Letters to the editor
July 14, 2004
'Fahrenheit 9/11'
Free speech: To each his own
I am writing in response to [Nick] Dayton's "Poor use of free speech" published in the July 7 edition. I am not responding so much to what his view is but rather how he expresses it.
I noticed right away that he (possibly unknowingly) creates a paradox early on. He bases his argument on "freedom of speech being among our most important rights." It would have been helpful had he given his definition of free speech and how Moore doesn't express his opinion within those confines. Instead he feels it is acceptable to claim that speech is free and that Michael Moore should not be free to express his opinion as he sees fit.
Doesn't free speech exist so that we may remain aware of the many different perspectives that will always surround any given controversy? I am proud of my American right of free speech. I hope that one day society might have established an environment in which thorough discourse is encouraged and respect is shown for all concepts and ideals even if they seem irrelevant; recognition, rather, that they are valid to someone. As long as people remain intolerant or even just blatantly critical of other's ideas, things like the situations pre- and currently existing in Iraq and the rest of the world will continue to happen. Isn't it up to our generation to step up and make improvements? I sure hope so.
-- Robin Kirry
UW Parking Services, traffic guide
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