Norman Solomon
The history of engaging in free speech while challenging the conformity of
militarism never ends. It lives on in many ways, including the efforts by
Dave Airhart to raise crucial issues about military recruiting. In
retrospect, we will look back on the harassment of Mr. Airhart as another
instance of college authorities trying to take the easy way out instead of
supporting the First Amendment.
When advocates of lockstep obedience are disturbed by vigorous public
discourse, we should insist on asking why this is happening. We need more
debate, not less. We need more protest, not less, as a war based on
deception continues to destroy the lives of American men and women who are
recruited to join the military — and continues to destroy the lives of
many more Iraqi people.
No amount of political repression will be able to justify this war. By
attempting to suppress Mr. Airhart’s rights to advocate for peace, college
authorities are undermining their own legitimacy.
Norman Solomon
Author, “War Made Easy: How Presidents and Pundits Keep Spinning Us to
Death”