[620] in Discussion of MIT-community interests
Re: entering the fray
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Prez H. Cannady)
Sat May 12 16:02:34 2001
Message-Id: <200105122002.QAA05216@melbourne-city-street.mit.edu>
Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 16:02:00 -0400
To: Kendall B McConnel <kendallm@MIT.EDU>, mit-talk@MIT.EDU
From: "Prez H. Cannady" <revprez@MIT.EDU>
In-Reply-To: <200105121947.PAA10332@rei.mit.edu>
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At 03:47 PM 5/12/01 , Kendall B McConnel wrote
>A couple things:
>
>I've been thinking a lot about free speech and how it affects people...
>When does it cross the line to make remarks that are considered harrassment?
>It's a free country. What about racism? Free speech is protected.
Harassment laws are some of the most poorly written pieces
of legislation in this country. They encourage frivolous
law suits and hardly address the root of the problem -- the
degradation of women in the eyes of men. Prosecuting
offensive people is one of the most despicable things
that could happen in a free republic.
Good harassment legislation follows the model of
slander liability law. The onus is on the victim to
demonstrate harm, not just offense. God help us if
we become a nation where offending people is a crime.
>For example MIT doesn't condone racism or harrassment, even just verbally
>because, again, it interferes with the enviorment the university wants to
>create.
Exactly the problem. MIT wants to create an environment that
fits the fairy tale image hippies retained when they finally
grew up. I wouldn't be surprised if ten years from now
liberal colleges cracked down on conservatives and banned
them from the campus. It's a hard game to play, and usually
the best way to promote tolerance is to brook intolerant
viewpoints as well.
Rev Prez
* * *
Presley H. Cannady, Class of 2002, Electrical Engineering
Acting Chairman, College Republicans
CR Website <http://web.mit.edu/republicans/www/>
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