Letter to the Editor — Cale Ostby
Alright, here we go … This letter has been a long time coming, and needs to be read by our student body. Believe it or not, Americans are done with social justice. We’re sick of being called racists, misogynists, homophobes, and bigots. Every American has a right to speak on a college campus, and no matter what opinion, that speech should be encouraged. Free discourse cultivates actual learning. Too often now, any idea that may obstruct the narrative of the social justice regressive left is labeled as “hate speech” and isn’t allowed to be debated or discussed. There isn’t room for any conservative opinion on college campuses anymore.
Although recent elections have proven that the majority of Americans are sick of these mislabelings, universities have doubled-down on becoming a closed microcosm of singular ideals. Where higher education used to excel in its encouragement of free discourse of controversial opinions and ideas, free expression of individual opinion, and speech protected by the first amendment to the Constitution of the United States, these same universities do everything that they can to stifle discussion and use instructors and students to continue their goals of killing any form of dissent. I look back at one of my recent general education courses taught by Peer Moore-Jansen. In a lecture hall of over one hundred students, he used his platform to proselytize his worldview without an opportunity for debate. The majority of the students in that class were freshmen or sophomores who hadn’t been exposed to American politics outside of the classroom. We get it, Moore-Jansen, you’re from Denmark and don’t understand how the United States, our rights, and our Constitution work. Perhaps you should open yourself up to discussion in your classroom rather than forcing silent students to accept your worldview.
Prejudice against arguments contradicting prevailing WSU opinion aren’t rare. GTAs trained by WSU professors perpetuate their rhetoric. I’d ask any student who may have a differing opinion than their instructors to share their own stories. These aren’t hate speech, and WSU should encourage these discussions. I also have facts to back up these arguments, and none of them are meant to be hateful. We need to have a platform to discuss these issues with those that disagree. I’d love to list several arguments as a way to encourage discussion, but they may be viewed as hateful without a conversation behind why those beliefs are held. Without being able to present them I’m worried that my satirical viewpoint may be seen as hateful. And that’s the last thing I want to open discussion for different ways to address the issues that we have in the U.S. and encourage people on the left to listen to people on the right without mislabeling them. I don’t want to give the people that disagree with me a platform to hate me more than they already do for disagreeing with them.
— Cale Ostby, WSU Student
Kevin R • Apr 27, 2017 at 2:53 pm
I’m genuinely curious as to what beliefs you’re wanting to express that are being silenced by those who call you a bigot or a racist.
I see so many on the right who, on one hand will support people like Trump, Pompeo and Brownback, while ignoring these politicians’ actual words and policies. Trump is no doubt bigitted, or at least says bigotted things. About Muslims, about immigrants, about women. Through Brownback and Pomeo’s policies (as well as most Republicans), they also show they want to restrict the liberties of LGBTQ people, immigrants, minorities and Muslims. It’s not up for debate. Voter ID laws disproportionately affect minorities. Literally banning Middle-Eastern refugees is obviously a move to limit Muslim immigration. Brownback took away workplace discrimination policies for LGBTQ Kansans. These are all offensive viewpoints that, in an academic setting, can all easily be lambasted through empirical evidence for their exclusionistic and xenophobic intent.
For those of you who support these people, you’re not off the hook. While calling all republicans racist, sexist or bigots is no doubt wrong–you all ARE supporting an agenda that is affecting the liberties of others who are not affluent, white and, for the most part, male.
Universities who don’t want to support the likes of Milo or Ann Coulter are simply saying they don’t want no-doubt untruths and hate speech being spewed on their campuses.
I’m sorry your white, Midwestern bubble is being penetrated by “social justice,” however mindsets like yours are keeping Americans from voting , placing innocent people on planes back to war-torn countries, taking away healthcare from low-income people (Medicaid expansion, planned parenthood) etc.
Stop acting like a victim. Your a white male. As am I. No one is taking away your right to anything.
