The thought police
Re: L aw s oci et y s hould be struck down, Editorial; Thought police strike again, this time at Wilfrid Laurier, Christie Blatchford; and Our courts go too far, our schools not f ar enough, Conrad Black, Nov. 11 Apparently the administrators at the Wilfrid Laurier University are opposed to the ideas imposed by the Law Society of Upper Canada upon its membership to uphold and promote “equality, diversity and inclusion.” At WLU, those principles are eschewed in favour of conformity to the post-modern leftist line. The delicate flowers who are bent on an “advanced” education at WLU are to be “protected” from viewpoints that differ from those of their paternalistic administrators. Both bureaucratic bodies are forcing thought control upon their captive audiences and creating ideological echo chambers in their classrooms and courtrooms.
Ruth Robinson, Calgary
So university students cannot watch a debate without being told what to think, who won, and who are the good guys and the bad guys? What happened to the notion that universities teach students to think? How did professors Rambukkana, Pimlott and Joel learn to think for themselves? Or did they? In an environment that purportedly values inclusiveness and diversity, why is it so important to these three that everyone share their beliefs?
Ed Bezeau, Toronto
It’s extraordinary, but sadly believable, to read that Jordan Peterson can be compared to Hitler. If anyone has created “a toxic climate,” and “bullied” their “own students,” it would be the “thought police” at Wilfrid Laurier’s Canadian Communication in Context class.
Twenty-two-year old Lindsay Shepherd deserves a medal of courage for standing up to the new fascists.
Bridget Lunn, Toronto
Just a suggestion, but it might be helpful to both students and teachers alike at Wilfrid Laurier and other “progressive” universities if they would simply post in their calendars, course descriptions and on their websites a list of deemed absolute truths, and the possible penalties: shaming, expul- sion, criminal charges, etc. for anyone who would dare challenge them.
Alex MacMillan, Kingston, Ont.
In support of Christie Blatchford and Conrad Black’s remarks about the lack of free speech in universities, and at Wilfrid Laurier in particular, George Orwell’s newly unveiled statue in London, England, bears this quote: “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
Peter Stevens- Guille, Mississauga, Ont.