Censorship and 9/11 September 27, 2009

I have read “Students, teachers face free speech limitations after terrorist attack” article. As I read it, I realized that the right of speech of people has been limited. The students protesting the cartoon, which is about two Muslims hijackers are saying, “We made it to Paradise! Now we will meet Allah, and be fed grapes, and be serviced by 70 virgin women…” published on student newspaper on Sep. 18, and calling for an apology. The cartoon of Muslims in hell reminds people to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and also wound the patriotism of the Americans. It is challenged by the patriotic students. A dozen of students and teachers have chosen free speech to voice their opinions. Eight-teen students are issued citation by the police for trespassing the University of California at Berkley’s independent student newspaper. Elementary and middle school teachers have been punished on two separate occasions related to the terrorist attacks. These acts illustrate that the right of speech of people is being limited. As my opinion, the students and teachers are doing right. They have the right to express their thoughts and patriotism. Furthermore, the cartoon reminds people to a grief memory and wounds their patriotism. Why do they have to get citation and punishments while John Gardner, a substitute teacher at Rooney Middle School in Pittsburgh, was released from his duties after a colleague saw he had scribbled the phrase, “Osama bin Laden did us a favor,” on a newspaper? Beside the speech of the students and teachers, some librarians made badges with American flags and the words, “Proud to be an American.” Yes! They have rights to be proud of being Americans. There is no reasons for limiting their patriotic speech!

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