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UNH Professor Faces Criticism for 9-11 Theories
listen:
  Governor John Lynch has jumped into the fray to criticize the theories of a University of New Hampshire professor. Dr. William Woodward is a member of Scholars for 9/11 Truth which holds that the Bush Administration may have been involved in the September 11th terrorist attacks. And he's discussed those theories in his class. Governor Lynch has called the assertions "completely crazy and offensive," and he says he plans to discuss his concerns with UNH Trustees. Earlier this week, Senator Judd Gregg called it inappropriate that someone at a taxpayer funded university would take positions that are an affront to American sensibilities. Gregg is also quoted as saying that he believes there are limits to academic freedom and freedom of speech. Dr. Bruce Mallory is the Provost at UNH. He oversees the curriculum at all the schools and collges at the university....and its academic mission. He tells NHPR's Mark Bevis that the university has no written rules on what can be said in class. Web resources:
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I was more offended by Senator Gregg's comment that freedom of speech has limits and that a professor paid by taxpayers should not express opinions that would offend the taxpayers. We have soldiers who believe we are fighting for freedoms. Does he think that freedom of speech should only be for pleasant speech? Are their different limits to speech depending on which party is being criticized? Remember our state motto.
If the professor requires agreement for a good grade, I would object on the grounds that it would be unfair leverage. However, if he allows and encourages students to refute his conclusions with their own, he will be doing them a service for which they and we are paying, that is, they are learning to think and defend their own ideas. It is, after all, a university, not an elementary school. If students are sitting there just taking notes without offering alternative conclusions or questioning his observations, I would be disappointed. We should be vigilant about questioning some of the wacky things we hear every day.
I was surprised that Gov. Lynch is getting into it, but I admire his courage and hope and trust that he will be fair about it.
I was dismayed that Governor Lynch has jumped into this fray. Freedom of speech is disappearing in this country at an alarming rate, and John Lynch should be standing up to protect it, not joining the usual suspects in the "shut up you're being unpatriotic" refrain. Professor Woodward is encouraging students to think and debate and challenge and that's his job. How is it that Ann Coulter can promote her whacko theories to millions, and neither John Lynch nor any of the other politicians currenlty jumping on this bandwagon in an election season) are calling for her to be censored or fired.
I found Mark Bevis line of questioning of the Provost very disturbing and something I would not expect from NHPR. He was fishing for a story and trying to sensationalize it. It is amazing how fragile First Amendment Rigths are when challenged. One need only to recall that the Bay of Tonkin Resolution and the consequent attack of North Vietnam was based upon falsified intelligence - something immaginable at that time. I know highly educated, patriotic, God fearing folk who do not consider the claims of the Scholars for 9/11 Truth improbable. These critics I would argue are far better informed on the matter than those that criticize Woodward. I am sad to say that my opinion of NHPR has taken on a dramatic decline as I have expected more thoughtful and responsible journalism. As for Govenor Lynch and Sen. Greg, such behaviors are par for the course for the current political "leadership".
Instead of the Governor John Lynch and Senator Judd Gregg calling Dr. William Woodward and his assertions crazy, instead of trying to limit freedoms, he should back up the Government beliefs by pushing for the debate (http://www.teamliberty.net/id245.html) against the Scholars for 9/11 Truth. Which, to date only has 1 taker, Mr. Frank R. Greening. By pushing for this debate and showing how "Crazy" this movement is, it would all be put to rest once and for all.
I find it amazing, since it is all debunked and can be easily explained, at least that is what Popular Science and many of the Main Stream Media and press told us, that this debate is not being used to stop the theories.
I for one am waiting for someone or anyone with the intellectual power of the Scholars for 9/11 Truth to defend the Commission, FMEA, NIST, and Popular Science reports.
Why is it that Popular Science got to review photos, reports and documents to support the government position and no other magazine or new paper can see these, let alone the American Public?
It is all to much like…hmmmm…a conspiracy?