When a university allows speakers to visit campus, it is to be expected that people with different beliefs and opinions will want the opportunity to speak. Students should encourage and welcome speakers with whom they disagree. It should not be a surprise that some of these ideologies, whether moderate or radical, will not merely differ, but can contradict. A report in ABC News said that The University of California at Berkeley is bracing for large-scale protests in preparation for Ben Shapiro, a far right-wing pundit, and his address.

Some opinions will be more common than others, or at the very least, will find more outspoken support. This does not make them any better than another opinion. A belief is not more valid because it is popular.

It is unrealistic to think that anybody, whether student, faculty, or guest, is capable of being completely objective. No matter how fair people try to be, it is impossible for anyone to be entirely without bias.

Nonetheless, Oswego State hosts a diverse campus. Students of different cultures, nationality, heritage, religious and political views are all present. No matter the subject, speakers will find an audience and opposition.

As a result, students will be confronted with opinions that clash with their own. They will hear perspectives they have not yet been exposed to. For those that are away from their immediate family for the first time, this is all part of growing up.

Students are going to hear people express opinions that upset, offend, baffle, frighten, and anger them, and they too are going to express their own beliefs which will in turn make others feel the same way. Furthermore, these opposing opinions are not only going to come from guest speakers. They will hear controversial opinions from peers, strangers and staff.

Across the ideological spectrum, there are honest people that genuinely believe their opinion to be well-founded and principled. Some opinions come across as not only controversial, but reprehensible. Just as people speak out of love, they speak out of hate.

Any opinion can be taken to an extreme, from anywhere on the political spectrum, from any religion or lack thereof, of any birth or social status.

Many speakers come to express opinions that are controversial, though they express their ideals with the best of intentions because they believe them to be true. There will also be some who want to speak opinions that are reprehensible and hateful.

When somebody speaks out and expresses a belief that conflicts with one’s own, some will feel that the opinion should not be allowed to be expressed. Some will desire any controversial opinion to be discouraged to prevent argument.

Unfortunately, it is not easy to draw a line between what speech is controversial and what speech is hateful. One cannot pick and choose what speech is allowed. To allow one speaker who is controversial, but not another is neither right nor fair. A better way to stand against hate speech is to use one’s own freedom of speech to speak out against hate, while accepting opinions that oppose one’s own.

Prohibiting controversial speech is not only illegal, but silencing the expression of beliefs simply because it may lead to disagreement does students a disservice. Students come here to learn. By coming across opinions and values that differ from their own, students grow, learn and broaden their minds. By looking at not only an ideology, but where those ideals come from, similarities can be found in polar opposites. Even those that debate everything can be the best of friends. 

Sometimes a value cannot be compromised, but all can learn that those beliefs are best honored when accepted willingly, not forced on another.

Photo: Taylor Woods | The Oswegonian