Denying people their right to an opinion different from the majority causes polarization and hate. Only the most extreme viewpoints will be heard, and the moderates will be forgotten.
The news about the Program for Civic Virtue and Civil Discourse (“the conservative center on campus”), has started a debate about intellectual diversity. We think it’s important that conservatives feel comfortable voicing their beliefs, too. It is a general problem at UNC that there are very few opportunities for conservatives to express their viewpoints.
Most students and faculty are liberal, and that is difficult not to notice. In class debates, it is common to hear liberal statements that are communicated in a way that makes it impossible to disagree — unless you want to be excluded from the group.
The students that are part of the political minority should not fear being outcast. Otherwise, the moderate voices will die out, and only the radicals will be passionate enough to risk defying the norm. The moderates that feel like their opinion isn’t legitimate will also become more extreme, as is natural when you’re rejected by society — you become angry at those who excluded you.
The consequence is a polarization of views and possibly inflamed tension between the groups. We need to be better at tolerating different views, to remember that all aspects of conservatism exist, not just the loudest kind.
If you disagree with conservative positions, you should be thrilled to have the opportunity to engage in a conversation about your disagreements. If your opinions are never challenged how else will you improve your debating skills or understand how other people think? You won’t change anyone’s viewpoints if you never hear them.
Furthermore, if you really believe in tolerance, it would be hypocritical not to tolerate the beliefs of those you disagree with — whether liberal or conservative.
Politics is about finding solutions that satisfy as many people as possible. Only through an open debate will we learn what those are. Let’s create a school of not just diversity of gender, race and sexuality, but also of political views.
We should actively invite speakers that we disagree with to come on campus and encourage a healthy debate. However, we should avoid inviting those who are simply coming to preach hateful ideologies.
