in which you use racist slurs, sexist remarks intended as putdowns, and other comments which add nothing to the article you "comment" on have been moved to another area. They are still accessible under "Hidden articles".
If you are a true conservative, then you will understand the consequences of your actions. There are rules; you repeatedly break the rules; posts are removed when they break the rules. You are still able to post here. (Perhaps we should begin a "three-strikes-your-out policy" that so many conservative espouse. Would that change your behavior?)
All points of view are welcome here. Many other conservative posters have their commments intact because they comment directly on the article/idea of the article and DON'T use racist, sexist, or other inflammatory language. No newspaper would publish your offensive comments either so don't try to claim censorship. Try using facts, words, and points to make your conservative views clear. As I have said before, when you insult and name-call, you make conservatives look bad.
The IMC newswire is a "virtual" community space which allows anyone to post an article, participate in debate, and put forth points of view without being shouted down. It's called "diversity of ideas". Conservatives talk a big game about wanting diversity of ideas on campus (Brant Hansen on WDWS spouts this premise alot on his afternoon program), but in Rockford, many conservatives showed that "diversity of ideas" is not something which will be tolerated.
I understand that this was a commencement speech. Most commencement speeches are dull, boring, and trite. I know every single one I have attended has been a snooze-fest. Here was a speech by a reporter *whose views were known ahead of time*. I have had to sit through obnoxious conservative speeches many times. Instead of screaming at the top of my lungs at those individuals like a child, I listened...and disagreed. Much like I do with many of your comments, Jack.
And...I find no reason to debate you in any form. I merely correct you when you make points without fact, mistakes in reading comprehension, and baseless accusations. I have no need to run. I am always here...as are you apparently. |
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Re: Conservatives Shout Down Graduation Speaker |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -1
27 May 2003
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Dear Everyone,
Your right, I'm a brown shirted, stupid fascist jerk. Why hide the obvious?
Jack
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Re: Conservatives Shout Down Graduation Speaker |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -3
28 May 2003
Modified: 01:00:49 AM |
Dear ML and 5,
Okay, here is a perfect example: someone wrote under my name: Your right, I'm a brown shirted, stupid fascist jerk. Why hide the obvious?
This will not be censored, because it attempts to insult me. Once again, it is interesting that you folks would attempt to call a conservative a facist. I think the leftist "reflex" is in play here.
5, several times you have accused me of running yet when I choose to form an argument that you cannot respond too, you run.
Take a gander at our last posting. ML, I destroyed your anti voucher statement and you ran. You had no answer.
You folks prefer to call me a fascist, yet I welcome your thoughts and always answer them. You may not agree with me, but I always address your points. Speaking of which, why was Clarence Thomas forbidden to speak at his last invitation.
How about Anon's threatened "stalking", or medication calls to many of my posts. Now, I know he has not the guts or the courage to ever approach me on any given day, but his remarks are not traditionally censored.
The fact is, that their are two sets of rules for conservatives on this site and the leftist who may post at will. This is not a problem, in my book, as it shows who you really are. I enjoy pointing out the contradicitions. I think it also enlightens the confused souls who may be drawn your site.
5, you claim that you have had to listen to many conservative speakers at commencements. Could you be so kind as to list who may have attended in the last 3 or 4 years? I would be thrilled to know who it was that you found so offensive. You may also point out how these conservatives simply spoke on things that you found offensive.
I would, seriously, question that you had to sit and listen at a commencement speech about how may abortions have taken place in this nation since Roe vs. Wade, or why tax cuts and welfare reform actually helps the people who you say can't make it. When was the last time you had a member of the military speak on how the service had changed their lives. How about a speaker on the tradition of the Chief and it unites the alumni of the University. The fact is 5, you probably can't name a conservative that spoke on a conservative topic during a commencement speech. Not at the U of I and not during the last several years. Let me know, I would love to see a transcript.
As for ML censoring me and not following the same rules for everyone else, I am used to it. No Problem, it is your site.
Jack
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Terrorist Chatter Waaay Down On This Site |
by bfd
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -1
28 May 2003
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I think this means you won, Jack. |
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Jack's Anonymity Has Backfired & Other Matters |
by John Hilty
jhilty (nospam) shout.net (verified) |
Current rating: 5
28 May 2003
Modified: 06:30:46 PM |
No, what it means is that Jack is paying the price for hiding behind his veil of anonymity -- it's easier to fire cheap shots at someone if you don't give your real name and e-mail address. And that's basically all that Jack does -- fire cheap shots at anyone he happens to disagree with while hiding under the cover of darkness. Sometimes he goes to the trouble of making his comments appear more valid than they actually are (see above), but this is just another layer of deception by which he attempts to hide his fundamental hatred of humanity.
