When young minds at our colleges and universities ‒ places that once aimed to foster critical thinking and preserve our American heritage ‒ are left unchecked by administrators more interested in indoctrination than education, a cultural anarchy is the predictable consequence.
The misguided lesson these students seem to have absorbed is that speech they dislike equates to violence, while actual violence is justified speech if it furthers their agenda. This upside-down worldview is the unfortunate fruit of the Marxist infiltration into our academic institutions. If university leaders do not step up, uphold sane policies, and enforce the rule of law, we will witness the destruction of these educational bastions.
Education’s core mission should be to instill civic virtues that sustain a free society. Sadly, many universities today are abandoning these fundamental principles, resulting in campuses becoming hotbeds of intolerance.
The right to free speech is the bedrock of our liberties. This truth, as clear as those enshrined in our Declaration of Independence, must be defended without exception, including against those who misuse the term “hate speech” to silence opposing views.
To revile someone for their ethnicity or religion is indeed a disgrace, pointing to a profound malaise within. However, as deeply as we abhor anti-Semitic speech, it remains protected under the First Amendment. That protection does not extend to the actual incitement of violence, trespassing, or harassment, as we’ve seen at institutions like Columbia and UCLA.
University leaders must draw a clear line between repugnant speech and unlawful conduct. They must uphold free speech while punishing criminal behavior. Universities should expel students who disrupt the learning environment and leave criminal penalties to local authorities. Foreign students who breach our laws should have their visas revoked promptly.
Swallowed by the misguided tenets of modern leftism, many campuses no longer teach students to entertain diverse ideas respectfully. Instead, they enforce speech codes and safe spaces that stifle free expression and meaningful dialogue.
The chaos we observe now is a result of years of Marxist indoctrination, misunderstanding the constitutionally protected right of free speech and its limits. Those who have perpetuated this dangerous ideology are now facing its chaotic consequences.
Despite this turmoil, there’s an opportunity to reclaim our noble principles and revitalize the classical liberal tradition. Rooted in our American soil, these principles await our collective moral courage and determination to flourish once more, ensuring the longevity of our Western Civilization and the prosperity of a free society.
