Civil Liberties

Most of us agree that the right to speak one’s mind is basic to democracies, including their universities. But in America’s liberal tradition, free speech was not only a goal, nor just the freedom to express one’s own views. It was a vital part of civil discourse in a pluralist society’s search for justice. Allowing an open exchange of views required both humility and a capacity to listen. It meant tolerating others’ opinions, while recognizing how complicated the world can be. The hope was that both freedom of expression and an open exchange of views, would lead to wise policy decisions. It might also create a culture of trust among citizens needed to preserve their political community.