Kevin R. • Apr 27, 2017 at 3:13 pm
Also, let’s be clear about this statement: “Believe it or not, Americans are done with social justice.” Donald Trump lost the popular vote. You are the minority here. The majority of Americans wanted to elect Hillary Clinton, along with her viewpoints on immigration, abortion, social services, LGBTQ, gun rights, etc., etc. etc.
America is becoming more liberal, but there are obvious attempts (through voting laws and gerrymandering) to stifle these ideals. I find it bewildering that a white, male, right-winger is sitting here talking about oppressed viewpoints.
Kevin • Apr 28, 2017 at 9:48 am
“Donald Trump lost the popular vote”
Very true, but he campaigned based on the electoral college, which is why he won. Take out California, and Trump wins the popular vote. In fact, Trump said several times there was no use in campaigning in California, Washington or Oregon knowing it was a waste of time. He spent his time strategically to win. He is a winner.
“America is becoming more liberal”
Not true at all, in fact, America is turning more Republican nationwide. Most state houses are converting to Republican, as well as Governorships. America has seen the failed policies of the Democrats in places like Flint Michigan, and saying that they would rather have leadership making good choices than a politician promising something they can’t pull through with.
Being a libertarian, I see the bad in both parties. However, I see how the Democratic party holds down those and prevents mobility. Freedom and liberty provides the ability for upward mobility regardless of demographics. But it seems the left would rather not have freedom nor liberty.
Kevin R. • Apr 28, 2017 at 3:14 pm
Wow. You literally just parroted everything that Fox News America wants you to:
“Trump only lost the popular vote because he campaigned for the electoral college” – this makes literally no sense. Millions more people voted for Clinton over Trump. That’s a fact. And I don’t think that Trump was going to sway those millions and millions of people by flying in for a couple more rallies.
“More statehouses are converting to Republican” – there are a number of things wrong about this statement. While that is technically true, it is mostly because of gerrymandering. I’m not going to take the time to explain to you what that is, but just know that it’s a process that is so corrupt and backwards that the state of North Carolina was just told to redraw their districts by a federal judge. Also, liberals tend to live in densely populated urban areas. So the country as a whole might look very red. But in reality, the majority of the U.S. population is becoming more and more liberal. That’s especially true if you look at people under the age of 60. Here’s a nice write-up: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2016/01/why-america-is-moving-left/419112/
“America has seen the failed policies of the Democrats in places like Flint Michigan” – Lol. You do realize how ridiculous of a statement that is, right? There are countless cities run by Democrats that are flourishing. Also, the country’s poorest performing states in nearly every category (Alabama and Mississippi) have been under Republican leadership for nearly 15 years.
“However, I see how the Democratic party holds down those and prevents mobility. Freedom and liberty provides the ability for upward mobility regardless of demographics. But it seems the left would rather not have freedom nor liberty.”
The Republican party literally tries to take away the rights of minorities, women and immigrants on a regular basis. But whatever. You can think whatever you want and in your little InfoWars.com echo chamber it will all be true. By the way, how’s it feel to know that Alex Jones admitted his whole show is an act under oath?
Kevin • Apr 27, 2017 at 3:38 pm
“Voter ID laws disproportionately affect minorities” – no they don’t, and that’s a very racist stereotype that the left continues to endorse.
Kevin R. • Apr 28, 2017 at 2:31 pm
Here you go: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/02/15/do-voter-identification-laws-suppress-minority-voting-yes-we-did-the-research/?utm_term=.d66958decae0
But let me guess, that’s just liberal “fake news” right? That’s the general argument of every single Republican I come across. Even if there’s scientific data supporting something, they’ll just dismiss it. It keeps you nice and happy in your ignorant echo chamber.
