Free speech in jeopardy thanks to liberal activists

How’s this for irony? The liberals, in their never-ending quest to oppose conservatives, are now well on their way to putting an end to free speech.

The latest, and most telling example of this is now spreading throughout universities. The cry that administrative leaders at these institutions are not receptive to the complaints from black Americans has led to demonstrations reminiscent of the 1960s. But this time they don’t even have to show up in huge numbers to get their voices heard and see officials fold to their demands.

The University of Missouri is the prime example. Faced with three different accusations that there was discrimination at the Columbia, Mo., campus, the university president and chancellor were forced to resign their positions.

Just how bad were these three accusations? Well, two of them said unidentified white persons used the “n.....” word. One black American said some whites yelled the “n” word from a vehicle. Another group said they were holding a meeting when a white looked into the room and yelled the ‘n” word. The third was aimed at Jews, with someone drawing a swastika on a dorm wall with human feces.

While one could argue all three incidents are inappropriate and offensive, only the swastika episode falls into disgusting on all fronts! The college students are following the well-scripted program of liberals and socialists, many of them professors, and some not even working on the campuses affected. Videos of the demonstrations depict students black and white standing around like sheep and reacting to the instructions of elders who look like they just stepped out of the ’60s.

On the Missouri campus the liberal gathering even demanded reporters and photographers be removed from the scene. This brings us back to the premise of this article: Liberals are now well on their way to ending free speech.

At Yale University we have a recognized liberal institution being confronted by liberal students who are hell bent on putting an end to any conservative conference or seminar. Again, I just find it hard to comprehend how liberals are not ready to accept the right of others to meet and discuss their concerns.

Now, there is a school in upstate New York where black students are using the tactics of Missouri students to call attention to their concerns, calling for the firing of the school president. And, once again we see and hear the white liberal students, mouthing the words that the president has to be fired because he is not doing enough for black students.

Back at Missouri (where I attended college), the black members of the Mizzou football team put the nail in the university president’s coffin when they signed a petition saying they would not play or participate in any athletic activities until the president was fired. That was a $2 million threat (amount of money on the line for the BYU game alone).

I am a Mizzou alum through and through. My flag flies for every football game in the front yard. I never miss a Mizzou event on television. But, this is ridiculous. And, unfortunately, shows the power of college athletics over the administrators at our institutions.

Virtually every one of these black athletes who signed that document are at the university on full scholarships. They were given them because of their God-given athletic abilities, not because they are scholars.

In return our athletes at universities enjoy privileges not offered all the other students. They eat the best meals, lounge in facilities that rival five-star hotels. They don’t have to attend all classes. They have tutors provided, and the latest technological equipment to help them academically. They are given part-time jobs that fit into their sport schedules. They walk the campus as heroes. And, for a few they have the chance to go on into professional sports, becoming millionaires the day they graduate (or leave school early).

As much as I love my Mizzou football, perhaps these students should just leave school. Get a job in construction and learn how tough it is to work for a salary and raise a family.

Or, for some, go to a junior college and study. Get good grades and be able to go to university later as a student, not an athlete.

The men on the football team at Mizzou were manipulated by the liberals on campus. Someone very tuned to the socialist way realized that if the athletes took action their cause would succeed. We can expect similar ploys on other campuses. Students who enjoy the opportunity for a college education, on scholarships, will step forward, demanding administrators be fired, and demanding that those who oppose them be shut out, and shut up. And, all the while socialists and liberals will be in a room somewhere, cheering their successes to make change.

The one thing that stands our nation apart from the world is the right of every citizen to speak their mind. Black Americans have a right to speak their minds. But that doesn’t give them, or any race, the right to demand actions that hurt the individual rights of others. We are witnessing consequences we deplore in other countries — individuals forced to resign without hearings, news media not allowed at public gatherings on public property, and police being called to handle name calling incidents because someone used an offensive word.

Let’s hope, as we approach the 2016 elections, that Americans see the consequences of well-intentioned liberals who support policies and actions that stomp on the rights of others.

Earl Parker is a Kootenai County resident.