We Hereby Support "No Debate"

    Last week, the James Madison University (JMU) debate team released a statement that was shocking to some; a voice of power to others; or a giant "are you freaking kidding me" to the rest. To be perfectly honest, I found myself in the "shocked" and "are you freaking kidding me" categories. You see, the James Madison University debate team released a statement that said the following: [The James Madison University Debate Team] stands for free speech, open dialogue, and argument between different perspectives on campus," adding that "no person should be prohibited from expressing their viewpoints in the public sphere." However, the group also wrote that "a general climate of free speech should not extend to requiring us to platform or amplify ideas that are exclusionary, discriminatory, or hostile." Well, now.

    You might be tempted to ask, dear reader, how did we get here? Follow me... Before we get into the specifics of the JMU Debate Team, let's talk about mindsets. Over the last 3 to 5 years, every poll that asks a version of the question "How do students feel about free speech?" shows that more and more students favor tamping down on freedom of speech and promoting inclusivity if they feel it causes emotional distress for certain groups on campus. At the same time, more and more students are afraid to voice their opinions on certain subjects, knowing that they are in the minority as compared to the general student population.  Whether it's the New York Times, The Atlantic, The Knight Foundation...pick your poll; they all say the same thing; Generation-whatever the hell they're called-are not fans of the most important freedom in any polity. That is, the freedom to express yourself without censure. And lest you think I'm picking on the kids, take it easy. I know plenty of contemporaries who would love to take a couple of shots at the First Amendment. 

    So, back to James Madison University. It seems that what led to the Debate Team disavowing what, in fact, they are there to do...which is to DEBATE...was an invitation sent to a Ms. Liz Wheeler by the university's chapter of Young Americans for Freedom (YAF). YAF is a conservative student organization that has chapters in hundreds of colleges and universities across the land, just like many other organizations. The topic du jour, was to be transgenderism. What could go wrong?

    Now, there is plenty to disagree with Liz Wheeler about. She has a podcast which talks about Transgenderism and Marxism like they are walking hand in hand down Main Street, USA trying to destroy the country like Hitler, Stalin, and Mao. Suffice it to say, she gets more than a little loopy. On the other hand, that aside, she is presenting a point of view. And not to put too fine a point on it, this is a university that is named after the architect of our constitution, as well as a co-author of The Federalist Papers, which were essays of explanation and commentary on the Constitution aimed at its ratification. Wouldn't you think that of all places, the welcoming of differing points of view would be paramount at JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY?! Unbelievable...

    The Debate Team, along with the earlier statement I provided above, condemned Wheeler, saying that she is "attempting to antagonize and harass highly at-risk groups like transgender students" and calling on the YAF to revoke their support. I'm still having trouble getting past the fact that a group devoted to DEBATE would so fiercely call for the cancellation of an event based purely on a speaker's political beliefs. These are, indeed, troubling times.

    Anyway, during the days leading up to the event, all the usual suspects tweeted, e-mailed, etc., decrying the invitation to a woman spreading hate in what is supposed to be "a safe-space for LGBTQ+ students." The words "disgusting" and "sick joke" were also thrown around. It all sounded pretty typical from a bunch of kids who were brought up by their parents telling the little darlings that whatever they say is TRUTH, "and make sure you don't let anyone else try to offer you a different narrative. If they do, scream, yell, stomp your feet, hold your breath, and take your ball and go home. But make sure you get your college degree so you don't have to live with us the rest of our lives." I could go on...but these kids bore me. 

    Anyway, to the administration's credit, they stood firm. "That is at the heart of America," Tim Miller, JMU's vice president for student affairs, told a student publication. "I can disagree with the speaker, I can disagree with people protesting, but it's our job to provide the forum, both should be able to exist in tandem." If you want to be cynical, as a public university, the school is legally barred from canceling student events based on the speaker's political beliefs. But let's take Mr. Miller at his word. Good for him. And the lecture went off without a hitch. There was protesting and some yelling, etc. But no cars were burned and nobody, as far as I read, got arrested. 

    I gotta be honest, there's a part of me, after reading all of this and then reading what the head of the YAF had to say, that thought the YAF did this just to see what kind of reaction they would get. You're allowed to be snarky in college. Trust me, I know! They could have invited a slew of well-known speakers whose views were compatible with theirs without the baggage of anti-intellectualism that Wheeler brought. The topic in and of itself is an important one. On the other hand, maybe they just wanted to hear what she had to say. No one was being forced to listen to her. Those who protested had every right to hold a kegger and ignore the whole thing. Or, have your own speaker! 

    So what have we learned? I think I think, we've learned how later generations lose sight of the words and philosophies that came before us to help make this a really great country. For example, it seems to me that the words of Martin Luther King ("...not by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character.") and James Madison ("Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.") either fall on deaf ears or aren't even known by these kids (or many adults). I also think we've learned that fewer and fewer of this generation study history, properly understood. It just saddens me.

    As far as the JMU Debate Team? Next time, instead of calling for the cancellation of a lecture, maybe you should try engaging with - and attempting to refute - the ideas proposed! What's that called, Sancho? It's called Debate, homes! You are wise beyond your years, my friend.

write to Peter: magtour@icloud.com