Marginalizing, mocking preachers on Mall detracts from free speech

The controversy stirred up last week over the message of condemnation being delivered by the latest of the "Mall preachers" has surprised and shocked me. As a Christian it made me sick to hear the venom that spewed out from the mouths of both the ever present band of self-appointed mockers and this self-righteous band of "prophets." As annoying and offensive as the message of this family is - the mob-like reaction of the students who surrounded them disturbs me even more.

Chris Nielsen's proposed solution ("Preachers infringing on rights of students who wish to use UA Mall," Friday) to quiet the verbal battle that has transpired outside is, in some ways, even more disturbing. He insists that the "verbal violence" meted out to the students on the Mall needs to be dealt with because it infringes upon the rights of students to use the Mall area. To remedy the problem he suggests moving the "Speakers' Corner" further east on the Mall - so as to place offensive speech away from the front of the Student Union. I wonder if Mr. Nielsen has considered the implications of such a move.

The Speakers' Corner has been placed there (presumably) because that is where most students congregate. To move its location means moving everyone who may want to speak - whatever the subject - away from their intended audience. This is simply a roundabout way of shutting people up by isolating them.

Clearly this particular family (or anyone else) who speaks on the Mall is not a "problem" that can be disposed with by moving them away. Shutting them up in the name of the "infringement" of rights to congregate in a particular portion of the Mall area will only end up stifling everyone's right to free speech. Let us guard against an arrogant and hypocritical stance that permits infringement upon the rights of speakers while allowing the kind of playful cruelty exhibited by some students toward these people this week. Such a blatantly bigoted posture defeats the only values we in the campus really hold in common anymore - freedom of expression (most importantly speech) and tolerance of diverse (and yes, offensive) ideas. I am afraid that what this week has really shown is just how immature and intolerant certain students of the UA are, and how willing the rest of us are to sit back saying nothing while this absurdity plays itself out.

By Walter J. Caywood (letter)
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 19, 1997