When conservative writer and commentator Daniel Pipes comes to town today for a Spotlight Series speech at the Memorial Union, he has the right to state his opinions.
Pipes, whose Campus-watch.org Web site facilitates the broadcast of a severely anti-Islam stance beyond partisan lines, has drawn a steady stream of criticism for his statements, which pass judgment on Middle Eastern studies at universities across the country and condemn all but the most passive practicing Muslims for the \danger"" their faith poses.
Considering all these things however, The Daily Cardinal still supports the right for Pipes to speak on campus, an opinion in which we hope our fellow students join us. While we respect the opinions of individuals printed in this paper and others who oppose Pipes' speech, we believe the Constitution guarantees free speech to everyone, as long as their speech does not incite violence or directly threaten a population.
When anti-reparations advocate David Horowitz came to campus last year, students protested his appearance, held up masks at his Distinguished Lecture Series speech and allowed the spectacle to reign gloriously over the campus. By scaling back protest against both Horowitz and Pipes, their words draw the attention they deserve. By allowing his speech, we continue the ""sifting and winnowing"" of ideas on which our university was founded.
Reasoned argument and critical thought should render Pipes' message what it already is: hollow.
