FIRE fights for truth

The theme of this site is truth. Yet the freedom to express truth, or at least debate what it is, is under threat in postmodern America. The growth of hate speech legislation, in effect, criminalizes the expression of thought. Expressing moral opposition to certain sexual practices can similarly land one in legal trouble. And securing equal access to public forums for clubs, or group discussion, has become increasingly difficult for Christians. Ironically, perhaps nowhere is the assault on open debate more at risk than on the college campus. These citadels of higher education are supposed to be about the pursuit of truth, but in fact have become slavishly subservient to an amoral and politically left ideology that shows little tolerance for challenge.

To fight this trend I am thankful for the existence of FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. As stated in its charter, “The mission of FIRE is to defend and sustain individual rights at America’s increasingly repressive and partisan colleges and universities. These rights include freedom of speech, legal equality, due process, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience – the essential qualities of individual liberty and dignity.”

What caught my attention, and what I highly recommend for all college bound students and their parents, is FIRE’s Guide to Free Speech on Campus. Freely downloadable in pdf format, this is one of the best primers on the history of American free speech I have seen. Beginning with a philosophy of free speech by John Stuart Mill and a review of The Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798, this manual covers all the major legislative and case law history up to the present, and provides a host of tools and information to equip college bound students for engaging the public square.

I’ve decided to include FIRE’s link among the “Political & Commentary” sites in the sidebar. It’s worth a look!