Tag: freedom of speech

Discover why 1,200 Jewish university professors are opposing the codification of a controversial definition of antisemitism into federal law.

The news cycle since then has been full of stories about pro-Palestine student protests on college campuses across the country. These stories are growing increasingly complex with moving parts that can be difficult to follow. In a world that is so politically divisive, this provides us with a great opportunity to practice nuance.

While the First Amendment does give us freedom of speech, the U.S. Supreme Court has placed some limits. Notable, the ruling you cannot yell “fire” in a crowded theatre to create a panic or harm people, which has been partially overturned since.

We, at FāVS News, have a responsibility to inform the public about news happening in the Inland Northwest. Ignoring news we don’t like doesn’t mean that news goes away. Reporting on news doesn’t mean we endorse what we’re writing about.

The University of Idaho has told its employees that they are not allowed to promote or advocate for abortion and if they do, they could be charged with a crime and fired. The new policy has attracted the attention of many, including an organization dedicated to advocating for the First Amendment.

While the unsigned UI memo may be correct according to state law, it begs the question about the impact on federal law in the state. It also brings to mind the quote from President George Washington: “If freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”

We are devolving into societies that do not know how to listen to each other. And as we become deaf to one another we also become deaf to God, who chooses to speak through us to each other.