We read:
"A local Army Reservist serving in Afghanistan resigned this week from his post as an adjunct professor at Suffolk University after a colleague at Suffolk sent an e-mail calling it "shameful" for students at the college to send care packages to soldiers who "have gone overseas to kill other human beings."Suffolk University has also distanced itself from its employee's hate speech.
Maj. Robert Roughsedge wrote in his resignation letter that he considers comments made in an e-mail by Suffolk law professor Michael Avery to be "hate speech."
Roughsedge's letter was sent from his military post in Kabul, Afghanistan, to Camille Nelson, dean of the Suffolk Law School.
"I have a moral obligation to exercise my First Amendment right of freedom of association and choose not to associate with Suffolk University Law School anymore," Roughsedge wrote. "This is a sad moment for me, because I know that the students do not agree with Professor Avery, and I truly enjoy teaching. However, I must go, else I am tarnished by the association."
Roughsedge has taught a course called Terrorism and the Law at Suffolk.
Last year, Roughsedge was called up for a year of service in Afghanistan, where he is providing training to the Afghan army.
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7 comments:
I am proud of him for resigning but am left with the feeling that the jerks at this school won. They chased off a voice of opposition.
Soldiers or the military are not a racial or social grouping that "hate speech" applies to, but are simply employees of the government, and it's in order to "hate" the government and its policies, including its foreign policies. However, it's not very nice to target individual soldiers.
Good for him to tell that university blabbering nincompoop to GO POUND SAND
A man of such character is rare to see. It is inspiring to see someone make such a statement when it really costs him something. Wow!
This is stupid all around.
Avery's comment was dumb - he is free to disagree with US troops being in country and/or what activities they pursue. He can even disagree with people supporting those troops - but the problem is that some people cannot seperate supporting the troops from supporting their actions.
However, Roughsedge had no need to resign. One person's foolish comments do not tarnish an entire organisation. He would have done better to stay and argue his position.
And Suffolk has no need to distance itself from the issue - the comments of one staff member do not represent the University.
Why can't people understand, everyone has the right to say stupid stuff that you disagree with.
BTW - I should add, I don't believe in 'hate speech'.
It seems to me to be a very poor attempt at limiting the protections of the first amendment - all speech is free, there is no limitation for 'hate' speech.
@6:03- You, sir, win 1 internetz.
Saved me the trouble of typing that.
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