Letter: From the only conservative writer at the Flagler Gargoyle

Hannah Bleau
Flagler College Class of ’14

Dear HCN Editor and Flagler Gargoyle readers:

What are we supposed to walk away with as we graduate from college? An increased sense of self? Greater critical thinking skills? A more opened mind? That’s what the promise is. We spend years writing, reading and forming opinions of our own. By the time you’re a senior in college, you should be well acquainted with the concept of the free exchange of ideas.

Unfortunately, that seems to be anything but the case. When I was a freshman, a professor told me that higher education was all about being “enriched and broadened by the college experience.” As an individual who just walked across the stage and received my diploma a few days ago, I say with full confidence that’s certainly not the case.

Controversy exists on both sides of anything. Information has a natural bias. You can run a red light and get mad about it, but it doesn’t change the fact that you broke the law. We float through college believing that truth is subjective. Yet when truth comes under fire, we’re told the controversial opinion is absolutely wrong. Truth is offensive, whether you debate it from a religious or political point of view. Interestingly enough, those who claim to be devoid of absolute truth with a self-created moral compass are the quickest to viciously attack anyone whose belief differs from their own. Our whole life, we’re told to be objective and examine all the facts. But if your facts or reasoning fails to line up with popular thought, prepare to be brutally attacked.

Politically involved millennials pride themselves on being the most “tolerant” generation in history. At this point, everyone on campus knows I hold what progressives deem to be “unpopular” views, and that’s OK. I have friends and family members who disagree with me frequently. But one thing I’d like to address is the ridiculous double standard, which happens to be perpetuated by some professors at Flagler and colleges all across the country.

The unfortunate reality is that students walk out of college as the most narrow-minded, judgmental, political ideologues in society. (It’s not surprising. After all many professors make students feel inferior and ill-informed if they get their news anywhere other than the New York Times or NPR.) The fallacy is that progressives are open minded, free thinkers who consider all possibilities, but that couldn’t be further than the truth.

I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to write articles for the Flagler College Gargoyle for two years. In my time, I’ve written a number of articles, and most recently some deemed as “insensitive hate speech.” I’ve been told my “disgusting and deplorable” opinion makes some students “literally sick to their stomach.” I’ve also been pegged as an “ignorant cow and a blatantly transphobic and racist” who is “equivalent to neo-Nazis and the KKK.”

Who would commit those kinds of inaccurate, cheap personal attacks? Why, that would be the most tolerant generation in history.

These narrow-minded, groupthink individuals label hate on any thought, idea or opinion that differs from their own. You think gender-neutral bathrooms are not a good idea? Bam. You’re a homophobe. You think the Ferguson rioters destroying innocent business (most of which were minority owned) and handing cops jars of urine is bad behavior? Boom. You obviously hate African-Americans. You don’t buy the manufactured “War on Women? Pow. You clearly think a women’s place is in the kitchen, raising children, and hand darning socks for their husbands. You openly talk about Jesus Christ as your Savior? You’re a bigoted religious freak.

If we’re taught all these years to think critically and not jump to conclusions, why does it happen to one side? Why is one side allowed to say anything they want, and the other is heavily edited, controlled and censored? Can you imagine if people on the other side reacted to left-leaning articles the same way? It wouldn’t be tolerated. Class and tact aren’t exclusive to one political party.

The left, the supposed champions the “little guy,” claims to advance minority groups’ opinions. I think it’s safe to say I’m in the minority, so why do angry professors and students snuff out my voice?

Speaking from experience, it seems many students on campus only want a paper that publishes articles that reinforces their own personal belief system. Anything contrary to their own emotions, reason or logic is immediately labeled as hate speech and nit picked for perceived factual errors.

We’re all adults here. We should be capable of having a civil discussion or debate without demonizing each other with cheap insults and name-calling. Offer another argument. Write a piece yourself.

People will believe what they want about you. They can throw insults, offer cheap attacks and try advance a deformed caricature of who you really are. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter. The way you live your life is your testimony. Not what a bunch of angry people overwrought with emotion say about you.

I’m not sorry for my opinions, but one thing has disappointed me, and that’s the stunning lack of tolerance and tremendous double standard of my fellow classmates, some faculty members and the Flagler College Gargoyle staff and overseers. The most tolerant generation can’t tolerate me.

But it’s not all bad. I leave Flagler grateful for the encouraging words from some faculty members who supported me all the way through. Future conservatives of Flagler, don’t let them bully you. Truth doesn’t need a flying buttress. It can stand alone.