http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/05/23/liberty-university-bans-college-dems/
Liberty University has decided not to recognize its chapter of College Democrats. Therefore, the College Democrats are not allowed to do any work on campus. The university has not refused recognition to the chapter of the College Republicans. Liberty University stated that the Democratic party "stood against moral principles". Students involved in the Democratic Party were not Christian enough to be a representative of the school. In this decision Liberty University has proven itself to be 'an agent of intolerance'; a label was given to Jerry Falwell, the founder of Liberty University by Senator John McCain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbNImNX8Xuw
Frankly, the fact that Jerry Falwell is an agent of intolerance is not news, even before the 2000 Presidential campaign when Senator John McCain took a stand against the religious right. This thwarting of dissent and diversity of opinion is unacceptable. It doesn't matter if Liberty University is a private institution or not. It is giving in to the lowest form of partisanship... to say that another party.... another opinion... is the party of lesser people... more despicable people. This is not true. Abortion rights are about privacy. Gay rights are civil rights. The privacy of the citizenry and the civil rights of fellow brother and sisters certainly is not sinful...it is morally right. Obama says that we can agree without being disagreeable... however the agents of intolerance are going to continue to poison the atmosphere of politics and hinder progress. I do agree with Senator McCain that there are agents of intolerance on both the left or the right. Never mind the ideology, however, Liberty University is an intolerant institution. Some might read this and think that I might be just as intolerant as Liberty University. This is not the case. No matter how much I might disagree with the Republican party, I have never advocated for the College Republicans not to be recognized by the administration of St. Olaf or any other institution. Also I know that I might be wrong. We need opposition in a democracy. Why is Liberty University afraid of opposition? Do the people at Liberty not truly believe in the conservatism or fundamental Christianity they espouse? The answer is not fear or lack of conviction... it is merely intolerance.
1 comment:
Is this not a restriction of the College Democrats' right to peacefully assemble, to express themselves freely as political activists and to religious freedoms?
I do believe Liberty University have just brought a First Amendment law suit against themselves.
American democracy is founded upon the basis that its citizens can express themselves without fear of persecution and be able to live in a tolerant society with a plurality of viewpoints. Surely the strictest of constructionists would follow such an argument as avidly as myself? This is one issue both liberals and conservatives across the country can agree on fundamentally.
If we are to gather the ashes of American democracy left by the Bush administration and rise like the phoenix, in a glorious flame of tolerance and social responsibility, we must ensure our First Amendment rights are kept permanently in tact.
I don't think the Founding Fathers would be very happy about this.
Libertas inaestimabilis res est - Liberty is a thing beyond all price.
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