Letter: Free speech

To the editor:

I am sickened that Free State High School chooses to deny the right of free speech to the student who expresses a small-minded, ugly opinion by displaying a Confederate flag.

This action sends a most un-American message, to students and public alike, squandering an excellent opportunity to present several important lessons. Official rhetoric notwithstanding, the school’s focus is not on education, but censorship.

The display of a Confederate flag presents a perfect opportunity to discuss slavery, the related but distinct evolution of American racial prejudice, the Civil War, anti-discrimination laws, and free speech itself. These studies may help the entire student body learn to articulate how and why this one student so poorly understands and appreciates what it means to be an American.

The school should not take any action against this student’s display. Instead, the school should prepare all its students to better explain to their classmate why they, too, are disgusted by the display of that icon of ugly racism. This student’s peers may then naturally impose appropriate sanctions for such ugly conduct: shame, ridicule, and ostracism.

Instead of supporting free speech, the administration effectively supports a rampant, growing American sin: bigotry, the belligerent refusal to consider, tolerate, or even hear an opposing view. “Free speech” means nothing when the view expressed is popular; the right is important only when the view expressed is unpopular. Let the racist speak; then show how those views are so contrary to true, righteous American values.