Condoleezza Rice and Civil Discourse

When evaluating the controversy over bringing Condoleezza Rice to speak at Rutgers, we should consider a parallel with the abortion debate.

The pro-life position argues that the fetus is a human person with rights and dignities to life. Therefore, abortion takes an innocent life which we should protect and value. The Democratic Party platform advocates for continuing and expanding access to this procedure that many Americans see as murder. Therefore, anytime a Pro-Choice Democrat speaks at a commencement, there are many people in the audience who see the speaker as promoting murder. Yet, conservatives do not riot, smash windows, disrupt university meetings, and occupy university offices when Democratic politicians serve as commencement speakers.

Why is this? Because this matter is within the realm of political debate, which a civil society should not suppress. Even if a majority of the student body views the Iraq war as unjust, they should recognize that this matter is within the scope of debate for a university community. A commencement speech is not an endorsement of a political viewpoint; it is a time to hear from an accomplished person who may have wise words for young men and women who aspire to achieve great things.

I radically disagree with the politics of John Kerry, Hilary Clinton, and Janet Reno, but I would not destroy property and threaten my fellow students if these former and acting Secretaries of State were to speak at my graduation. They are prominent and accomplished people who have served their country in a way consistent with their political opinions. Even if I believe their work to be pernicious, I realize that my opinions are not the litmus test of acceptable speech.

I mourn the loss of Condoleezza Rice as commencement speaker for many reasons. But the greatest casualty in this fray is the ideal of a university. The notion that one should be exposed to views which are fundamentally at odds with one’s own has allowed generations of young people to form their own views of political affiliation through careful judgment and reason.

My fellow graduating seniors have not only lost out on the chance to hear an inspiring speech, they have also lost the chance to exercise their reason and virtue by opening their minds to alternative views.