Free Speech includes Illinformed

Submitted by Ellen Miller Eisenberg (United States), Dec 4, 2002 at 11:59

I don't agree that these professors are representing themselves as experts in Middle Eastern affairs per se. But in any event, they are entitled to express their views in any public forum, and no matter how misinformed they may be; they contribute to the open dialogue and exchange of ideas which is one of the greatest strengths of the American democratic process. Our country is a radical experiment in open expression which is unmatched anywhere in the world (or in history so far as I know). And of course, we are also free to rebut the confusion these professors put forth.

To my mind the danger of misinformation is when it is presented to young minds who have neither the historical knowledge nor the intellectual experience to see the faults and omissions in the opinions of their professors or elders (some of whom present their views as the only intelligent way of looking at an issue.) In counterpoint, I do think that for many students their continuing adolescent rebellion against all authority will lead them to question their professors' opinions and hopefully look for other points of view.

In addition, we have to remember that because of our physical limitations in time and space, we are only capable of comprehending a limited point of view. What we call "the truth," is only that part of it we can see; ergo many sides of an issue may be "true" at the same time, depending on your perspective. If I am on one side of a wall, which is painted white, and you are on the other side of the wall, which is painted blue, and inside the wall is a bug who sees the tan of the wood supports, what is the "true" color of that wall?

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