Free to hate?

(AgapePress) - A new report finds that 13 out of 16 institutions in the University of North Carolina system have at least one policy that “clearly and substantially” restricts free speech. The report—released by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and the Pope Center for Higher Education—accuses UNC of being especially hostile to Christian students and their religious liberty.

The report is entitled “Report on the State of the First Amendment in the University of North Carolina System”—and FIRE’s Greg Lukianoff says what is revealed in the report “ought to outrage everyone” in the state. A press release on the report offers several examples:

* A ban on “insults, taunts, or challenges directed toward another person” (Appalachian State University).
* A practice of outlawing “statements of intolerance” (North Carolina Central University), which FIRE says mirrors a speech code in Pennsylvania that was deemed unconstitutional.
* A requirement that all students “respect the dignity of all persons” and “strive for the openness to learn from differences in people” lest they be punished (UNC Asheville).
* A policy outlawing “disrespect for persons” (UNC Greensboro), which FIRE describes as “Orwellian.”
* Two instances in which FIRE says it had to intervene to protect Christian student groups that were “threatened with dissolution” for refusing to admit members who did not share their beliefs (both incidents at UNC Chapel Hill).

I have to wonder if this approach might not be a tactical error. When you look at that list of infractions against free speech, they don’t look particularly unChristian. In fact, most of them seem to espouse good solid Christian values. But, apparently, to this brand of Christian, free speech means unlimited opportunities and venues for hating on your neighbor. It’s okay to insult and taunt, spew intolerance and disrespect the dignity of anyone you choose as long as you do it in the name of Christ.

Of course, it’s a two way street. I guess if these folks want the right to be vocally hostile to everyone they don’t agree with, they’ll have to accept the free speech rights of those who will be hostile right back, without screaming religious discrimination. (What are the chances?) How long before the civil war begins?