But freedom is under attack at the colleges and universities where it ought to be most valued, including here at MSU. The intellectual part of that attack takes place under the names “multiculturalism,” “diversity” or “cultural relativism.” The actual attack takes place through “speech codes,” prohibitions of “hate speeches” and, here at MSU, through “anti-discrimination” policies.

America practices a process for political decision-making that reflects three simple and easily observable principles that govern the relationship of individuals to one another and to their government. The first is that the majority rules, based on the free electoral choices made by individuals. The second is that individuals who make up minorities have the rights to freedom of conscience, expression and organization that give them the possibility of becoming a majority. The third is that individuals who make up majorities and minorities accept and honor the first two principles as the “ground rules” for all other political struggles.

The university-based assault on this notion of freedom exalts a “multiculturalism” in which the U.S. idea of freedom is merely culturally determined and not fundamental to human nature. Not all people are, in its view, capable of this freedom or even want it. Further, the “moral” argument is made that this Western idea of freedom should not be “imposed” on others.

More fundamental still, the idea of cultural relativism is anchored not in individual rights but in group, class, race or cultural identity. In effect, individuals have no rights; indeed, the idea of freedom is grounded in individual rights that have no meaning in the context of multiculturalism or cultural relativism.

This attack on freedom in our universities has three origins. First, many faculty oppose any possibility that America might become militarily involved in “spreading democracy.” Second, given militant and violent threats from secular and theocratic dictatorships, faculty cultural relativists resort to passivity as a safer course than confrontation. And third, cultural relativism is consistent with a distorted ethic of “tolerance” widely held and acclaimed by liberal faculty. “I’m OK; you’re OK” has metastasized into “my political system is OK; your political system is OK.”

Faculty who exalt this kind of multiculturalism thereby shirk their duty to value, defend our freedom and undermine the very ground they themselves stand upon. In particular, such faculty cannot credibly respond to attempts to destroy our freedom because doing so “offends” some accusers’ cultures. More broadly still, faculty cultural relativists cannot credibly respond to those who would use democratic process to abolish democracy because they consider the collective will to be superior to individual rights. And worst of all, such faculty inculcate these doctrines in the classroom and thereby intellectually disarm the students they teach.

An organization started here at MSU last year, Conservative Faculty and Staff, is committed to defending the intellectual foundation of our freedom and freedom’s practical exercise here on campus. We will invite appropriate speakers to campus and address student organizations and groups to make these points.

We also will identify the attempts to suppress freedom of speech (often carried out by faculty in classrooms in the name of “diversity” and by administrators implementing speech codes and anti-discrimination policies) and defend those so attacked, especially students. Ideological indoctrination in our classrooms and suppression of free speech in public forums is unacceptable and we will oppose these utterly and vigorously.

To summarize this as simply and clearly as possible, we will protect and defend freedom here at MSU. To learn more, contact us at cfsatmsu@gmail.com.

Fred Fico

journalism professor