Spring Break
Stop the Nonsense
How Collectivist Ideology Threatens Sanity at GW
Patrick Ford
Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: Opinion
The danger that collectivism poses to this campus is much greater than a swastika on a white board. Racism is collectivism at its worst. As collectivists look at people merely as members of a group rather than as individuals, racists apply a strict set of presuppositions about a race to specific individuals. A racist watches a news report on a black man that robs a liquor store and incorrectly assumes that the criminal's African American nature is a factor in the crime. An individualist looks at the criminal and believes nothing except for what he ascertains from the persons actions alone. The more that the Federal Government, as well as the GW community, encourages racial and religious differences in its people, the more racism will flourish, even in the absence of swastikas.
Freedom Versus Tolerance
As a result of this collectivist ideology, people become more likely to tolerate attacks on freedom of speech. As the "STOP THE HATE" posters say, "Intolerance of any kind WILL NOT BE TOLERATED". But the natural byproduct of a free society with protections on free speech is the off chance that someone will use that right to say something that a majority of Americans do not want to hear. Should they be locked up for this? Should additional punishment be added to a crime if the crime entails a message most disagree with? Falling into this line of thinking sets a dangerous precedent for what a majority, or even a powerful minority of the population can decide.
So at the risk of befalling the wrath of the ever-powerful multicultural lobby here at GW, I believe it to be honorable to defend the rights of racists to be racist. As Elmer Fudd was always angriest when Bugs Bunny kissed him on the lips, think about how frustrated collectivist racists would be if no one rioted or protested when they spoke out. No one would ever notice or pay attention to them! Individualism is the most potent cure for racism because when people decide to look at character instead of color or religion they will see racists for what they are: not worth our time.
The aim of the "STOP THE HATE" movement, as laid out by "OG", is "for The George Washington University to adopt DC law on HATE CRIMES!" Maybe rather than looking to the university to cure the ills of the human psyche, we should begin to encourage liberty and individuality. By encouraging individuality, people will begin to realize the benefit of looking at others as individuals rather than simply as members of groups. Racism has no place in a society based on individualism.
No government, university, or organization can stop hate. It's time to stop the nonsense.
Freedom Versus Tolerance
As a result of this collectivist ideology, people become more likely to tolerate attacks on freedom of speech. As the "STOP THE HATE" posters say, "Intolerance of any kind WILL NOT BE TOLERATED". But the natural byproduct of a free society with protections on free speech is the off chance that someone will use that right to say something that a majority of Americans do not want to hear. Should they be locked up for this? Should additional punishment be added to a crime if the crime entails a message most disagree with? Falling into this line of thinking sets a dangerous precedent for what a majority, or even a powerful minority of the population can decide.
So at the risk of befalling the wrath of the ever-powerful multicultural lobby here at GW, I believe it to be honorable to defend the rights of racists to be racist. As Elmer Fudd was always angriest when Bugs Bunny kissed him on the lips, think about how frustrated collectivist racists would be if no one rioted or protested when they spoke out. No one would ever notice or pay attention to them! Individualism is the most potent cure for racism because when people decide to look at character instead of color or religion they will see racists for what they are: not worth our time.
The aim of the "STOP THE HATE" movement, as laid out by "OG", is "for The George Washington University to adopt DC law on HATE CRIMES!" Maybe rather than looking to the university to cure the ills of the human psyche, we should begin to encourage liberty and individuality. By encouraging individuality, people will begin to realize the benefit of looking at others as individuals rather than simply as members of groups. Racism has no place in a society based on individualism.
No government, university, or organization can stop hate. It's time to stop the nonsense.
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