Dr. Kristen Collier Shows Why Freedom of Speech Blesses Everyone

Canceling a speaker is run-of-the-mill these days. So, when a university “cancels the cancellation,” it’s worth noting.

Dr. Kristin Collier is a professor of internal medicine at the University of Michigan and director of the school’s Program on Health, Spirituality and Religion. She was a natural choice to give the keynote address at the school’s white coat ceremony for incoming students. The Gold Humanism Honor Society selects speakers “who are exemplars of compassionate patient care and who serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine.”

A group of 300 students protestedbecause of Collier’s pro-life views. “We demand that UM stands in solidarity with us and selects a speaker whose values align with institutional policies, students, and the broader medical community,” they wrote in an anonymous letter.

Rather than bow to the pressure, as so many school officials have done in recent years, medical school dean Marschall Runge defended the choice of Collier and the school’s commitment to freedom of expression. “Our values speak about honoring the critical importance of diversity of personal thought and ideas,” he wrote in a statement. “We would not revoke a speaker because they have different personal ideas than others.”…


…If the academy brooks no dissent, how can knowledge advance? If differing opinions are treated as thought crimes, how much longer will thinkers want to work at our universities? If institutions of higher education do not protect free thought and speech, intellectual diversity, dissent… why should they exist at all?

In fact, the University of Michigan’s Faculty Handbook states that “expression of diverse points of view is of the highest importance” and should be protected.  Of course, most universities and organizations have similar statements but lack the courage to live by them…







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This is a great thing that happened. A secular university defied cancel culture. It stood up for free speech and a diversity of opinion and ideas. This canceling of the cancel culture in the face of a progressive walkout was perfect.

 

The opposition to and oppression of free speech is a trait of the secular progressive elites. Cultural elites, mainstream media, academics, social media, and government often work together to punish or limit free speech which is a blessing to societies thst honor the rights of its citizens/employees to engage in real free speech.

 

Totally ignoring religion's history of speech oppression.

 

Non-govt entities can’t violate the 1st amendment (free speech). You should know this.

 

They can if they act in concert with government to do it on the behalf of government that they are aligned with or that threatens them with regulations if they don’t. We know that’s been happening a lot in recent years.

 

And yet the enlightenment that brought about most of the reforms and freedom we still have today was largely a product of Christianity and the Protestant reformation. The oppression of free speech is a secular progressive to communist tool.

 

It’s sad that freedoms of the 1st amendment are such anathema to progressive democrats whether it be free speech or free exercise there of.

 

What is your evidence of this?

 

This malicious interpretation of the First Amendment, has rendered the amendment almost factually useless. It means that the government can practice de-facto censorship as long as it leaves the censoring to the citizens. And indeed, that is what has happened in today's America. We no longer practice that adage "I disagree with what you have to say, but I defend your right to say it." If we continue on this road, and not the courageous road the university took here, we will soon be East Germany 2.0

 

What about the State of Florida which is denying free speech to WOKE?

 

Govt is not censoring you. You know this.

 

Well, a judge just slapped that "law" hard.

 

No, but it's quite possible for them to do so via proxy parties based on this interpretation of the First Amendment. My stance is rather simple: Either there's free speech for all, or there's free speech for none. None of this 'Well, we can censor you' crap.

 

But it was a law, passed by the legislature and signed by the govenor...oh and cheered by most conservitives

 

Yeah, this one needs to get to SCOTUS but since SCOTUS has been stacked with Federalist's picks, we shall see which special interests get represented.

 

Ah but by proxy, their social media dolts, like MSNBCNN do a perfect job of it for them!

 

Nonsense

 

I wouldn't imagen you would understand I've read your sources from time to time

 

Nonsense? Even prior to 1/6 and Trump's Big Lie(be happy, I'm acknowledging that it's a lie, and I'm using the democratic phrase for it) Democrats loathed Trump's twitter and wanted him off of it by any means. What do we call that if not public pressure at minimum?

The phrase "the first amendment doesn't apply to us" allows for de-facto censorship while all the government has to do is whistle and say "who me? You don't see a .gov. It's TOTALLY a coincidence their position is lock step with mine"

 

Govt has not infringed on anyones 1st amendment rights. End. Of. Story.

 

Proving my point, thank you.

 

You mean........like CRT?

 

Time will tell if that law is actually what the people wanted or just what the legislature wanted.

 

You would have a point if the media was actually state run like you implied it is but since it's just your opinion............try harder.

 

The will of the people is what you call it proven by a free and fair election.