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Thursday, 4/26/2001
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Thursday, 4/26/2001
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 Unpopular opinions deserve voicesNorman Baumgartner's Exponent letter on April 10 frightens me for several reasons. He stated, " … no group of people have the right to impose their idea of morality on other people." For clarification, the definition of "impose" is to force upon another. I passed the crosses set up by the anti-abortion group and observed a young woman handing out fliers. No one was required to take them. From what I could see, no one was forcing anything upon anyone. The group was simply invoking their constitutional right to freedom of speech. Therefore, the basis of Baumgartner's claim against this group is false. Personal freedoms like freedom of speech are protected even when the masses don't agree with you. Where is Mr. Baumgartner when the politically correct and/or popular moral causes and groups "impose" their opinions on campus? He, and others like him, are silent. They have mindlessly accepted the false idea that voicing an unpopular opinion is somehow immoral. Where would our country be if the unpopular opinions had never been heard? This attitude is rampant in our nation and it is crumbling the halls of reason on our college campuses! Legitimate speakers are being refused or they are booed to the point that they cannot even share their opinion. This scares me and it should scare you too. I feel this attitude is a symptom of our failed education system. More emphasis has been put on social interaction and emotion rather than reason and cognitive skill. Yet, these are the very abilities which distinguish us from animals! Without these skills, our behavior digresses into irrational emotion. For example, are school shootings and campus violence any wonder when irrational emotion, not cognitive reason, influences our behavior the strongest? William Goldsworthy Senior, School of Science |
Purdue should sponsor peaceful riots Students should behave intelligently Radio stations should not change Unpopular opinions deserve voices Graduate gives advice to students Drew Brees deserves praise, thanks Weekend behavior impresses dean Riots don't exist without violence Children can play safely in fountains Radio station makes good change Language has room for interpretation
OPINIONS DESK PHONE: Opinions editor:
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