"Freedom of speech, freedom of religion," Mr. Matthews said, marching down one aisle of the class. "Can we take freedom of religion to include the right to hold any belief?"
"Let's say a person is a bigot, does he have that right? What if he says, 'By letting so many Muslims in, we're jeopardizing our society.' Now, what if the person is a U.S. Congress member? What should we do? Censure him? Punish him by removing him from all committee assignments? Ask him to resign his seat?"
Mr. Matthews stared out at his class. "Surely, we should do something. We cannot just let him get away with it. If we do, people will think it is acceptable."
He looked around the class again. "Okay, okay, okay," he said. "I see what you're thinking. You're thinking we can't punish him, because he ought to be free to say what he wants, and free to believe what he wants. But, I mean, it's not like were throwing him in jail. Its not like were imposing a government fine on him."
Mr. Matthews smiled. "You know, a week ago, our senator from Utah -- Mitt Romney -- called on a representative from Iowa -- Steve King -- to resign, because King questioned whether white supremacy is offensive. And, one house leader -- minority leader Kevin McCarthy -- suggested he might, as a punishment, revoke King's committee assignments.
"Okay, let's take another one. How about this week? Seems there were some students from Covington High School who were said to have mocked a Native American as he beat on his drum. There were calls for students to be expelled, chaperones to be removed, and the people to be punished."
Now, Mr. Matthews was talking about something the students could really relate too. They, too, were students.
"Oh, wait, I have another one!" Mr. Matthews said. "This one will get to you! This one's been going on for more than a year now. How about those who won't stand when the National Anthem is sang? How about the NFL flag controversy? Do we tell them we are going to kick them off the team? Do we take someone like Colin Kaepernick and blackball him from playing in the league? Do we, as fans, take out our anger by no longer watching the games?
"And, what of all the times of late when advertisers have dropped their advertising because of something a television personality has said?
"You know, you are just exercising your rights too, when you quit watching football, or, if you are an advertiser, when you drop your advertising.
"Quit wearing Nike shoes -- You've got that right."
Mr. Matthews looked up at the clock. The bell would be ringing soon. "Students, when you exercise your rights, they sometimes infringe on the rights of others. I don't know that you are doing that here. But, when you exercise your rights, they also sometimes damage, chill, and punish the rights of others. You have the right to do it, but doing it isn't always the right thing to do. Speak out against racism, if you will, and speak out against homosexuality, if you want, and speak out against whatever . . . but, be careful when you start to compel others by punishing them.
"Did you know that you have power, just like a government has power? All punishments don't come from government. If government came along, and said, 'Mr. Kaepernick, you are going to jail for taking a knee during the National Anthem,' that would be wrong, wouldn't it?
"So, if you take the power you have -- even though it is less than the government's -- and punish people for their beliefs, are you any better than that government?"
The bell went off just then -- not a buzzer, but a real bell, for that is what this school used. Somehow, it seemed all so appropriate of an ending for what Mr. Matthews had said.
Let freedom ring.
(Note: Index under stories or story)
No comments:
Post a Comment