Taxpayer-funded East Carolina University gave fans a free lesson in Liberal Hypocrisy 101 when a dozen members of the marching band refused to play the national anthem or took a knee during an October 1 football game.
As Todd Starnes writes on his blog:
The stadium was filled with booing as the band prepared to perform its halftime show. “I am ashamed of this school for letting the band do this,” one irate reader posted on the university’s Facebook page. “Shame ECU, shame!”
… ECU Chancellor Cecil Staton released a statement defending the marching band’s disgraceful actions.
“While we acknowledge and understand the disappointment felt by many Pirate fans in response to the events at the beginning of today’s football game, we urge all Pirate students, supporters and participants to act with respect for each other’s views,” the chancellor wrote. He also affirmed “the rights of our students, staff and faculty to express their personal views.”
Oh really? So what would have happened if the marching band had formed the words “All Lives Matter” on the football field? Or “Make America Great Again”? Would that have been permissible?
It’s doubtful.
On college campuses, not all speech is free speech.
Universities only protect difference of opinion when the opinion is progressive.
Parents should take their outrage to the bank and “express their personal views” by canceling their checks to this university.