Bigotry on Campuses
Slaughter’s statement that “bigotry is back in fashion” is to be applauded, but fails to suggest what he and other college presidents will do to make bigotry unfashionable.
As one’s who’s worked professionally in the field of community and human relations, I know education is a major force for change. The other two pillars have been public awareness and law. Yet, none of these can be ever be fully successful unless the causes for bigotry and hatred are removed.
One hates when belief is no more, or when zealots refuse to accept differences; where equal opportunity to plant, gather and enjoy the fruits of one’s labor are denied; when barriers are erected that limit development and personality growth and where equal justice does not prevail for everyone.
As the peer years harden attitudes, what’s taught at that level becomes most important. Skills for jobs are imperative. But how to live in a diverse society calls for learning about human needs and differences, and how necessary working and living together are to assuring a peaceful, productive tomorrow.
The “pillar” of public awareness calls for a change in the emphasis of what the public hears, reads and sees.
But it’s in law that I have always believed lies our best protection against bigotry and the hate it produces. We need group libel laws to make “Never Again” more than a slogan.
Hitler and Nazi Germany proved hate can make monsters of people. After victory we passed new laws to end discrimination in education, employment, housing and public accommodations. Subsequently, we passed additional civil rights laws, including the vital right to vote. But we have yet to write legislation to deal with the promise of the Genocide Convention Treaty and Human Rights Accords that we signed. Hate speech remains.
The Declaration of Independence talks of “liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and equal justice.” But reality makes a mockery of these grand objectives. Enforceable laws are needed. Free speech has limits. One doesn’t have the right “to endanger the occupants of a crowded theater by falsely crying fire.” Our democracy, with its wide variety of persons who are Americans, makes our society a “crowded theater.” Passion to achieve such a law can help put bigotry out of fashion.
HYMAN H. HAVES
Pacific Palisades
