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TechnographColumn: Free expression under fire
By John Bambenek
Posted: 3/8/06 Section: Opinions
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The government in California has legislated that religious belief against gay marriage and abortion is nullified. The Catholic Church was required to provide "domestic partner" benefits to gays. Catholic hospitals are required to provide abortifacients despite their teaching against murder. This is a governmental attempt to force churches and religious entities to be nothing more than arms of the state and deny any legitimate disagreement.
When the government suggests, but does not mandate the undeniable Christian heritage of this nation, it does not dictate dogmas. When the government mandates behavior to override the conscience of others, it steps full-heartedly into the business of dictating religious dogmas. The idea that religious expression must be suppressed as freedom is little more than Orwellian doublespeak.
The suppression of religious viewpoints is even present at this University. SORF funding guidelines unconstitutionally restrict religious speech. You cannot say that, on one hand, students have free expression and then say pro-religious speech is disallowed. University rules also unconstitutionally restrict the formation of religious groups. SIU recently lost a federal case for the same rules this University still has.
This illustrates an interesting dynamic. The objectivists can have funded speech that decries Christianity as witchdoctory. There could be funded talks celebrating sodomy. Plays that portray young girls getting plied with alcohol and raped by older women can get funds and be celebrated as genius. The only thing too profane to dare be spoken on campus is conservative religious viewpoints. That simply must be suppressed in the name of freedom.
What separation of church and state requires is the respect of minority religions, but it is high time that the majority religion also gets its due respect, particularly for the great contributions it has had to this country.
John Bambenek is a graduate student and academic professional at the University. He needs a Facebook fan club and more Facebook friends. His column appears on Wednesdays. He can be reached at opinions@dailyillini.com.
When the government suggests, but does not mandate the undeniable Christian heritage of this nation, it does not dictate dogmas. When the government mandates behavior to override the conscience of others, it steps full-heartedly into the business of dictating religious dogmas. The idea that religious expression must be suppressed as freedom is little more than Orwellian doublespeak.
The suppression of religious viewpoints is even present at this University. SORF funding guidelines unconstitutionally restrict religious speech. You cannot say that, on one hand, students have free expression and then say pro-religious speech is disallowed. University rules also unconstitutionally restrict the formation of religious groups. SIU recently lost a federal case for the same rules this University still has.
This illustrates an interesting dynamic. The objectivists can have funded speech that decries Christianity as witchdoctory. There could be funded talks celebrating sodomy. Plays that portray young girls getting plied with alcohol and raped by older women can get funds and be celebrated as genius. The only thing too profane to dare be spoken on campus is conservative religious viewpoints. That simply must be suppressed in the name of freedom.
What separation of church and state requires is the respect of minority religions, but it is high time that the majority religion also gets its due respect, particularly for the great contributions it has had to this country.
John Bambenek is a graduate student and academic professional at the University. He needs a Facebook fan club and more Facebook friends. His column appears on Wednesdays. He can be reached at opinions@dailyillini.com.
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