September 2007
It’s funny how things change. Well, not always, but in this case, the story
involves one of America’s best humor writers — Dave Barry.
There was a time when American universities were known as havens of free speech,
places where controversial ideas could be expressed and discussed.
Unfortunately, political correctness has crept into the halls of academia. Then
it chained the doors and started duct taping the mouths of anybody who voiced
unapproved opinions.
One of the strangest examples comes from Marquette University in Wisconsin —
where a Dave Barry quip was banned. Last fall, Ph.D. student Stuart Ditsler
printed out a short blurb from one of Barry’s humor columns and stuck it on his
office door. It read, “As Americans we must always remember that we all have a
common enemy, an enemy that is dangerous, powerful and relentless. I refer, of
course, to the federal government.” Of course, anybody who has ever heard of
Dave Barry would know that he wasn’t exactly suggesting insurrection.
The head of Marquette’s philosophy department apparently didn’t get it. He took
down Barry’s words and issued a statement that included the words, “while I am a
strong supporter of academic freedom. I’m afraid that hallways and office
doors are not free-speech zones.” Since then, the Marquette philosophy
department has stuck to its stance that Barry’s words are “patently offensive,”
despite the fact that lots of other doors had slogans pasted on them.
The thing is that Barry’s joke appeared in newspapers all across America. It was
and still is available online. Apparently, the blurb is safe for family reading
on U.S. breakfast tables and computer screens, but not on a door at a major
American University. That’s funny too, in a sad sort of way.
Fred Thompson is an actor and former Senator (who recently announced his
candidacy for president of the United States).
Townhall.com,
June 15, 2007.
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