hate speech - any thoughts?
i went to UM ann arbor for undergrad, and now i go to EMU for grad school. it is safe to say that i've seen my fair share of campus demonstrations, protests, debates, bible thumpers, picket lines, etc. but the last few days on EMU's campus have been ... shocking to me. in the past, i have walked by several people and groups on campus that shout at students about religion, and have walked right by, never giving those people a second glance or thought. but the last few days at EMU, there's been a small group of individuals (NOT associated at all w/ our university) that i have not been able to ignore. they stand in front of the library, which is a heavily trafficked area, and can't really be avoided if one needs to get back and forth from the parking structure and the mark jefferson bldg (where psych and chem students take all their classes). these people don't just yell religious nonsense into the air; they target specific people walking by, yelling obscenities, and telling them that they are going to burn in hell for their sins. i saw them yell at one girl who was just passing, holding hands with her boyfriend and talking to him. a lady got up in her face, and yelled, "YEAH, KEEP TALKING TO HIM...DON'T LISTEN TO US...TALK TO YOUR BOYFRIEND, BECAUSE -HE'S- YOUR MASTER, NOT JESUS CHRIST. KEEP TALKING TO YOUR MASTER. I HOPE YOU BURN IN HELL FOR IGNORING THE WORD OF JESUS CHRIST!" they yell vicious hate speech and names at people that they somehow come to conclude are homosexual as they walk by. they yell that even a homosexual thought will send you straight to the depths of hell. one of my classmates sees a homosexual client for therapy who struggles with his sexuality and faith. these struggles lend themselves to the deep depression that he is currently experiencing. my classmate is worried that his client seeing this demonstration could be detrimental to his mental health.
this group also holds up offensive signs. one of my favorite signs i saw was: "Ask me how I know you're going to hell." LOL. within an hour of their first presence on the campus, i was delighted to see that a large, diverse group of students had assembled around the offensive religious group with their own set of signs. my favorite one read, "These statements have not been evaluated or approved by Jesus Christ. Listen to hate speech at your own risk." Over the last few days, more and more students, from all different ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds have assembled around this group to peacefully condemn hate speech, and to comfort other students who are very distressed by it.
this morning, all EMU students and faculty received this email from the president of the university:
"Our campus community has been challenged over the past few days as a result of the activities of several individuals who are not affiliated in any way with the University. As many of you are aware, while stationed outside of Halle Library, these individuals have proceeded to express their views on a variety of subjects. Some of these comments have been both hurtful and offensive to many members of the campus community. Students, faculty and staff have expressed concern that the activities of these individuals are not consistent with the values of the University that seek to promote an appreciation of human diversity and the maintenance of an atmosphere of mutual respect. While I share the concerns that many of you have expressed, I must also note with great pride that the University, as a public institution of higher education, is strongly committed and legally obligated to promote and protect the rights of all individuals to engage in free and open debate on campus, however controversial the subject area. As many of you may be aware, individuals expressing similar views have for a number of years annually visited our campus as well as many other college campuses within Michigan and the region. When students, faculty and staff encounter these individuals this week or in the future, one option is to avoid any invitation to engage in dialogue or to stop and create an audience if you disagree with their views. Please note that the University’s Public Safety Department and other campus officials have been and will continue to monitor this situation on site to ensure that there are no violations of the law and to protect the safety of our students. Finally, I am asking Provost Loppnow to organize an educational campus forum about the issues that this event has raised so we can all learn from this moment on our campus. In the past, university communities came together to have “teach-ins” that educated and provided the opportunity to express different points of view.
Susan Martin
President"
i wish that these idiots were not on our campus, and it hurts me to know that others are hurt by their highly offensive hate speech. yet i do understand the legal and moral obligation to protect free speech. guess i'm just getting this issue out there.
any thoughts?
this group also holds up offensive signs. one of my favorite signs i saw was: "Ask me how I know you're going to hell." LOL. within an hour of their first presence on the campus, i was delighted to see that a large, diverse group of students had assembled around the offensive religious group with their own set of signs. my favorite one read, "These statements have not been evaluated or approved by Jesus Christ. Listen to hate speech at your own risk." Over the last few days, more and more students, from all different ethnicities, religions, and backgrounds have assembled around this group to peacefully condemn hate speech, and to comfort other students who are very distressed by it.
this morning, all EMU students and faculty received this email from the president of the university:
"Our campus community has been challenged over the past few days as a result of the activities of several individuals who are not affiliated in any way with the University. As many of you are aware, while stationed outside of Halle Library, these individuals have proceeded to express their views on a variety of subjects. Some of these comments have been both hurtful and offensive to many members of the campus community. Students, faculty and staff have expressed concern that the activities of these individuals are not consistent with the values of the University that seek to promote an appreciation of human diversity and the maintenance of an atmosphere of mutual respect. While I share the concerns that many of you have expressed, I must also note with great pride that the University, as a public institution of higher education, is strongly committed and legally obligated to promote and protect the rights of all individuals to engage in free and open debate on campus, however controversial the subject area. As many of you may be aware, individuals expressing similar views have for a number of years annually visited our campus as well as many other college campuses within Michigan and the region. When students, faculty and staff encounter these individuals this week or in the future, one option is to avoid any invitation to engage in dialogue or to stop and create an audience if you disagree with their views. Please note that the University’s Public Safety Department and other campus officials have been and will continue to monitor this situation on site to ensure that there are no violations of the law and to protect the safety of our students. Finally, I am asking Provost Loppnow to organize an educational campus forum about the issues that this event has raised so we can all learn from this moment on our campus. In the past, university communities came together to have “teach-ins” that educated and provided the opportunity to express different points of view.
Susan Martin
President"
i wish that these idiots were not on our campus, and it hurts me to know that others are hurt by their highly offensive hate speech. yet i do understand the legal and moral obligation to protect free speech. guess i'm just getting this issue out there.
any thoughts?