DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Students for a Democratic Society, Herrnstein lecture, February-June, 1972 | 1972-03-05 Des Moines Register Article: 'Free Speech Issue'

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Students for a Democratic Society, Herrnstein lecture, February-June, 1972

1972-03-05 Des Moines Register Article: 'Free Speech Issue'

DMSR
3/5/72
OVER THE COFFEE
Free Speech Issue
Sam Currier was standing in the banks of the Potomac, attempting to throw a dollar across, when his great and good friend, Albatross Ives, happened by.
"Sam!" he said. " I didn't know you were in Washington. What are you doing here?"
" I came here to celebrate the birthday of George Washington."
"But that was two weeks ago."
"I know, I missed it. I can never remember whether he was born on the second Monday of the month or the third."
"How come you're standing there throwing dollars into the river?"
"I thought that if I could throw a dollar across the Potomac I coud prove that the father of our country did it too; that it just wasn't a myth."
"Sam, it's hard enough when you use silver dollars. It's murder with those paper ones."
"You know, I wonder how he kept them balled up long enough to get any distance. Say, what's happening back in Iowa?"
"PLENTY. I just got back from Iowa City where a bunch of students kept a Harvard psychologist from delivering a lecture."
"I see. They were afraid it would reflect poorly on their parents, eh?"
"Not exactly. They felt that his theories suggested that poor people in our system are poor because they're dumb, rather than because they are the victims of the system itself."
"That's a pretty good theory to have if you're not poor. I can see why the students didn't think much of it, but why didn't they let him speak, anyway. It's a free country, isn't it?"
"Sam, you're talking like a running dog of the capitalistic warmongers again."
"I do the best I can."
"These students happened to be members of the Students for a Democratic Society. They stand ready to man the barricades against oppression, repression and, when push comes to shove, pression itself."
"And they thought this Harvard guy was going to oppress, repress and press his audience."
"EXACTLY. They felt his message was too powerful and persuasive for impressionable intellectuals to be exposed to without suffering permanent damage."
"Gee, isn't that what guys like Joe McCarthy used to say about Communists speaking on college campuses?"
"Sam. These kids were born in years like 1948. They think Joe McCarthy is the senator who ran for president four years ago."
"That's a shame."
"Why?"
"They should know more about Joe McCarthy. They have a lot in common with him."
"That's an unkind thing to say about idealistic youth, Sam."
"I know, but you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs."
-Donald Kaul

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DMSR 3/5/72 OVER THE COFFEE Free Speech Issue Sam Currier was standing in the banks of the Potomac, attempting to throw a dollar across, when his great and good friend, Albatross Ives, happened by. "Sam!" he said. " I didn't know you were in Washington. What are you doing here?" " I came here to celebrate the birthday of George Washington." "But that was two weeks ago." "I know, I missed it. I can never remember whether he was born on the second Monday of the month or the third." "How come you're standing there throwing dollars into the river?" "I thought that if I could throw a dollar across the Potomac I coud prove that the father of our country did it too; that it just wasn't a myth." "Sam, it's hard enough when you use silver dollars. It's murder with those paper ones." "You know, I wonder how he kept them balled up long enough to get any distance. Say, what's happening back in Iowa?" "PLENTY. I just got back from Iowa City where a bunch of students kept a Harvard psychologist from delivering a lecture." "I see. They were afraid it would reflect poorly on their parents, eh?" "Not exactly. They felt that his theories suggested that poor people in our system are poor because they're dumb, rather than because they are the victims of the system itself." "That's a pretty good theory to have if you're not poor. I can see why the students didn't think much of it, but why didn't they let him speak, anyway. It's a free country, isn't it?" "Sam, you're talking like a running dog of the capitalistic warmongers again." "I do the best I can." "These students happened to be members of the Students for a Democratic Society. They stand ready to man the barricades against oppression, repression and, when push comes to shove, pression itself." "And they thought this Harvard guy was going to oppress, repress and press his audience." "EXACTLY. They felt his message was too powerful and persuasive for impressionable intellectuals to be exposed to without suffering permanent damage." "Gee, isn't that what guys like Joe McCarthy used to say about Communists speaking on college campuses?" "Sam. These kids were born in years like 1948. They think Joe McCarthy is the senator who ran for president four years ago." "That's a shame." "Why?" "They should know more about Joe McCarthy. They have a lot in common with him." "That's an unkind thing to say about idealistic youth, Sam." "I know, but you can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs." -Donald Kaul