Freedom of speech and language-usage   

 

Who are "social justice warriors"?  One description “on the internet” says they are believers in "an extreme left-wing ideology that combines feminism, progressivism, and political correctness into a totalitarian system that attempts to censor speech...promote fringe lifestyles...and actively try to solve the perceived social injustices of modern society. (Acting) as a vigilante group to ensure compliance...of far left thought, they have been successful at positioning themselves in the upper echelons of universities, media organizations, and tech companies."

In 2010 at the University of Ottawa and sponsored by the International Free Press Society, American ultra-conservative writer/speaker Anne Coulter was invited to speak. The left-wing university administration warned her not to make comments perceivable as "hate speech". Left-wing students created such a disturbance that she canceled her appearance. Nowhere else in Canada or the US, said Ms Coulter, had she been forced to cancel for fear of personal safety. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association described the students’ actions as "an attempt to curtail speech".

At the University of Toronto just days ago, professor Jordan Peterson was reportedly under siege (literally, property was damaged) by far-left activists because he would not agree to use gender neutral pronouns - like "zer" and "zhe" - to describe certain students (mostly members of the LGBTQ community) who are not comfortable with pronouns like "he" or "she".  Even the U of T administration censured him.  Some colleagues and other students attacked his position taking the view that he is violating human rights laws. One newspaper editorial commenting on the gender neutral pronoun situation wrote, "The real issue here is that fringe academics and left-wing political activists are trying to use institutions to force people to change our very language, under the threat of censure and punishment if they don't comply." This movement is now trying to have the professor fired.

I believe it is the duty of all institutions of higher learning to defend freedom of speech.  By not doing so, these administrations are failing their faculties, students, alumni, as well as the taxpayers who finance the schools.

Steve d'Eça
Aylmer