Free speech in jeopardy

Re: It takes more than words to support free speech — April 28

The Record’s editorial calls for keeping “the intellectual air waves open.” It adds, “Truth is never a starting point. It’s where a journey of a thousand conversations leads.” Noble sentiments indeed.

However, the leftist radicals on campus have no interest in even one conversation, much less a thousand. They want only one “truth” to be uttered on campus property — their version of truth. They care not a whit for free speech. They remind me of the Brown shirts in the era leading up to the terrible events in Germany in the 1930s. These thugs attacked with impunity all who disagreed with them. The sheer power grab worked — their brutal intimidation tactics were so successful that free speech was totally shut down. In the end only the totalitarians had a voice.

Why is free speech being censored across Canada? The blame must be placed squarely on university administrations. They do not have the guts to stand up to the radical leftists. Indeed in some cases they may even side with those who desire to shut down conservative values and voices. The presidents, administrators and faculty must be held to account. Those who hold power and refuse to use it against anarchists and destroyers of democracy are enablers to those who bring chaos.

We should vehemently oppose totalitarians of all stripes. And let’s not kid ourselves — the Stalins, the Pol Pot’s and Maoists all began by censoring the speech of free people. Those who would destroy our democracy by destroying and censoring freedom of speech must be reined in. If not, we shall all be very sorry.

Rev. Royal Hamel

K-W Chinese Alliance Church Waterloo