Canceling the Dr. (Seuss)

Once again we face a dilemma of whether an act of censorship is another step towards racial parity, justice and inclusivity or if it is an example of political correctness running amok and ‘cancelling’ a national treasure. The subject of this debate is a decision made by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, the firm responsible for publishing […]

Silencing Voices

“[T]he right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances” once again came under threat in Alamance County, North Carolina in recent weeks. A variety of activist groups joined in Graham on 24 November to protest the county’s most recent alliance with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. […]

In Response – 5 July 2019

In the Summer 1993 issue of Foreign Affairs, the late Samuel P. Huntington published an essay titled “The Clash of Civilizations?”. The essay’s thesis has maintained an extraordinarily high value over the ensuing decades. In many ways, it became the dominant narrative among certain elements of the political right, particularly in the years immediately following […]

The War in Our Heads

Is there a war against conservative free speech in this country? If we are to believe the tirades coming from such right-wing organs as The Daily Caller, there is no doubt that a war is raging between the Quixotic champions of the First Amendment (the vilified, threatened and intimidated voices of the political right) and the […]

Freedom from Embarrassment

The United States Constitution is, on the whole, an excellent guardian of the rights and powers any citizen of the country can and should exercise. Foremost among these rights are the right to freedom of expression and freedom of the press, both protected by the First Amendment. These freedoms, it has been argued, are the foundations upon […]

Smoking Symbolism

It has been long established that flag burning is an activity protected under the First Amendment. The burning of this symbol strikes many as unpatriotic, seditious, insulting and decidedly illegitimate protest. The beauty of the First Amendment, however, lies in its ability to elevate controversial forms of protest and defend them against silencing. It reinforces […]