Free speech, UCD and Le Pen

Madam, - Your edition of February 18th reports that UCD has criticised its own student-run Law Society for inviting Jean Marie…

Madam, - Your edition of February 18th reports that UCD has criticised its own student-run Law Society for inviting Jean Marie Le Pen to a debate on the Lisbon Treaty.

Normally it is the students themselves or left-leaning elements among them who pursue a "no platform" policy and aim at banning any group with which they disagree. But this time the UCD authorities themselves have outdone the students in their political correctness and their intolerance of views to which they are opposed.

But a ban is not an appropriate response to racist-fascist groups. It would be much more effective were such groups allowed to debate their policies openly so that those opposed could openly confront them with cold logic and rational argument.

On a broader front, the action of the UCD authorities is an unsavoury reminder of the fragility of the institution of free speech even within the hallowed groves of academe. One is reminded of the recent case of an academic who held views on the scientific capabilities of women, and another academic who held the view that blacks were on average less intelligent than whites. Such views attracted and continue to attract obloquy from liberals.

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However, if free speech is to prosper, we ought to support the right of such individuals to express their views. That is, we must guard their right to say the "unthinkable". For the sake of its own vitality and future, academe ought to have an unquestioned commitment to free speech, even if this gives "offence" to some or to many. - Yours, etc,
THOMAS P WALSH,
Fassaugh Road,
Cabra,
Dublin 7.