I’m so glad that I live in a country where we are guaranteed freedom of speech; a country in which we can speak our minds, however controversial, and do so without fear of reprisal. In fact, our country is such a model of freedom that we’ve gone so far as to liberate other countries, sacrificing the lives of soldiers and civilians alike, all in an effort to bring to them freedoms-such as freedom of speech-to their oppressed, censored peoples.
I don’t agree with what Imus said. I found it to be reprehensible and ignorant. But however ignorant, cruel and misguided his statements, Imus is owed freedom of speech, no matter how much we don’t like what’s being said. The crux of the whole matter is that if we don’t like what someone is saying, we can turn off the radio, but we don’t have to provide him a forum in the first place. So where does the listening stop and the censorship start?
Furthermore, many black entertainers or commentators have deflected a secondary issue to all of this: Is racism a one-sided offense to society? Spike Lee on the Today Show was asked why it was permissible for people to make racist comments, to use racial slang or to make fun of white people. Lee immediately bristled, stating that was another subject for another time. I disagree, however; I feel the time is now. If the racist comments of a white person are relevant at the moment because of recent events, I believe this opens up the issue for discussion and debate. I furthermore believe that only good can come from an open dialogue in which persons of all races can sit down and discuss what constitutes censorship, racism and when either is allowable.
It’s my hope that such a diverse institution as VCU will take advantage of the moment, and while the issue is still fresh in people’s minds, create such a dialogue.
Sincerely,
Jessica Shook
I believe that the students at VCU do not really know what their SGA or administration do, so since the SGA doesn’t actively participate, I thank you for being the voice of information. For many people, Nov. 11 holds a special place in their hearts. Every year it passes by and perhaps that day, or a day nearby, the mail is not delivered. You may now notice that occurrence and ask, “Why does that happen?”
Well, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day, signifying the end of World War I. Perhaps some of you recall the statement, “Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918.” What you don’t really know is that in the last year, the College Republicans put together a petition, which hundreds of students signed, asking for Veterans Day to be written on the VCU calendar. They are not asking for a day off, just recognition, a memento for all those men and women who died so VCU could exist. The SGA senate passed the petition with their foresight of alterations, of course, and passed it on to the calendar committee at VCU.
As it isn’t enough that the Veterans ffairs office is found in a first-floor closet of Founders Hall, where an amazing man works with a great staff, the veterans at VCU were dismissed and disrespected. The calendar committee denied the addition of Veterans Day to the VCU calendar, not comprehending what the students wanted. So with that being said, I ask students to come together and show that we students are patriotic and that we want Veterans Day printed on the VCU calendar. Stop by our table and meet Carl Hill, president of the Student Veterans Association on Tuesday, April 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the student commons. Members of the VCU SVA will be there to assist you in signing a letter, directed at VCU. This letter calls for the university to support the patriots that make up VCU, to support our troops and most importantly to support the students, which allow for VCU to exist.
-William Moehl