I was outraged after reading the recent article in The Crimson White titled “KA cancels 2010 Old South parade.” It is obvious to me that many members of this University need an education on what makes this great country we live in so great.
Kappa Alpha’s rights to peaceful assembly and free speech have been violated. The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law “respecting an establishment of religion,” impeding the free exercise of religion, infringing on the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.
If the Kappa Alpha fraternity is not allowed to celebrate and honor its origins by way of peaceful assembly, there is no debate that all of our rights to free speech are violated.
Alpha Kappa Alpha needs to grow up and learn to tolerate the beliefs and customs of others. It is a disgrace that, at an institution of higher learning, the right of any organization to assemble and exercise their right to free speech is in jeopardy. This is a clear case of one organization that is obviously prejudiced (Alpha Kappa Alpha), which is obviously being shown preferential treatment, and another organization having its right to free speech and peaceful assembly violated. Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both, as Benjamin Franklin said.
It is obvious that Alpha Kappa Alpha should be disbanded and boycotted for making such an unlawful and hypocritical request. What nerve this organization must have to push its customs and beliefs onto another and then make an unlawful request. Someone may not appreciate the opinions of others, but who do they think they are to deny another their right to peaceful assembly and free speech? Are not the customs and believes are all people important?
William Rainey is a graduate student in civil engineering.
