In the “opinion” sector of today’s newspaper, there is an article called “Communist movement discredited.” I was astounded by the author’s extremely biased opinion.

Though I do not necessarily agree with what the Sparticist League advocates, I think what the author rebutted is too much. Ideology is something that has no simple solution, and there is no easy right or wrong, evil or moral in terms of ideology, for it is greatly related to the history and culture of a nation and the education and experience of a person. Therefore, it is not justified to say which ideology is better or which regime based on a certain ideology is superior.

The author says that “tens of millions are dead at the hands of communist regimes” and calls people governing China, Cuba, North Korea and Vietnam “murderous tyrants.” Thus he equals the communist organization with fascists. Well, any regime has blood on its hands. The captalist regime has, too, and maybe the imperialist regime has more. Any nation or people has the freedom to choose its own regime. History tells us that it is no good to impost a regime or ideology on a nation.

In this sense, I think BU and administration have done nothing wrong. In the contemprorary world, expecially in a country that is so well-known for its freedom of speech and in the university where herald of advanced knowledge and freedom is presupposed, I think different voices should be heard, no matter whether the voice is from mainstream or not. It is the author’s right and freedom to extend his criticism. It is also other people’s freedom to express their opinion. As long as the discussion or debate is on the basis of equality and mutual respect, I think there is no need for BU to shut down any channel or clog any voice.