Exposure to noxious ideas is healthy

Re Intolerance has no right to a spotlight, Paradkar, April 6

The photo of all those students protesting hateful speech brings to mind the body’s immune response to an invading pathogen. It is nice to see a healthy societal response to outrageous ideas.

Columnist Shree Paradkar argues only the wilfully blind would suggest that students be exposed to offensive speech.

But we have learned that contact with good and bad germs in our gut and skin guarantees our immune system is competent enough to deal with different types of nefarious elements. We have learned that when we vaccinate with a low dose of what is bad, we are better prepared to fight off the actual disease.

The fact that students were passionate enough to mobilize a protest on campus against a noxious virus may be better than those students never having to confront these issues because free speech is banned.

Those dangerous ideas are still out there. Are we protecting the organism if we overly sterilize its environment, or are we setting it up to be easily overwhelmed by an invasive opportunist.

Toughened up democracies last. Recent events have us wondering if complacent ones may fall.

Russell Pangborn,

Keswick

Columnist Shree Paradkar extols the virtues of censorship of uncomfortable opinion.

Nobody has a right to a soapbox at a university lecture hall, but if there is an invitation and accommodations, the choice for anyone who may be offended is to not attend.

I am offended by The Bachelor and Maury Povich, so I don’t watch.

I don’t like vegan cuisine but will not stand and protest cruelty to vegetables outside the restaurant.

Ricky Gervais has a Netflix comedy special where he offends everyone. I laughed until my stomach hurt.

L. Henry Timmins,

Mississauga