The Challenges of Milo Yiuannopoulos

In the new normal that is the Trump Administration, many forces are at play that can disrupt religious, secular, and spiritual students from feeling safe in their campus environments. Sometimes these situations can only be reacted to, as there will always be those who decide to post hate filled rhetoric on light posts and street corners. These incidents have without a doubt significantly increased alongside the number of anti-Muslim groups specifically since the election as reported by Aljazeera. But even these seems of pale comparison as to what Milo Yiuannopoulos, editor of Breitbart Magazine, has been causing on a number of campuses across the country.  

The February 17th edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education Highlights the conditions of several campus protests aimed at visits to campus by Mr. Yiuannopoulos, none more significant than that at the University of Washington on the day January 20th, the day Donald Trump was sworn in as President. Yiuannopoulos is a master of bringing disruption to campus, though in most cases such disruption falls shorts of rioting, perhaps the only real way to legally prevent a speaker as divisive as Yiuannopoulos from speaking on campus.  U.C. Davis pulled this off on February 1st.  

Mr. Yiuannopoulos might be deemed to have little connection with religious identity, instead of spouting rhetoric mostly aimed at women and GBLT Community, of which he surprisingly identities as a part of as a gay man.  But because of the stirring up of the conservative left, a number of incidents on campuses have perhaps spurred further hate toward religious minorities, specifically Jews and Muslims, on college campuses.  And in a current political environment where the proverbial fuse of hate is apt to go off at any time, it may be time to ask whether Mr. Yiuannopoulos is to be allowed on campus for the safety of our religious minorities of if the protection of the greater good might be warranted at the moment.

Don’t get me wrong: I am actually a deep proponent of free speech. In fact, I personally believe that differences of opinions should be heard more on college campuses and college student’s groups open themselves up to hear and witness these speakers and forums more. We may get incensed, we may want to lash out, and we may feel as though the speakers are infringing upon our core beliefs, but at least we can hear them. The exception though is when a different of opinion reaches a level that institutes potential violence, such as what happened at the University of Washington.

Most professionals may know that Milo Yiuannopoulos’ address caused massive protests at the University of Washington, at which an individual, though not a student, was shot. The shooter, a former student, was likely a supporter of Yiuannopoulos message.  But beyond that, a Muslim student, in the days leading up to the program was hit in the head with a bottle, resulting in a concussion. Is it then enough to say that the campus visits by the Breitbart Editor are enough to ask the university to protect its marginalized students by denying the visit: maybe?

Milo Yiuannopoulos is not a unicorn who has individually stirred up challenges on what are definably liberal campuses. If not him, another voice will emerge that will seemingly disrupt campuses and cause liberal students to protest. This is the nature of a free society, where individuals have to right to speak up for or against beliefs and where open dialogue is key to a civic society.  Perhaps that is the real way to make America great again: through the discourse and open dialogue and deep profound interactions that although may not produce homogenous communities, will inspire us to see the humanity present in each individual, conservative or liberal.

When does it become impossible though to allow a singular person to continue to stir up such hatred on campus on behalf of certain populations is the question? I cannot answer this question alone. That is not the intentional of this blog. Instead, I look to each of you to respond and provide feedback.  My fear of Milo Yiuannopoulos is in no way built on his speeches. Throughout my life, there have been many who I have disagreed with, but have heard.  But my fear remains in the ramifications when those who are already under tremendous threat in this country have the fans flamed by hate filled rhetoric. And that is something I cannot, and perhaps all of us should not stand for.

Sources: 

• http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2017/02/anti-muslim-groups-tripled-trump-campaign-170216153335713.html
• http://www.chronicle.com/article/FearLoathing-in-the/239142