Liberals’ reaction to blog is riddled with hypocrisy
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 11/11/2009
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There’s an old saying some Christians use about other militant, close-minded Christ believers: “Oh, dear Lord, save us from your followers.” As a libertarian-minded liberal, I must, in response to a campus controversy, alter the old saying: “Oh, dear Left, save us from your followers.”
Recently (especially in letters to the editor on the opinions page) some Purdue student/alumni “liberals” have been in an uproar over comments in a Purdue librarian’s blog. Some are going so far as to call for his dismissal from the University. Bert Chapman, a government information and political science librarian at Purdue, posted “An Economic Case Against Homosexuality” on his blog, “Conservative Librarian,” on Oct. 27.
The blog contains much rhetoric and persuasion for Chapman’s case, and presents a different argument against homosexuality than usual: He does not thump a Bible in your face, in other words. To read the full blog post, Google its title.
The issue at hand, though, does not concern whether Chapman’s ideas are right or wrong; it concerns whether he has the right to say them as a Purdue employee. My conclusion might be unpleasant for some campus liberals: You guys have all the right in the world to oppose this man’s ideas. But you’re acting like the Right by hounding for this man’s dismissal from Purdue because of those ideas.
Chapman is within his First Amendment rights. Period. Assistant professor Yvonne Pitts, a Constitution expert from the history department, said, “I speak as a gay professor. ... (Chapman) is not libeling or slandering. He’s not threatening anyone. ... I hate to say it but you need to protect people like Bert Chapman from a constitutional standpoint.”
Chapman has written his opinions on a non-Purdue-affiliated site – it seems to be more of a hobby than actual research for his occupation. In his blog’s biography, Chapman gives his job title at Purdue, but he also states, “Views presented on this blog are the author’s personal opinions and do not represent the opinions of my employer.” Not to mention, Chapman did not publish these ideas in a pamphlet and pass it out on Purdue property; the students who first pointed out the blog discovered it on their own terms.
Many are up in arms because what Chapman has written in his blog is untrue. In this case, “truthiness,” as Stephen Colbert would say, does not matter. He has never said his blog is a news or journalism blog. He posted his opinions on a conservative blogging site for other conservatives to read, and that is his right.
As Pitts pointed out, by defending Chapman’s right to express his opinions without reprimand from the University, we defend others’ rights to expression. Yes, some students may feel wary knowing Chapman feels this way, but, honestly... Tough noogies. Pitts addressed this as well: “My heart goes out to any student who feels uncomfortable to go to a professor. That being said, the First Amendment is uncomfortable. This is part of the trade-off for free speech.”
It’s true: Democracy is not a pie-in-the-sky system, but it ensures everyone’s freedom – not just the freedom of a select few. Chapman’s statements do have the potential to hurt some feelings, but what ever happened to keeping your own opinions strong? If you’re gay and it takes just one man’s “homophobic” statements to tear down your confidence, then maybe your confidence wasn’t strong enough in the first place.
Pitts said, “The antidote to Bert Chapman is more speech,” and I agree. I’m proud that students are speaking out against something they find offensive, but astounded that they would advocate punishment for someone expressing their beliefs.
Some of these self-proclaimed “liberals” seem to be liberal only when it suits them best. As a kid of the ’90s, I’ll use a ’90s phrase: reality check! Kids, one crucial part of the First Amendment reads: “Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press...” It does NOT read: “Congress shall make no law abridging the freedom of speech unless it’s a university employee who could hurt students’ feelings with his opinions.”
Students’ outrage at Chapman’s blog is understandable, and, more importantly, merited. But once Purdue liberals proposed that Chapman be removed from Purdue for voicing his opinions, a line was crossed from democracy into fascism.
Lydia Williams is a senior in the College of Liberal Arts and may be reached at opinions@purdueexponent.org.