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An excellent opinion piece by Amanda Gutterman…

… a Columbia University English major, examines the complex psychology of writerly constraint in the face of scandals that demand a strong response. Gutterman wonders why, even having seen Inside Job, and gotten angry about the apparent involvement of Columbia University professors in conflicts of interest and non-disclosure, she took so long to write about it.

[T]he most insidious kind of censorship—the hardest to recognize, the hardest to combat—is self-censorship, the persistent imaginative failure that prevents us from even recognizing what we should be writing about.

In the Internet age, bravery in student journalism is not trailing a military unit on the Iraqi front lines. Rather, it is the willingness to address controversial issues as they surface, not once these points of view have become popular. Our brand of fear—which is frankly selfish—censors our thoughts almost unnoticed. Next time, let’s skip the delayed reaction. I for one hope to do better.

Margaret Soltan, April 27, 2011 4:09PM
Posted in: free speech

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One Response to “An excellent opinion piece by Amanda Gutterman…”

  1. University Diaries » Speaking of self-censorship… Says:

    […] and the basic moral imperative to call out corruption when you see it, all professors — all free thinkers — should be keeping a close eye on the University of […]

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