Free speech must be earned at 'The Daily'

The Daily's opinion pages have never been a haven for the timid. They are wondrous, home to the free voices of generations of people. Wondrous, but rarely safe, for the power of free speech is an infuriating one.

Every member of the UW community -- especially the students -- has a right to express his or her opinions in this, the student paper. Those with the ambition to speak their piece need only find the nearest word processor and set to typing.

But then they have to deal with me, the opinion editor. My job title is something of a conundrum to many, because I have to deal with the delicate fact that some opinions are not publishable. Where went the free speech?

Permit me a little story. This quarter, the activists on both sides of a contentious topic have told me to either print their voices and silence the opposition, or face the consequences. "The consequences" are not violent -- in this country, violence is difficult to commit with immunity -- but rather of a legal nature. And so these fellows promise to sap The Daily's strength for a good while to come. But they are the only losers here, for their unflagging contempt for other beliefs does not persuade me of their integrity, and never will.

Indeed, most often the greatest obstacle to thy free speech is thyself. As one who values both free speech and personal integrity, I would publish an opinion article on any topic under the sun, provided it is reasonably written. But when the author abandons integrity to the wind outright and demands that universal rights be skewed in his favor, I declare from on high that his (or her) right to speak opinion in The Daily is rescinded. The right to free speech in the opinion page must be earned -- by all of us.

Free speech here is secondary to integrity of character. In your own home you may curdle the milk, but in my opinion section you may not go rancid. My staff, no matter what you think of its views, honors this idea.

Do not fear your beliefs when you speak to me. Instead, remember that The Daily represents every limb of this tall tree that is the UW, of which you are only a twig. Do not dismiss the diversity of opinion out there, for it is wondrous and unlike anything you could readily imagine ... and when you confront it, your own beliefs will never be the same. For those of you who want to write opinion next quarter, keep that in mind when you e-mail opinion@thedaily.washington.edu with your statement of interest.