Judson Cox, September 6, 2004

On August 25th of this year, I went back to college. I chose Lees McRae College, a small, Presbyterian college in the mountains of North Carolina. I expected a degree of liberalism common to most colleges and universities, but I hoped for diversity of opinion and a healthy debate. Except for a handful of students, I have encountered no ideological diversity at Lees McRae College, but a group-think style of hard left indoctrination.

I was not shocked when a literature class devolved into a uniform trashing of our military. I was not surprised when the professor, and nearly every one of the students, described our soldiers as uneducated, poor, unintelligent, low class mercenaries sent to impose American imperialism on foreign innocents, or when they said that America had no business engaging in foreign wars. I was not even surprised when they said that the Iraqi people were better off under Saddam's sadist dictatorship than American liberation. These are the shibboleths of the left, and to be expected in circles of higher learning. They are acceptable (though pathetic) expressions of academic freedom.

What troubles me is that Lees McRae College is including "Fahrenheit 9/11" among the few College Programs the school will present this semester. This film will be shown as a documentary, without a disclaimer addressing the many falsehoods it contains. There will be no rebuttal, and no presentation of a differing viewpoint. By sanctioning this film as an official college program, the college is tacitly endorsing the seditious conspiracy theories and blatant lies of the man John McCain rightly branded a "disingenuous film maker." One may wonder why an institution presumably founded for the purpose of furthering knowledge would present a malicious work of fiction as factual documentary, but I have come to expect little more from the supposed pedagogues of the modern university. There is a much more important issue that must be addressed.

Hezbollah, the terrorist organization responsible for the most American deaths prior to 9/11, has offered to distribute Michael Moore's propagandist work in Muslim countries. Hezbollah recognizes "Fahrenheit 9/11" as a tool to recruit terrorists to kill Americans. Moore, whose hatred of America is as extreme as any member of al Qaeda, is pleased to fill the role of propagandist for our enemies. By blatantly providing aid and comfort to our enemies, Michael Moore is committing very high profile treason.

Using student funds to pay for a College Program that includes "Fahrenheit 9/11" is comparable to writing a check to Osama bin Laden.

I cannot tolerate my tuition being used to support America's enemies. I support academic freedom, the free exchange of ideas and a healthy debate, but I should not have to compromise my loyalties just to gain a diploma. It may be too late for me to withdraw from college and receive a refund of my tuition. However, with your help, such drastic action may not be necessary. I am sure that the donors to Lees McCrae College, the parents of current students and most of the students themselves would not approve of their money being used in this manner.

I urge each of you, my friends and readers, to visit the college web site. I ask you to contact the College President, Earl J. Robinson (direct line 828-898-8785 or through the campus switch board: 828-898-5241), and each of the Trustees. Please express to them your concerns, and make every effort to contact anyone you may have any connection to Lees McRae College. Please check out the "Bobcat Boards" discussion forum to see what other students are saying about this program (hint: nearly all of those who are in favor of presenting "Fahrenheit 9/11" are faculty, those against are all students). Also, if you really want to go the extra mile, please write letters to the editors of North Carolina's newspapers.

It may be that the only way we can convince our colleges to promote education instead of treason is to publicize their actions and threaten their funding.

Judson Cox is a political columnist from the mountains of North Carolina. He is quickly gaining recognition as one of the most popular and influential voices of his generation. As a college student, and a young entrepreneur, he has a unique perspective on matters of politics, economics and culture.

Copyright © 2004 Judson Cox