Kevin • May 1, 2017 at 8:43 am
Here’s a bunch of black people being asked about Voter ID laws…..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=llDM-44Zb8w
Person above me has white guilt • Apr 27, 2017 at 3:47 pm
So can you explain how being a white male is more beneficial? Because I pay the same taxes, loans, etc. as everyone else. If it’s jobs, then why am I going to school. Can you point me in the direction where whiteness is more privileged because I have yet to come across such a place. The only color that people care about is green, so I have to ask; is it lonely up on that high horse?
Kevin R. • Apr 28, 2017 at 2:52 pm
Ah yes. You’re a self-made man, right? Everything in your life is the product of hard work and determination? You make your own luck! And by golly, if I can do it, why can’t minorities?
Yes. I have white guilt. I feel embarrassed that people like you get to be so ignorant and spew their nonsense as if it’s fact.
Here’s a good starting point to get you into the fold of educated citizens: a peer-reviewed article explaining inequality to people who only know homogeneity and white privilege: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1318701?Search=yes&resultItemClick=true&searchText=%22white%20privilege%22&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoAdvancedSearch%3Fq2%3D%26amp%3Bf6%3Dall%26amp%3Bq4%3D%26amp%3Bf5%3Dall%26amp%3Bq0%3D%2522white%2Bprivilege%2522%26amp%3Bla%3D%26amp%3Bf2%3Dall%26amp%3Bq3%3D%26amp%3Bisbn%3D%26amp%3Bc3%3DAND%26amp%3Bc1%3DAND%26amp%3Bf0%3Dall%26amp%3Bc4%3DAND%26amp%3Bf4%3Dall%26amp%3Bc2%3DAND%26amp%3Bf3%3Dall%26amp%3Bc5%3DAND%26amp%3Bgroup%3Dnone%26amp%3Bq6%3D%26amp%3Bq5%3D%26amp%3Bed%3D%26amp%3Bc6%3DAND%26amp%3Bq1%3D%26amp%3Bsd%3D%26amp%3Bf1%3Dall%26amp%3Bpt%3D%26amp%3Bacc%3Don&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Person above me has white guilt • Apr 28, 2017 at 4:24 pm
Ah sociology, nothing says pseudo-science, like the thought of studying a group while taking out individualism.
Kevin • May 1, 2017 at 8:52 am
That is the most racist thing I have heard. Yes, nothing is holding a minority back from going to college, or trade school, or the military or whatever else they want to do.
I grew up in a very poor family, yet, I was able to earn my education through service in the military. I have a full time job that I get paid very well due to both my education and service. I earned what I have.
I hope someday you can look past the color of someone’s skin and can see that all people are created equal and can accomplish whatever they desire.
It’s sickening to see the stuff you write.
Mr. Jones • Apr 27, 2017 at 12:06 am
Hey guy, I’m a combat vet as well and what you just said was insanely idiotic. Speech that you don’t agree with is not hate speech. Harming someone with words is subjective as it is the individual who deems it to be offensive, and if that is the case then you need some thick skin my friend. I would end it with God Bless, but I fear the triggering would be equivalent of an earthquake.
Brandi Kitty Frey • Apr 26, 2017 at 5:48 pm
Hey. Maybe don’t be a bigot, and you won’t have members of marginalized groups calling you a bigot. I’m a combat vet. I fear more for my safety now as a trans woman living in Wichita KS than I ever did as a US soldier in Iraq. If your speech harms people, it’s not free. It’s hate speech.
Kevin • Apr 27, 2017 at 1:50 pm
You must have stayed on the FOB. I had multiple deployments for OIF and was out doing missions almost everyday. Never once have I seen the same threat level in the United States.
We live in a great nation where boys can dress as girls and pretend they are cat’s with no legal ramifications (you know, like in the Islamic Republic of Iran, where LGBTQ’s are put to death).
Definition of bigot
: a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices
: one who regards or treats the members of a group with hatred and intolerance
I would confidently say that Frey meets both requirements.
Kevin • Apr 24, 2017 at 9:08 pm
Good stuff, all students, faculty and staff should have the right to their beliefs. Keep fighting for what is right.