(This post may contain disputed claims. We make no assertions as to the validity of the information presented by our Opinion Columnist. We are an opinion blog, not a traditional news outlet, and this post should be treated as such. Enjoy.)After demanding that a professor is punished for making “Islamophobic” remarks, leftists were shocked and outraged by the university’s unexpected response.
Because of the left’s fascist tendencies, anyone who openly expresses a differing viewpoint must be suppressed by any means necessary. This demagoguery has bled over into higher education as post-modernists transform campuses into mills for producing neo-Marxist ideologues. Unfortunately, many universities indulge this tyrannical mob outrage often by censuring, reprimanding, or even expelling the offending party.
One of the indicators of the left’s overreach is undeniably art. If comedians, poets, and other creative forces are unable to publicly present their craft, it is a sign that the left has gone too far. As both a respected poet and lecturer, Michael Blackburn has encountered the left’s fascist crackdown throughout his career. However, this time, he has an unlikely defender backing him.
Since 2012, English professor and noted poet Michael Blackburn has made politically incorrect statements, artistically mocking the liberal narrative on issues including “the patriarchy” and Islamic terrorism. Unsurprisingly, these witty remarks have captured the hair-trigger sensibilities of liberal activists, who would love nothing more than to get Blackburn fired for blaspheming protected minority groups.
“If the left hadn’t told me the EDL were the real threat I would have carried on thinking it was machete-wielding, Koran-quoting Muslims,” Blackburn tweeted in 2013.
“I know the media haven’t told us but I suspect these terror attacks were carried out by Muslims because of Islam,” he wrote in 2017.
In 2012, Blackburn also tweeted out “Thank God all those papers going on about patriarchy and the oppression of women are out of the way for another year,” causing a stir among his liberal counterparts.
Expectedly, these satirical posts have prompted outrage from dedicated leftists hellbent on silencing the opposition. What wasn’t expected, however, was his employer’s response. According to The Tab, England’s Lincoln University addressed the indignation over Blackburn’s politically incorrect and “Islamophobic” posts by reminding those calling for his reprimand that everyone has “rights to hold different beliefs and views,” even those with whom they disagree.
A University of Lincoln spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on complaints made against individual members of staff. As a University we have a commitment to equality and diversity, and we treat each other with dignity and respect.
“Equally, we recognise individuals’ rights to hold different beliefs and views. We uphold the principle of free speech exercised responsibly within the law in all our activities; the right to think and speak freely and to explore ideas is fundamental to the idea of a university.”
Of course, left-leaning ideologues were offended at the notion that individuals have the right to think and speak freely, arguing that because Blackburn holds conservative views, he shouldn’t be allowed to teach.
Mollie, an English student at Lincoln, said: “I think the tweets are completely unacceptable, especially given his position as an influencer to younger generations.
“The university’s unwillingness to do anything about his attitude is hurtful because it almost normalises this behaviour, but I do understand that they are in a difficult position.”
However, the university is standing in support of Blackburn’s right to free speech, reiterating that he has the authority to dictate his beliefs just as his liberal counterparts do, showcasing that the left does not hold a monopoly on the right to self-expression.
They continued: “Upholding academic freedom and respecting the views of others are joint commitments shared by all members of the university and we have a clear Code of Practice on the Freedom of Speech, which is designed to ensure that freedom of speech within the law is secured for all staff, students and visiting speakers.”
While the right to speak freely is of the utmost importance, speaking truthfully is also crucial to maintaining a successful society. Much to the left’s chagrin, Blackburn’s parodic rhetoric is supported by the Quran and accepted hadith, as The Washington Standard illustrates.
And were jihad terror attacks carried out by Muslims because of Islam? Let’s take 9/11. In his letter to himself that he wrote just before the 9/11 attacks, 9/11 hijacker Mohamed Atta wrote: “Read al-Tawba and Anfal [traditional war chapters from the Qur’an]and reflect on their meanings and remember all of the things God has promised for the martyrs.” Did he not think that he was carrying out his attack because he was a Muslim who wanted to obey Islamic teachings? And 9/11 plotters Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Ramzi bin As-Shibh, Walid bin ‘Attash, Mustafa Ahmed Al-Hawsawi and ‘Ali ‘abd Al-‘Aziz ‘Ali wrote: “We ask to be near to God, we fight you and destroy you and terrorize you. The Jihad in god’s [sic]cause is a great duty in our religion.” Were they not Muslims plotting mass murder because of Islam?
Incredibly, Lincoln University has chosen to defend professor Michael Blackburn’s right to free speech instead of kowtowing to mob rule. While leftists have undeniably fought to silence voices of dissent, they have aligned themselves with an ideology that likewise seeks to suppress them. Thankfully, there are conservatives to defend the exceptional right to freedom of speech, regardless of the left’s suicidal political mission.