As for commencement speeches, I once attended a commencement speech that was given by the CEO of Alcoa Aluminum (during the late 1970's) that was basically one long glorification of neoconservative capitalism -- capitalism elevated to the status of a religion. This same harmful message is repeated by the major news outlets ad infinitum, hence the need for alternative sources of news and information like the Independent Media Center. Of course, people like Jack don't approve of alternative sources of information, hence his status as the leading troll at this website.
There appears to be an assumption here that censorship is necessarily undesirable -- but under what set of assumptions? Anarchist philosophy can imply many different things regarding the management of information -- it can imply, for example, having no censorship whatsoever under any circumstances, because censorship can be viewed as an expression of authority, power, and social control, which are the antithesis of anarchist principles (by some definitions). On the other hand, anarchist philosophy can imply doing whatever you feel like doing, and casting all rules, principles, and regulations aside as the manifestations of a cultural straitjacket that is contrary to the absolute freedom of the individual. In this latter case, the rigid enforcement of a "no censorship" policy can be viewed as another imposition on the autonomy of an individual, should such a policy be contrary to the desires of an individual in any given situation.
John H.
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Another Problem With Reading Comprehension |
by 5
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 5
28 May 2003
Modified: 07:05:17 PM |
Where did I say I heard conservative "commencement" speeches? I said speeches. Granted, I was talking about commmencement speeches before it....
Second, I haven never called you a fascist (though some of your ideas border on fascism)
Third, I can't answer to other people being shouted down. I don't agree with that action unless they are Nazis or white supremacists.
Finally, most people who violate the rules once seem to be given a get-out-of-jail-free card the first time. Repeat offenders seem to be put on a short leash---like the anti-semite Dan and those who use this site for commercial purposes. I guess you are one of those on a short leash now.
Finally, I find it interesting that at the commencement address in Rockford the paid speaker wasn't given the same latitude you are given here. Says something about the difference of conservatives and progressives, I think. |
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Re: Conservatives Shout Down Graduation Speaker |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 1
29 May 2003
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Dear John and 5,
When you guys shout someone down or prevent someone from speaking, it's called activism. When we disagree with a speaker, it is called Fascism. I think you are showing your intellectual laziness.
The fact is and remains that this guy was run off the stage because parents and graduates came expecting to see a commencement speech. How many would have shown up to hear this lefty speak if he was truthful about his topic in advance? This was a captive audience and so he took a chance and was forced to run of the stage in tears.
Anyway John, I see a great many unverified email addresses including your comrade's 5. I do not see you dress her down for this oversite. Seperate but Equal rules again John?
Jack |
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Jack's A Sloppy Reader |
by John Hilty
jhilty (nospam) shout.net (unverified) |
Current rating: 11
29 May 2003
Modified: 05:01:10 PM |
I suspect that people like 5 are afraid of being harassed by members of the Hard Right via hang-up calls, death threats, vandalism of personal property, etc. And don't think for a minute that this doesn't happen -- it's open season on liberals and other dissidents. However, there are ways to counteract or prevent these kinds of harassments.
Jack accuses me of double standards, but ignores the fact that the majority of his posts involves some kind of cheap shot -- this typically involves name-calling, disparaging the accomplishments of others, and subjecting the person he disagrees with to some form of dehumanization. My comment about hiding behind a cloak of anonymity applies specifically to people who take cheap shots at other people; if someone makes a reasonably legitimate comment, it makes little difference to me whether or not this person is anonymous.
It is interesting that the example of liberals harassing a speaker is from Spain, not Illinois or elsewhere in the USA: Isn't this taking things a little far afield? Generally, people in Spain are more physically and emotionally expressive than people in the United States, therefore the comparison may not be appropriate.
I am willing to admit, however, that fascism is a pervasive cultural phenomenon in the modern world -- it is more prevalent than many people realize, and can infect anyone, whether they lean to the left or right. To some extent, people are fighting the mirror images of each other because we live in a neurotic world that's full of neurotic people.
This doesn't mean, however, that there aren't legitimate causes to fight for, because much of the suffering in the world is unnecessary and avoidable.
John H.
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Re: Conservatives Shout Down Graduation Speaker |
by Zach
Schu5522 (nospam) aol.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 3
30 May 2003
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I read Mr. Hedge's commencement speech and it had absolutely no place at a graduation commencement. I was opposed to the war and even I might have started booing him. We need our representatives of the progressive viewpoint to stop the endless whining about the war and about how Bush won the election and focus on a positive, effective course of action for the future. |
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Re: Conservatives Shout Down Graduation Speaker |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -2
31 May 2003
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Dear Zach,
Your comment took courage and although this may not mean anything to you, you have earned my respect.
