July 11, 2003

Heckling Proves Graduation Speaker's Point

To the Editor:

I am writing to comment on the story about the heckling of Chris Hedges' graduation message at Rockford College ("Speechless," Short Subjects, June 6). The student and audience intolerance of Mr. Hedges' dissent may actually validate his underlying message. Aggressive silencing of antiwar discourse reflects what appears to be a growing cultural ideology of patriotic nationalism that demands conformity without question. ...

Such antidemocratic behavior at an