A Safe Space and a Can of Mace

This week, terror has sprung out on the Burkeley college campus; and for good reason! They actually let a conservative speaker on campus, and they let him speak. This is a true atrocity, and it's difficult for me to believe that in a location that so avidly advocates for free speech they would let someone like Ben Shapiro speak on free speech, on a famously liberal campus no less. I mean, what is free speech if we let people say things we don't agree with? That is not how this country works.
Ben Shapiro and the entire concept of him frankly terrifies me. I mean, he could say something that I disagree with, and now we're just letting these kinds of people onto college campuses? These people are dangerous radicals who think they should be able to say things the common populace does not necessarily find agreeable.
On top of all of that, Ben Shapiro is Jewish. I'm not an antisemite, I'm just pointing that out is all. I'm not anti-anything unless you're anti-something and then I'm anti-you, just to be clear and concise.
I'm all for equality and free speech and everything, but that doesn't mean we should just let people say whatever they want without censoring them! I find it ridiculous that Berkeley actually supported Shapiro in his speech this week by upping security. Can you believe they wouldn't even let students bring basic security measures on campus, such as a simple Molotov Cocktail?
In a predictably radical move, Shapiro chose to speak about freedom of speech and how speech has been construed as "a form of violence," according to CNN writer Madison Park. Can he get any more blatantly far right? I think not.
The real kicker here though is the full extent of the university's reaction to Shapiro's visit. They supported him in full force, bringing Berkeley police into the matter. The city even lifted the ban on police using pepper spray, something that had been in place for 20 years, in an attempt to keep the protests in order.
Berkeley would appear to be bent on peaceful protests. What an absurd notion! They even arrested 9 protesters that showed signs of being dangerous, ignoring the fact that the true danger here is Ben Shapiro and his horrifying words.
Fortunately, though, the campus has also taken actions to protect the students. They've opened up counseling opportunities for those deeply disturbed by Shapiro's visit (all of them, I'm sure), and there is definite outreach to the students. Hopefully, they will be able to overcome this traumatic event.
The fact still remains though that this kind of unlimited freedom of speech still exists in our country, and that anyone who is invited can visit a college campus and speak on their topic of choice. Berkeley's chancellor herself, Carol T. Christ, said, "I believe very strongly in Ben Shapiro's right to speak on campus," as quoted by LA Times writers Javier Panzar, Benjamin Oreskes, and Teresa Watanabe. This is, of course, complete insanity, and yet the world refuses to recognize it. Violent student protests are being shut-down, invited speakers are allowed to choose what they want to speak on and then actually speak on it, and they are treated with respect and supported by authorities. What is the world coming to?
As someone starting college this fall quarter, all of this information absolutely terrifies me. I dread the idea that I might go somewhere where people who hold different ideas than me are allowed to voice their opinions without being immediately stopped and shamed for their behavior. That mindset is dangerous, incorrigible, and just plain deplorable.
-Little Miss Deplorable
Sources: Berkeley Ben Shapiro speech: Security preps under way - CNN, Berkeley prepares for Ben Shapiro speech with pepper spray, concrete barriers and lots of police - The Washington Post, Unprecedented measures at Berkeley for conservative writer's speech - LA Times, Ben Shapiro speech at UC Berkeley results in arrests at protests | Fox News