Perhaps that's because it's much more common for right-wingers to hold offensive, racist, counter-factual, or otherwise objectionable views that others find unfit for platforming.
But if you are looking for examples of left wing speakers being shut down, ask yourself how long it has been since far-left figures had any place in American discourse. The country has been pulled so far to the right that moderate neo-libs are painted as socialists while actual socialists no longer have viable organizations. (Case in point: Bernie had to run as a Democrat). The far left has been no-platformed right out of existence.
It is misleading to treat all of these incidents alike. An academic institution, in particular, usually has a purpose of providing a forum for the free expression and vigorous debate of competing ideas. But some of these "speakers" are not there for that purpose. They are there to insult minorities or women, make statements that are meant to provoke emotional reactions, and to generally create havoc, hopefully goad people into over-reacting, and draw attention to themselves, thereby promoting their "brand" and sales. Ann Coulter and Milo Yianopolis come to mind, but I have no doubt they exist all over the political spectrum. A college or university is not obliged to host the same sort of people who make an entertaining (to some) guest on a panel on Bill Maher or some other cable program because they say outrageous things, or say them in an outrageous way. And students at institutions who invite these sort of people to come and hector them have every right to say no, or to basically hector them back.
I'm for no-platforming. It is inevitable that soon a group of college Republicans will block the way of some good and decent person just to show that two can play that game, and it will only further expose them. Bring it on.
No one should entertain another complaint about liberals objecting to the normalization of nazis by paying them (!) to stand at lecterns on college campuses and try to provoke support and outrage, either of which is satisfying to them. Right wingers are worse, not just shutting down voices, but in some cases attempting to deprive people of their civil rights. For example, they tell us that it so hurts their religious fee-fees when two people of the same sex get married or when a trans person goes to the bathroom, they should be free to deny gay and trans people their rights, because babyjebus, and so they are passing laws all over the country that puts their arbitrary religious assertions before the law. That is the bigger box of cupcakes. So don't give me Milo. To hell with Milo.
A Fundamentalist college would not invite a Gay affirmative minister to speak. Why should a secular college have to invite a person whose goals are the opposite of a secular college such as intelligent and respectful debate. People such as Coulter and Yianopolis are infamouse because they enjoy creating strife and conflict, not because they have anything of positive value to offer.
Students exercise their ability to discern the difference between reasonable disagreement versus egotistical narcissism.
When intelligent and respectful people are not invited simply because they have different opinions then there is cause for concern. Not inviting George Will or the late William Buckley is far different from not inviting Coulter and Yianopolis.
Just as the America left nearly no longer exists the American right has been kidnapped by a selfish cabal of right wing extremists who believe that lies, insults, exaggeration and stoking fear and encouraging paranoia are good politics.
The extreme right has a vast platform of radio stations, Fox News, the Sinclair owned television station, the larger Murdoch empire now including the Wall Street Journal. Crying censorship because extremists are not welcome on college campuses is to shed crocodile tears.
The left/right split in the country really began when the Reagan administration repealed "The Fairness Doctrine" which led to balanced exchanges of viewpoints. Many knowlegeable people felt conservatism was dead in the 1960's and early 70's, but it was revived by conservative thinkers being allowed to critique liberal programs.
What we have seen in the last week or so with the Seth Rich conspiracy theory, shows the danger presented to our democracy by wild, unsubstantiated charges. Promoted by none other than Sean Hannity on Fox, this pack of lies demonstrates the viciousness of right-wing media.
In point of fact, the whole Trump campaign of the past two years (it continues) is replete with one lie after another, told by both himself and his surrogates. So I see no problem in keeping extremists off the air or off the stage. And I blame the mainstream news networks (and Fox) for the rise to power of the most unqualified candidate in U.S. history! Ratings took precedence over truth-telling, and now we have a near monarchical set-up in the White House.
Luckily, more and more people are awakening to the threats Trumpsky, members of his crime family and his criminal associates pose. About time!
Baloney. It's much more common on the left.
But if you are looking for examples of left wing speakers being shut down, ask yourself how long it has been since far-left figures had any place in American discourse. The country has been pulled so far to the right that moderate neo-libs are painted as socialists while actual socialists no longer have viable organizations. (Case in point: Bernie had to run as a Democrat). The far left has been no-platformed right out of existence.
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Au contraire.
No one should entertain another complaint about liberals objecting to the normalization of nazis by paying them (!) to stand at lecterns on college campuses and try to provoke support and outrage, either of which is satisfying to them. Right wingers are worse, not just shutting down voices, but in some cases attempting to deprive people of their civil rights. For example, they tell us that it so hurts their religious fee-fees when two people of the same sex get married or when a trans person goes to the bathroom, they should be free to deny gay and trans people their rights, because babyjebus, and so they are passing laws all over the country that puts their arbitrary religious assertions before the law. That is the bigger box of cupcakes. So don't give me Milo. To hell with Milo.
Students exercise their ability to discern the difference between reasonable disagreement versus egotistical narcissism.
When intelligent and respectful people are not invited simply because they have different opinions then there is cause for concern. Not inviting George Will or the late William Buckley is far different from not inviting Coulter and Yianopolis.
Just as the America left nearly no longer exists the American right has been kidnapped by a selfish cabal of right wing extremists who believe that lies, insults, exaggeration and stoking fear and encouraging paranoia are good politics.
The extreme right has a vast platform of radio stations, Fox News, the Sinclair owned television station, the larger Murdoch empire now including the Wall Street Journal. Crying censorship because extremists are not welcome on college campuses is to shed crocodile tears.
What we have seen in the last week or so with the Seth Rich conspiracy theory, shows the danger presented to our democracy by wild, unsubstantiated charges. Promoted by none other than Sean Hannity on Fox, this pack of lies demonstrates the viciousness of right-wing media.
In point of fact, the whole Trump campaign of the past two years (it continues) is replete with one lie after another, told by both himself and his surrogates. So I see no problem in keeping extremists off the air or off the stage. And I blame the mainstream news networks (and Fox) for the rise to power of the most unqualified candidate in U.S. history! Ratings took precedence over truth-telling, and now we have a near monarchical set-up in the White House.
Luckily, more and more people are awakening to the threats Trumpsky, members of his crime family and his criminal associates pose. About time!
Hooray for that piece of progress!