Dear Editor,
As a journalist and an American I am a big fan of the First Amendment. One of my favorite parts of it is the part about freedom of speech, which covers freedom of expression.
While I think the incident where some Halloween partygoers at one of ETSU’s fraternities went dressed in “black-face” was rude and distasteful, I have to say that it was well within their rights to do so. Part of living in a free country is having the right to be free to be stupid, ignorant or even rude. People with opposing opinions should point this out and voice their concerns, but to even suggest that these students’ right to express themselves should be restricted is purely against all that America stands for.
We cannot waver in defending our constitutional rights ever. I am not defending the choice these students made in dressing in “blackface,” nor am I in any way attempting to undermine the social and historical significance this symbol holds for many people; however, I am and will defend their right to do it.
It is my feeling that only through dialogue can the true significance of this event be brought to light.
This may be an opportunity for our community to raise awareness of lingering stereotypes and misconceptions of each other and thus be able to turn this happening into something positive, rather than a chance to blame one another which only serves to foster hate and division. There is, however, a fine line between freedom of expression and hate speech. I do not condone or consider hate speech a right and do not defend it, nor do I believe that the Constitution does either.
– William Kai Stephanos

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