In a world saturated with discussions about changing climates, economic uncertainty, social apathy, and civil unrest, at least we can count on the unwavering certainty that accompanies the revolving door of political hypocrisy. I was compelled to get this editorial out sooner rather than later because, with all that is occurring in the nation—and more specifically this state—I have no idea how long it will be before my opinionated printed product becomes relegated to black-market contraband, or worse, outright sedition.
There’s a good chance that many who read the first two sentences of this editorial would find it easily dismissible, saying something like: “That’s a bit of an extreme perspective,” or perhaps even worse, foolishly embracing the idea, “That will never happen here.”
However, despite what you would like to believe, it seems this is the direction we are already headed, and unfortunately, many of you are urging it forward.
Other than the occasional sound bite heard while scrolling through the DMC’s social media feeds, I knew little about Charlie Kirk before his assassination in front of an audience on a Utah campus.
However, one thing is for certain— and regardless of his beliefs— I find one trait he embraced to be among the most admirable, and one far too lacking in society today: he welcomed dissension. Extending an open invitation to opposition takes courage, and that is rare. Facing it with practiced nobility is rarer still.
Political theorist and British philosopher John Stuart Mill said in his inaugural address at the University of St. Andrews in 1867: “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.”
I would like to think that even non-believers are familiar with the story of David and Goliath. Void of armor, with three river stones, a well-honed skill set, and a mountain of faith, David faced and struck down his enemy.
Yet I would argue that perhaps an even more courageous and faithful man was Nathan, who appeared in the following book to rebuke David for his actions and infidelity.
It takes courage to stand up to an enemy on the battlefield. It takes a much deeper courage to hold the king—especially if he is a friend—accountable within his own chambers.
If that were to happen in the Oval Office today, the words would not be, “I have sinned against Jehovah.” They would be: “You’re fired.”
So when I hear that a U.S. President springboards a widely attended memorial of an assassinated activist into a political rally to boast about himself, it tends to sit in my stomach like a mixture of vanilla extract and crude oil. It forces me to recall the words of Evelyn Beatrice Hall: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.”
But when I learn that a Texas governor pressured a state university to expel a student for mocking the assassination, that flammable mixture in the pit of my stomach ignites… and it burns furiously against the hypocrisy of it.
After a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, turned violent in 2017, alt-right speaker Richard Spencer signed on to speak at a similar rally in College Station. Texas A&M canceled it due to safety concerns. Universities faced pushback for restricting or canceling appearances by conservative speakers who argued they were being unfairly silenced.
In response, the 86th Texas Legislature passed SB 18, which required all outdoor spaces on university campuses to be designated as open forums for public speech, and prohibited universities from considering anticipated controversy when deciding whether to allow a speaker on campus.
In June 2019, Governor Greg Abbott signed that bill. Yet just six years later, in 2025, that same leader called for the expulsion of a student who voiced opposition during one of those public college events.
It makes me wonder: if the leaders of our land can so easily justify silencing what will be the voices of tomorrow with the threat of expulsion, how long will it be before they attempt to silence the opinions of today with the threat of imprisonment? If the elected determine whose voices should be heard, then sooner or later, none of ours will.