Free speech but not when we disagree

RE: Shame on Mac, shame on professors (May 2)

I want to thank Paul Benedetti and The Hamilton Spectator for this article. As a lifelong resident of Hamilton and a graduate of McMaster I am saddened by the university’s recent actions that resulted in the muzzling of free speech by invited guest speakers.

Mr. Benedetti is right in his assertion that universities should be bastions of free speech and that free speech is fundamental to a healthy functioning democracy. And if indeed the ideas shared by guests (or anyone for that matter) are deemed to be hate speech, there are legal avenues that should be pursued — but certainly not by mob rule.

Unfortunately, some people feel that free speech should only be allowed if your viewpoints agree with their ideas. If this was the case, we’d still believe the Earth is flat and that the Earth is the centre of the universe.

Oh, I just remembered, some people still believe that! E. V. Seminerio, Ancaster