In the opinion sector of Monday’s newspaper, there is a letter called “Communist movement discredited” (Mar. 3, pg. 10). 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 morality 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 equates the communist organization with fascists. Well, any regime has blood on its hands. The capitalist regimes do, too, and maybe the imperialist regimes have more. Any nation or people has the freedom to choose its own regime. History tells us that it is no good to impose a regime or ideology on a nation.
In this sense, I think Boston University and its administration have done nothing wrong. In the contemporary world, especially in a country so well-known for its freedom of speech and in a university where heralding advanced knowledge and freedom is presupposed, I think different voices should be heard, no matter whether the voice is from the 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.
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