Padmé: [to Bail Organa] So this is how liberty dies… with thunderous applause.
 

At North Carolina State University early on the morning of Nov. 4, 2010, students stood up to protest the writing of some hateful speech on the University’s Free Expression Tunnel. One artist had drawn some art of a person with dark skin. What appears to be another artist wrote “Obama” on the wall adjacent to that art. What appears to be another artist wrote the N-word in white spray paint along with a vulgar illustration. Offensive? Yes. Hate speech? Maybe. Inappropriate? Definitely.

But perhaps more disturbing to me today were the discussions about eliminating the Free Expression Tunnel completely.

I can’t say for sure what hate speech is, within the law or outside the law. I can say for darn sure I don’t want government officials regulating my free speech. I may disagree with everything these individuals have to say. I may find it repulsive. But I will continue to defend their right to exercise their right of free speech.

The Free Expression Tunnel is not without its critics. It’s ugly. I detest giving tours of campus because there are always male sex organs and other illustrations that many people find offensive painted on the walls, ceiling and walkway. It costs thousands of dollars to maintain because people can’t paint within the lines. It’s probably not the safest place on campus because people paint over the lights. Most of the art isn’t by students, who want to advertise programs, it’s by non-student graffiti artists, so, other than being a source of art, it doesn’t even serve the campus community.

So, would some monitoring of the tunnel prove useful. Sure. People should follow the simple guidelines that are in everyone’s best interest. Why everyone on campus can’t share in enforcing these common-sense guidelines is beyond me. And everyone on campus, students, faculty and staff, should hold everyone else to acceptable community standards and should engage in dialog when people write things other folks might find offensive.

But regulate speech?

Free speech is fundamental to a free society. America could lose its social programs, its military and its schools but as long as we retain the right to communicate freely, we will remain free.

People have fought wars since 1791 so that we can retain our right to free speech. It’s worth the fight.

I hope the students, faculty and staff will take a time out in the next few days to review the First Amendment and what it really means — to all of us — regardless of race/ethnicity, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or age.

The First Amendment is worth fighting for, even if you disagree with what other folks have to say.

THE FIRST AMENDMENT
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

And more discussion of free speech online.