The Standard

Issue date: 11/6/07 Section: Opinion

If anyone can recall, my last letter to The Standard was about student apathy, now it seems that everyone is speaking their opinion about the "F" word, a euphemism so weak that it literally pains me to see it in a college setting. As a future philosopher (god willing) I feel it is my responsibility to chime in on these debates with a little logic.

Speaking of responsibility, it seems to be one of the catchphrases the "anti-protesters" use a lot. Quote Foreign Born Patriot- "Part of freedom is responsibility." No, it isn't. The direct definition of freedom is being free from responsibility. No one is really free, we just have degrees of freedom, and one of those degrees regards speech.

As ridiculous as it may sound, in our country, once someone hits the age of 18, everything changes. Adulthood arrives and with it, a whole new set of freedom. One of these age-inherited freedoms is the right to say what we want. Before that all-important benchmark of 18, people can be punished for using vulgarity by their parents, teachers, etc... After 18 though, freedom rings (that ring sounds a lot like F).

As for the save the children argument, who had the bright idea to put the "free speech zone" next to an elementary school? When I heard about that aspect of the argument, I couldn't stop laughing. What did those in power think was going to happen by putting a "Free-Speech Zone" close to an elementary school? Is it better to hear anti-gay speech or the "F" word? I'm of the opinion we should stop coddling kids anyway, but that is beside the point.

I'll collect my last two points together to save space and wrap up this monster of a letter. Kay Soule may have a point about respect being an issue, but respect isn't protected by law. Whether or not freedom of speech is in danger in this campus, it appeared to some students that it was. They rose to do what they thought was right to protect it. Maybe if they had the mighty Ryan Cooper at hand to suggest a way to protest with more imagination. Apparently to Mr. Cooper it is ok to protest with wit and respect, but not with passion and clarity. Dressing up as a chicken to fight for equal gay rights...what kind of satirical sense does that make? It would make more sense for both the gay rights and the freedom of speech people to dress up like a giant phallus. "I don't appreciate these new activists and their feeble attempt to correct a misuse of the policy I helped create." Anyone would have won the free speech Mr. Cooper, you just happened to be the first one to try. If you think this gives you special rights to dictate good protests from bad ones then "F" word you, buddy.

Phillip Benton junior, philosophy

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