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Monday, January 24, 2005
The intolerant leading the intolerant
Agape Press:
In October 2003, Gary Bowman sued the school for requiring that he obtain a permit every time he wishes to hand out gospel tracts or hold up a sign on campus. Bowman had been told he could share his faith on campus no more than five times a semester, 15 days out of the year -- and that the school must have notice of his visits three days before they occur. Oral arguments have been heard, and the case is now pending before a three-judge panel of the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis.
There are serious questions about the cost of free speech. If the Klan wants to march through Birmingham, is the city required to pay for security? Can the city deny a permit for such a march if the security costs are too high? Can the city require speakers to pay for the costs related to their appearances? If only the well-funded divisive figures can speak, doesn't democracy suffer.
Bowan's attorney, Nathan Kellum with the Alliance Defense Fund, says the university has egregiously violated his client's free-speech rights.
That issue doesn't appear to arise in this case. According to the student paper, "Mr. Bowman harms no one, threatens no one and robs no one of life or liberty." Doesn't seem like such a big deal. Let the man speak. For as surely as he breathes, he will say stupid things. Like complaining that his right to free speech is being trammeled upon, while advocating the burning of books:
I was standing mid-pack in his motley audience yesterday, enjoying myself thoroughly, when, not five minutes after praising Wednesday's Traveler editorial supporting his constitutional right to speak his mind freely, Bowman called for the public burning of all books in the J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series and all copies of Charles Darwin's Origin of the Species.