Jack |
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Re: Conservatives Shout Down Graduation Speaker |
by Mink!
mink (nospam) tcp.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
31 May 2003
Modified: 09:45:24 PM |
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I gotta say, I'm with Zach on this one. While I appreciated the content of the speech, it wasn't exactly a graduation speech. I can understand why people of all political persuasions, people who both agree with and disagree with the content of the speech, would find it inappropriate for the venue.
That said, I think the people rushing the stage and making catcalls went too far as well. Some rustling, murmuring, displaying signs, obviously looking away, ok. Catcalls and rushing the stage? That too has no place at a commencement. Listen to the speech, then pointedly grumble about it afterward. Complain to the organizer. Complain to the speaker - afterward.
I feel the same about speeches generally - if you don't like it, pack the house, hold up signs, roll your eyes, get obviously restless. If at all possible, ask some nice pointed hard questions after the speech is finished. Go ahead, rebut the speaker - in the PAUSES or AFTER. Give another speech with the other point of view. Write letters against the speech. Make flyers against the speech. If you absolutely feel the need, get loud, but AFTER the speech is over. Shouting out a speaker just makes the shouter look crazy and rude. When people on "my" side do it, I'm cringing.
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Re: Conservatives Shout Down Graduation Speaker |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -2
31 May 2003
Modified: 11:18:34 PM |
Dear Mink,
Not that it makes any difference to you, but I completely agree with the following: YOUR WORDS: "That said, I think the people rushing the stage and making catcalls went too far as well. Some rustling, murmuring, displaying signs, obviously looking away, ok. Catcalls and rushing the stage? That too has no place at a commencement. Listen to the speech, then pointedly grumble about it afterward. Complain to the organizer. Complain to the speaker - afterward.
I feel the same about speeches generally.
Allow me to more specific, this gentlemen, had every right to say what he said, no matter how misguided. However, it was at the wrong place, at the wrong time, to the wrong audience. I am sorry that conservatives and patriots did not allow him to speak. That was wrong. My feeling is let this college of higher learning post it's views and see how it survives in the market place of ideas. Without government funding, it would not survive the following semester.
How many would have attended had this not been a commencement and the topic had been explained prior too? I think we can all agree that not many would have attended if they were given a choice.
Now, I have been called a fascist for opposing this man's right to speak. This is not true. I would hope that this man is given every opportunity to speak under the anti-war leftist banner. It only helps my cause. He should be heard everyday as far as I am concerned. Is this fascism? Inviting the opposition to speak? I seriously question this statement as I believe that most of you are not full fledged communists. Socialists, now that's another matter.
Mink, you and I have gone head to head several times. I doubt that we would ever socialize in the same circles, although, it would not bother me at all. What you have witnessed is political correctness in the reverse. Someone's right to speak was infringed upon. We, conservatives, have had to deal with this for many years.
Imagine a student writing a "pro-Bush" paper in a political science class at any major University. What grade do you think he or she would get?
Thanks for listening,
Jack
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Re: Conservatives Shout Down Graduation Speaker |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -1
31 May 2003
Modified: 01 Jun 2003 |
Dear John,
You forgive 5 for her secret postings because she will receive death threats and such, yet you do not seem to give me the same opportunity. As I have explained many times, I do business with many government entities including Urbana, which many of the current leftist agenda resides. I do need a certain amount of anonimity here, as it could hurt my business, my shareholders and most of all my employees.
Threats and harrassment are plentiful towards me on your site, despite my offer to meet in an open forum. Either way, I do enjoy earning the money of the very people that are critical of me. Actually, the irony kills me.
5 tells us that she has been to plenty of conservative speeches in this manner and yet when challenged can name not one speaker. You mentioned someone form Alcoa from 1970 (wow, that recent) who spoke on the virtues of capitalism. Was it really capitalism or was it a speech on work hard and rewards will follow. I am sure he was not going to take a the socialist approach and say: take it easy and someone else will be forced to take care of you. That really is not a good commencement message. Would you not agree with that?
Jack
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Re: Conservatives Shout Down Graduation Speaker |
by Jack Ryan
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: -1
03 Jun 2003
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Dear John and 5,
I get it now. When you are completely disembowled by the written word you simply surrender and move on to the next post where no one challenges you. Interesting. How long ago did your ancestors emigrate from France?
Jack |
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