UT among stiflers of free speech
12/22/2012George Will’s Dec. 8 op-ed column, “Higher education has free speech on the run,” addressed egregious moves by universities to clamp down on causes, people, and beliefs that do not align with their increasingly liberal views.
Mr. Will could have included the case of Crystal Dixon, a former University of Toledo human resources official who was fired after she expressed a personal view against gay rights in a newspaper column.
As an African-American, she took umbrage at homosexuals being classified as civil-rights victims. Her lawsuit against UT was dismissed by a federal judge in February and an appeals panel this week upheld her firing.
Sadly, universities are emboldened by their oxymoronic ideas of free speech when federal judges uphold their ruthless censorship.
Public institutions must allow and embrace all causes. They need to lose their hostility to conservative points of view.
JENIFER CHRISTIAANSE
Sylvania Township
Higher-ed column highlights ban
Among Mr. Will’s examples was Drexel University’s ban on “inappropriately directed laughter.” Not only speech, but also laughter is forbidden?
Mr. Will quotes a sociologist whose data demonstrate that “those with the highest levels of education have the lowest exposure to people with conflicting points of view.”
Listen up, students and parents of students. Know what you’re paying for.
E. RONNIE GEBOLYS
Perrysburg
‘Happy holidays’ the right greeting
Each year I go through the same debate in my head. When someone wishes me a merry Christmas, do I say, “I don’t celebrate,” or do I let it go?
I don’t have the energy to correct so many people. I don’t want them to feel bad. Yet I can’t help but feel that Toledoans ought to remember that not everyone is Christian.
“Happy holidays” is a perfectly kind and respectful thing to say to a person when you don’t know what holiday he or she celebrates.
Those of us who don’t celebrate Christmas want you to have a merry Christmas, and we don’t want to be labeled as taking Christ out of your holiday. So people should be respectful when they don’t know the person’s religion and use the thoughtful “happy holidays.”
WENDY NATHAN
Audubon Place
Remember why Christmas exists
Our government made Christmas a national holiday; so much for separation of church and state. Yet many Americans are offended by the name Jesus Christ, which is the reason we celebrate Christmas.
I hope those who are offended by Christianity and Christ work on Christmas. I fear they are not intelligent enough to see the hypocrisy of taking the day off.
WILLIAM KUDZIA
Lambertville