Open Letter: Stanford Academic Freedom Declaration

Many thanks to Ethics Alarms for bring this Open Letter to my attention.

Here is an open letter that I can get behind, it’s regarding academic freedom and freedom of speech and how they are rapidly declining in academic institutions, including universities, professional societies, journals, and funding agencies. What’s happening on our college campuses directly and indirectly impacts the next generation(s) of leaders in the United States of America and abroad. The current climate of undermining freedoms including free speech will have far reaching effects for many years to come if we don’t somehow put a stop to it now.

Stanford Academic Freedom Declaration

Freedom of speech is a fundamental core of freedom in the United States of America. It is fundamental that We the People can freely speak our minds without the fear of retaliation from the regressive 21st century cancel culture raining down intimidation, persecution and destroying lives simply for having dissenting views. The movement to silence opposing viewpoints instead of having open debate with each other is grounded in totalitarianism and an existential threat to American culture, society and the building blocks of the United States of America.

Remember the words of Benjamin Franklin who said that “Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety”. Freedom is a core foundation of liberty. Apathy and silence will be used as enabling justification tools for the kinds of suppression we’re seeing, so if you don’t stand up for freedom now the anti freedom advocates will see that as condoning their activism. Don’t rationalize what’s clearly anti-American with an “ends justifies the means” outlook because someday the tables may be turned and it might be opinions like yours that are targeted.

Here are a few related definitions of liberty that I found online.

“The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views.”

“Freedom from arbitrary or despotic control.”

“Freedom from control, interference, obligation, restriction, hampering conditions, etc.; power or right of doing, thinking, speaking, etc., according to choice.”

The culture, society, institutions and government of the United States of America should be the pinnacle of freedom and promotion of liberty throughout the world, not a willing participant in the suppression of those core foundations. Our actions speak volumes to the rest of the world, let freedom and liberty be the core of those actions.

Without the effort, there can be no ripples, so be one of the pebbles in the pond and please consider standing up for freedom and liberty and add your support to this open letter.