By Gillian Crist
Editor-in-Chief
The Ranger is an independent news source. The content in this publication does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Amarillo College or its staff. Our editorial policy can be found under the staff list on page two.
That being said, as Editor-in-Chief, I will always stand by my staff and their articles, regardless of whether they reflect my personal opinions.
Freedom of speech is a nonpartisan issue. We should not punish those simply exercising their First Amendment rights.
Speech that you disagree with isn’t hate speech. It isn’t invalid, it isn’t “fake news.’ It’s simply an opinion you disagree with, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
The political divide in America has become greater than ever. Our parties used to hold one another accountable and work to improve the condition of our country. Now, radicalism has created a hatred so deep that there is no possibility of working in unison. I’m sure the idea of our leaders sitting in a circle, holding hands while singing “Kumbaya,” is far out the window, but why can’t they as a collective, work together for the good of the people they represent?
Growing up, my father worked in journalism. Anytime my sister or I got political, to our dismay, my father would play devil’s advocate. This taught me to look beyond what I may think is right and see the bigger picture. As a student journalist, I have learned to separate my personal beliefs from news writing. I agree that many mainstream news networks are used to push a message, but when people who hold a different opinion are taken off the air, we encounter the issue of state-run media, you know, what many dictatorships have.
Ultimately, radicalism just creates radicalism. The most patriotic thing we can do is think about ALL Americans, not just the ones we like. When the freedom of speech and expression is infringed, we lose much of the progress that has been made. We should not self-impose a modern dark age on ourselves. If we approach our education and decision-making process with an open mind, can be more united.
We cannot cling to a single politician or party like a cat on a tree. We cannot blindly follow the leader. If we cannot find middle ground with our “opponents,” we will never grow together, we will be stuck in a cycle of separation.
Our hate and division are the biggest threats to all of our freedoms.
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