Free speech vs pronouns
Re Revisiting free speech debate on campus Names matter and free speech matters but which has priority is rationally justifiable. That’s why students in Prof. Jordan Peterson’s class assert that they be named according to their preference.
But Peterson insists that his free speech gives him prior right to name the students. Otherwise, the students are controlling his freedom of expression.
This zero-sum argument by Peterson that his free speech can deny their self-determinism regarding naming is logically flawed and contradicted by history.
Until recently, minorities were denied their naming rights. They protested and changed the names they were called.
Culturally speaking, no one would insist that this naming change has been a sacrifice of free speech in order to appease political correctness or has consequently debased our way of life. Tony D’Andrea, Toronto
I am unable to fathom A.W. Peet’s train of logic in his/her comments on human decency, having a conscience and ethics.
I have no qualms addressing a person by the person’s stated name. However, with regard to pronouns, it is not practicable for every person to dictate their own self-declared, personal pronoun.
It will be helpful if members of the non-binary clan develop a consensus on a common set of pronouns to use for them as a replacement for the traditional he/she and his/her/him.
And my message to University of Toronto media relations director Althea Blackburn-Evans, who was quoted as saying “The university’s mandate is to foster discussion and debate around topics that can often be very controversial:” Please preach this dictum to your dean of faculty of arts and science, as well as the viceprovost of faculty and academic life. Muri B. Abdurrahman, Thornhill
As a retired English teacher, may I humbly offer a solution to Jordan Peterson’s growing conflict with political correctness regarding pronoun use in the English language.
Of course, he could always substitute the safe “one” for “he” or “she,” especially if one wanted to sound like a pompous British aristocrat.
I simply advised my students to combine “she, he, it” into “sheit.” (When you say it fast enough, it simply sounds precocious). Brian Thomas, North Bay, Ont.
The English language is to blame. I speak Hungarian. We have a gender neutral pronoun. The challenge: get rid of he and she and say “O.” Klara Hada, Toronto
Re When beliefs about gender identity and views
on freedom of speech clash I support Professor Peterson in his battle against the enforced use of language. I don’t even think it’s about freedom of speech per se, but rather the wishes of a very small group of people deciding they prefer to change the rules of English grammar and language because of how they feel.
You can ask me not to use certain words out of respect, usually defined as racial/ethical/cultural slurs or words defined as swearing. But you cannot force me to use words that have been essentially made up because you have an objection to the English language and the vocabulary of our language. Stephen Liard, Toronto
“The English language is to blame.” KLARA HADA TORONTO