My old poli sci prof invited a white nationalist speaker and I defended it for months

Back in 2018 at UMass Amherst. Professor in my department brought in this guy who wrote for some alt-right blog. I argued hard for free speech. Told my friends they were being snowflakes. Said the whole point of college was hearing different views. Then I actually went to the Q&A. Watched this dude pick out the only Black kid in the room and ask him if he felt 'genetically inferior.' Just dead silence. Kid had to leave. Cried in the hallway. I still believe in free speech but I realized I was defending the abstract idea. Not the real damage. That night I couldnt sleep. Just kept thinking about how I was more worried about looking principled than about the actual person in the room. Anybody else defend a speaker they later regretted defending?

2 comments

2 Comments

nancy_davis19d agoTop Commenter

Wrapped up in the principle" nails it. We get so high minded we forget basic decency.

brooke7119d ago

Saw the same thing happen at a town hall meeting back home. People get so wrapped up in defending the principle they forget there's a real human being on the other end of that idea getting hurt. It's like we're more worried about looking smart or fair than actually being decent to the person right in front of us.