In high school, I would hear plenty of people yell about building Trump’s wall during pep rallies. The boy sitting next to me would tell me that women belong in the kitchen. The white boy in my class would say the n-word and get only sideways glances. When I would try to speak out against them, I was quickly shut down by the same demographic. Majority opinion was that of the traditional conservative white male. I was told that it was “free speech” or “just their opinion.” But free speech doesn’t mean that you can say whatever you want without consequences, it just means that the government cannot punish you for speaking out against them.
In college, there is a separate majority. Most people here at Winthrop favor a more liberal view of things. I can openly discuss my political opinions about gun control, abortion or LGBTQ+ rights without fear of being shut down. Many people who are used to hearing their own voices so loudly above all others call this the “free speech crisis.” Conservatives versus liberals, only one can be left standing, in their eyes. In my classrooms, I have a mix of professors who lean left or right. Very few of them clearly state what their political opinions are. In HMXP for instance, there was a clear mix of left and right leaning students, and some discussions were more heated than others. Never, however, was either opinion shut down.
Coming to college, I have met many people with similar opinions to my own, and I have met others with very different opinions to my own. I am friends with both, and I actively participate in political discussions with both. I am not saying that Winthrop is perfect, I am sure there are plenty with the mindset that if someone else does not agree with them then the best they can do is to be quiet. I am also aware that this is anecdotal evidence, and may not represent the majority. However, why is it that we only ever hear about the free speech crisis when conservatives are the ones shouting about it? Those who have only ever heard their own cries above the whispers of others are used to having the upper hand. They are used to being agreed with, even if that agreement is simply silence in place of dissent. When their voice is challenged, when the majority is suddenly against them, they feel out of place. They feel that they cannot speak up for fear of being ostracized. They feel like I did in high school.
I understand their point of view because it has happened to me. But it is not that simple. Openly discussing political viewpoints with your friends, hearing their side, and discussing your side is a good way to start. Starting with heavy topics like abortion may not be the way to go. You will find that many people agree with you, for their own reasons. Some will agree with less government interference in daily lives. Some will agree for religious reasons. Some will completely disagree with you. You will find similarities and disagreements in each and every person but that does not mean that you cannot respect each other’s opinions and talk out your reasons. My opinion was suppressed for most of my life. I make it a point to try not to suppress the opinions of others, but to instead try to discuss reasons behind our opinions. I have changed the minds of many, and some have changed my mind. I have grown and grown and grown, and I still have plenty of room to grow. Each of us still have room to grow. My point is that those who are claiming that there is a “free speech crisis” simply aren’t used to being the minority opinion. This does not mean they are being oppressed. It simply means the dynamic has changed.
