Fear of Information

Convicted Bomber Invited to Speak at University

When did our society become so afraid of information that we want to refuse adults the right to decide if they want to hear a lecture? I personally would be fascinated to hear this man's story, the who's, what's, and why's. This doesn't mean I agree, or disagree, with his actions, it means I enjoy and value knowledge. Without speaking with those who have committed crimes, everything we know about those crimes is speculation. You can't possibly understand, or even know, a person's motives unless you speak with them. Maybe a greater understanding of the thought process behind terrorists would give us little bit more assistance than the unsuccessful beatings at Gitmo.

Honestly, though, this is not a question of agree or disagree, right or wrong. This is a University. The students are adults. This is not mandated as part of their grade. This is an informational lecture, they may participate or not. They may agree or disagree. They may walk away changed or have more conviction of their established morals. The choice is theirs. Our country is so afraid of "indoctrination" that we are willing to raise sheep, those who follow blindly without ever being given all of the details. Information is power and we should be teaching our children to embrace it, not be afraid of it.