Regarding Thursday’s Viewpoint, “Speak your mind — The blessings of free speech (6/2),” I couldn’t help but chuckle at the mention of “free speech” on campus.
I especially appreciated the disclaimer the author’s opinions are not necessarily those of the Church or university.
The driving purpose of free speech is one should be able to speak his mind without censorship and without fear of administrative punishment, both of which seem impossible at BYU.
Speech certainly appears free when your opinions line up with those held by the Church and university, but for the 2 percent of non-LDS or the liberal-minded members, how often are their voices heard?
It’s no surprise professors are forbidden from sharing any private opinion incongruent with The Church’s opinion (just Google the September Six to see what happened to them).
And let’s not forget Cary Crall’s controversial Prop-8 Viewpoint, which was retracted after publishing.
I could go on.
Like it or not, BYU is a private institution and by its own privilege writes its own rules.
This is all well and good, but let’s not call it “free speech” when it clearly isn’t.
Joshua Ruchty
St. Paris, Ohio
