OPINION & EDITORIAL
Conservative voice needs recognition
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Also by Joe Trovato:
- Conservative voice needs recognition (November 9, 2007)
- Ethno-political lobbying anti-American (October 24, 2007)
- Ahmadinejad invite unpatriotic insult (September 26, 2007)
- Play ball now: UW deserves baseball (September 12, 2007)
- Personal responsibility lacking in U.S. (May 8, 2007)
Related Stories:
- Another token (November 3, 2003)
- Defining discourse (October 6, 2003)
- Diversity isn't just color (September 7, 2001)
- Conservatism growing on college campuses (September 24, 2003)
- Political discourse lacking respect (March 1, 2007)
by Joe Trovato
Friday, November 9, 2007
Political discourse, both on the University of Wisconsin campus and in the city of Madison is in a sad state. More worrisome, however, is the lack of discourse on the UW campus. The university has long prided itself on being a beacon of equality and openness, and it has always touted itself as a proponent of an open-minded atmosphere that accepts all peoples and their ideas, yet many voices still go unheard.
One of the quietest, and as it seems, least respected and accepted voices on campus is that of the conservative. While there is no doubt that conservatives make up a very small portion of the overall population in Madison and on campus, the presentation of their views is absolutely essential to creating a real atmosphere of political discourse.
The school itself has traditionally brought controversial speakers from both sides of the political aisle to speak in Madison. Speakers such as Dinesh D'Souza and David Horowitz have been invited to speak as well as many left-leaning speakers. But nonetheless, the conservative voice is consistently squashed on the UW campus and in the city that surrounds it.
This was evidenced when the controversial right-wing speaker David Horowitz spoke on campus just a few weeks ago. Madison, this supposedly all-tolerant city, embarrassed itself by basically mocking everything the man had to say. He was rudely interrupted repeatedly and many who did not share his views turned out to protest even his presence on campus. Some of these protestors were undoubtedly some of the same people who just weeks before were arguing that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad be allowed to speak at the Columbia University campus on grounds of the First Amendment.
The rude reception of Mr. Horowitz is just an example of how many conservatives are treated when they express their views on this campus, and this is coming from people who are supposed proponents of free speech.
Thus, an atmosphere has been created where there is almost no healthy discourse on campus. This is partially the fault of conservatives who are unwilling to step up to the plate and state their opinions, but it is also largely due to the fear created by the overwhelming liberal majority that will not take time to consider a conservative idea. Conservative ideas are merely mocked and discounted when they are presented, as was evidenced in Horowitz's lecture.
This undoubtedly happens in areas where an overwhelming conservative majority dominates as well, but there is no place for this on a college campus, especially not one that prides itself on its forward thinking.
There is no good that can come from this constant one-sided barrage of political rhetoric. It is detrimental to the political atmosphere, and it renders any rational discussion of issues useless when one side is never given a fighting chance.
This is also dangerous to college students in particular because college is a time when students are finding their political identities. This is when students finally begin to develop their own views and ideologies; when these fragile and vulnerable young minds are only exposed to one side of the story, they get a very warped view of society.
A lack of opposition leads results in extremism on both sides of the political spectrum. Being constantly bombarded with liberal ideology and rhetoric only pushes liberals more toward the left and conservatives more toward the right. Those who never hear any opposing viewpoint at this crucial time of political development will only become more polarized.
Conservative students become more and more disgusted and thus develop a more antagonistic view of the left, which often breeds extremism. On the left, students begin to believe their view is the only view and thus are never willing to listen to a viewpoint that differs from their own. This also leaves others feeling alienated, even causing them to begin to reject this whole notion of politics and thus become apathetic — the worst scenario. It is for these reasons that the conservative viewpoint must be heard and respected on campus.
All political viewpoints must be heard, whether we agree with them or not, in order to ensure a rational political discourse. Therefore, the solution on the UW campus is for conservatives to speak up and for liberals to give them a chance. And when the university brings in speakers from either side, give their views a chance and at least listen to what they have to say. Without the presentation of opposing viewpoints, no true political discourse will occur, and when there is no discourse, we are all in danger of becoming extremists.
Joe Trovato (jtrovato@wisc.edu) is a sophomore majoring in journalism.
Anonymous (November 9, 2007 @ 9:55am):
I couldn't agree any more! Well stated! I grew up in a conservative area in another state with a conservative family, so that was all I knew. However, seeing the other side of the fence during my 5 years at UW opened my eyes to a whole new way of thinking and viewing things. I do not affiliate myself with either Democrats or Republicans and appreciate things that both political parties bring to the table. Madison indeed is tolerant to nearly every other train of thought except for those of Christian or Conservative ideologies. The same thing that turns many off to Christianity is the same thing that has turned me off to the free-thinker and liberal agenda...hypocrisy.
Anonymous (November 9, 2007 @ 11:00am):
I'd believe that conservatives don't have a voice on campus if it weren't for the weekly Badger Herald column about how conservatives don't have a voice on campus.
Anonymous (November 9, 2007 @ 11:31am):
You don't think there are conservatives who are close-minded as well? Your article is the same argument that is written about all the time. If your voice is really that important, stop whining and do something about it.
Anonymous (November 9, 2007 @ 11:50am):
Dude, were you even at the Horowitz lecture? Aside from a few morons in CAN, the audience was incredibly tolerant of the crap that guy had to say.
Yes, I thought it was crap, but at least I went and listened to him. I'm not going to agree with him but we gave him a chance to speak. That's what we do because we're Americans.
Quit whining and get out there and do something.
Anonymous (November 9, 2007 @ 3:08pm):
awesome article...these liberals all feel so self-righteous when they can pump themselves up against absolutely no opposition. It's really easy to argue your side when theres no one to oppose you. Thank you for standing up and getting out there and doing something.
Anonymous (November 9, 2007 @ 10:07pm):
Facts have a well-known liberal bias.
Anonymous (November 11, 2007 @ 8:03pm):
Facts and truth are Kryptonite to you liberal Hypocrites. If you cared about them, you wouldn't be a liberal.
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