Spring Break
Beat protesters at own game
Lynne Senne
Issue date: 4/15/05 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
At this point, I cannot imagine there's a person on this campus unaware of the anti-abortion activists who were on campus a few weeks ago. For those who were not personally subjected to their shouting, the WC granted the activists front-page coverage, and a discussion was held last Monday addressing these people as well.
At the discussion, it was pointed out that these protesters come with multiple people in one car, register with the Office of Public Safety under only one name, and thus if they were banned, the university could only ban that single person whose name was given to OPS.
Inevitably, these people will return to Western Illinois University, register under someone else's name, and taunt us again. When they do, it is important for us to have developed a more advanced method of reacting than hurling obscenities.
After the discussion, my fabulously indignant roommate came home ranting, and spouted off about how we should all hold hands around them next time they are here. Uh huh, OK Cristen, whatever you say. Hold hands, sure. And make buttons, right. I'll dig out my old New Kids on the Block buttons and we'll paste over them.
But wait ... she's got a point. These people would not shout, "You should have been aborted!" and carry huge signs of dismembered fetuses if they weren't looking for a reaction. So, as a campus, let's make an agreement to just shut up.
In addition to being against abortion and those of us who are pro-choice, these people flung racial and sexist remarks as well.
So let's present a unified front; pro-choice, pro-life, all ethnicities, all races, all beliefs - let's come together against hate speech and show that we will not be brought down to their level of verbal assault. If we form a circle, holding hands, around them, not only are we making a statement free of obscenities, we are creating a physical border they cannot pass to distribute their hate-filled pamphlets to other students.
Additionally, let's make buttons or print T-shirts. That way, without resorting to the same verbal assaults we are protesting, we can make a statement that we do not tolerate hate speech. Regardless of our personal standings on abortion and a woman's right to choose, I would like to think I am not making a false assumption that as a community we are opposed to hate speech.
Following a long line of nonviolent protesters, let's come together as a university and prove that we are above this close-minded mentality, that we will not tolerate people hurling insults and attacks at our peers, and that we respect our own as well as each other's rights to have separate opinions.
Great idea, Cristen. I need to pick your brain more often.
At the discussion, it was pointed out that these protesters come with multiple people in one car, register with the Office of Public Safety under only one name, and thus if they were banned, the university could only ban that single person whose name was given to OPS.
Inevitably, these people will return to Western Illinois University, register under someone else's name, and taunt us again. When they do, it is important for us to have developed a more advanced method of reacting than hurling obscenities.
After the discussion, my fabulously indignant roommate came home ranting, and spouted off about how we should all hold hands around them next time they are here. Uh huh, OK Cristen, whatever you say. Hold hands, sure. And make buttons, right. I'll dig out my old New Kids on the Block buttons and we'll paste over them.
But wait ... she's got a point. These people would not shout, "You should have been aborted!" and carry huge signs of dismembered fetuses if they weren't looking for a reaction. So, as a campus, let's make an agreement to just shut up.
In addition to being against abortion and those of us who are pro-choice, these people flung racial and sexist remarks as well.
So let's present a unified front; pro-choice, pro-life, all ethnicities, all races, all beliefs - let's come together against hate speech and show that we will not be brought down to their level of verbal assault. If we form a circle, holding hands, around them, not only are we making a statement free of obscenities, we are creating a physical border they cannot pass to distribute their hate-filled pamphlets to other students.
Additionally, let's make buttons or print T-shirts. That way, without resorting to the same verbal assaults we are protesting, we can make a statement that we do not tolerate hate speech. Regardless of our personal standings on abortion and a woman's right to choose, I would like to think I am not making a false assumption that as a community we are opposed to hate speech.
Following a long line of nonviolent protesters, let's come together as a university and prove that we are above this close-minded mentality, that we will not tolerate people hurling insults and attacks at our peers, and that we respect our own as well as each other's rights to have separate opinions.
Great idea, Cristen. I need to pick your brain more often.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
cnotk
cnotk
posted 4/15/05 @ 11:17 AM CST
The First Amendment does not exist solely for your own protection, Ms. Senne. It gives everyone freedom of speech whether you approve of what they have to say or not. (Continued…)
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