The headline's a little off-base and leads you to the wrong conclusion. The story is the latest example of tolerance on college campuses.
Student Jonathan Lopez says his professor called him a "fascist bastard" and refused to let him finish his speech against same-sex marriage during a public speaking class last November, weeks after California voters approved the ban on such unions.
When Lopez tried to find out his mark for the speech, the professor, John Matteson, allegedly told him to "ask God what your grade is," the suit says.
Lopez also said the teacher threatened to have him expelled when he complained to higher-ups.
Remember when you were allowed to do a speech on virtually any subject in speech class (barring, of course, pornography or obscenity)? I sure do. I also remember a philosophy class called Moral Problems in which students were encouraged to take strong positions on issues and then defend them. Call it debate class, if you will.
I still remember students and others being allowed to say what they wanted in the "Free Speech Area" (there's a different probem with this, but I'll let it go for now), and you could see a wide variety of opinions on display as you walked to class.
Apparently, if you take a position that is supported by the majority in your state, you're now a fascist bastard. Hmm.
|