Friday, March 20, 2009 | Reason : In the News | print version

Print | Comments |

Oklahoma Legislature Investigates Richard Dawkins' Free Speech

by Greg Lukianoff

Reposted from:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-lukianoff/oklahoma-legislature-inve_b_177473.html

Well, it's official: Oklahoma's state legislature is investigating the University of Oklahoma for hosting a speech by evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins.

As I noted in a post over the weekend at Dawkins' website, the legislature first considered two resolutions condemning both Dawkins and the theory of evolution as "an unproven and unpopular theory." (I highly recommend reading both of the proposed resolutions.) Despite their efforts, the legislature failed to prevent Dawkins from speaking on March 6 to an audience of thousands at the University of Oklahoma.

Last week, however, I received multiple reports that the legislature was now investigating the speech, and I wrote the University of Oklahoma President David Boren directly asking to know if this was true.

Sure enough, I just received confirmation today in a letter from the Open Records Office at the University of Oklahoma. The letter confirms that on the day of Dawkins' speech, Oklahoma State Representative Rebecca Hamilton requested substantial information relating to the speech from Vice President for Governmental Relations Danny Hilliard. Representative Hamilton's exhaustive request included demands for all e-mails and correspondence relating to the speech; a list of all money paid to Dawkins and the entities, public or private, responsible for this funding; and the total cost to the university, including, among other things, security fees, advertising, and even "faculty time spent promoting this event."

Rick Farmer, the director of committee staff for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, also wrote the University on March 12, requesting confirmation that Dawkins had indeed waived all compensation for the speech.

Now some of you--though I hope not too many--may wonder: "What's wrong with the legislature investigating a speech by a famous evolutionary biologist at a public university?" Well, a lot of things, actually. As I wrote in my post on Dawkins' website:

If this investigation is indeed taking place, what the state legislature needs to understand is that in court cases dating back to the days of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, even investigating clearly protected speech on the basis of its viewpoint violates the First Amendment.

Think about it: If every time a student or faculty member invited, say, Rick Warren to speak on campus, they knew they would be subjected to a thorough and time-consuming investigation by state officials, you can all but guarantee that schools across the country would think twice before inviting Rick Warren. This would be a great way for state legislatures to chill speech they dislike without ever having to find the speaker guilty of a single thing. Talk about your un-American activities.

Given the fact the legislature clearly is concerned with nothing other than Dawkins' viewpoint, such an investigation is improper and should end immediately.

Now that we know this investigation is going on, many questions still need to be answered: What does the state legislature plan to do with this information? Does this mean that any time Richard Dawkins or other evolutionary scientists give speeches about evolution in Oklahoma, they too will be investigated? And perhaps most importantly: Doesn't the Oklahoma legislature have anything better to do?

I think I know the answer to the last question, but I think it's time the Oklahoma Legislature answered the first two. Stay tuned.

Greg Lukianoff is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post, see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-lukianoff

Posted: Friday, March 20, 2009 | Permalink

Comments 1 - 50 of 103 | | View Alternate Comment Thread

Reload Comments | Back to Top | Page Numbers

1. Comment #353813 by Big T on March 20, 2009 at 12:21 pm

Ridiculous. Preposterous. Outrageous. And disgusting.

Other Comments by Big T

2. Comment #353815 by black wolf on March 20, 2009 at 12:24 pm

Could someone be sued for liability for filing frivolous demands?

Other Comments by black wolf

3. Comment #353817 by Verylee on March 20, 2009 at 12:26 pm

Three cheers for Richard Dawkins! (and U of O)
We rest our case.

Other Comments by Verylee

4. Comment #353818 by Philster61 on March 20, 2009 at 12:27 pm

Looks like the "Okie from Miskokie" stereotype is turning out to be true!!!

Other Comments by Philster61

5. Comment #353819 by j.mills on March 20, 2009 at 12:30 pm

Ay-ay-ay. Do these busy-bodies even have any legal right to all this info?

I know you can always say, "Haven't you got anything better to do?" - it's a bit of a cheap shot. But this was a peaceful speech that's already happened, as thousands of such speeches do every day. Really - haven't they got anything better to do?

Other Comments by j.mills

6. Comment #353820 by Eventhorizon on March 20, 2009 at 12:36 pm

I hope when this all blows over and comes to nothing somebody will investigate and fine these cretins for wasting your hard earned tax dollars

Other Comments by Eventhorizon

7. Comment #353821 by beanson on March 20, 2009 at 12:38 pm

wow- that's backward

Other Comments by beanson

8. Comment #353823 by Lucas on March 20, 2009 at 12:42 pm

Historically, Oklahoma has been the least valuable and thus least desirable chunk of land in the continental US. It was the third to last of the lower 48 to become a state at all, and was mostly used as a dumping ground for Native Americans that were living on more useful land farther east (my Cherokee forefathers among them). My great-grandfather was born on the res, and it was a shithole then. My grandmother was born off the res but in Oklahoma, and it was still a shithole. So much of a shithole, in fact, that John Steinbeck wrote a book about a poor Okie family trying to get the hell away from it. Unfortunately, Oklahoma is still a shithole to this day, and if "backwater" means anything in the US, it means Oklahoma.

Other Comments by Lucas

9. Comment #353826 by Diocletian on March 20, 2009 at 1:00 pm

No doubt, members of the Oklahoma State Legislation would love to hear from the defenders of Free Speech:

http://www.okhouse.gov/Members/OfficeMembers.aspx?JobOfficeID=19

Dr. Rick Farmer: email rickfarmer@okhouse.gov or phone 405.557.7460

Rep. Rebecca Hamilton: mail: rebeccahamilton@okhouse.gov or phone 405-557-7397

Other Comments by Diocletian

10. Comment #353829 by Sue G on March 20, 2009 at 1:10 pm

Well, it's official: Oklahoma has the silliest legislature of all states.

Other Comments by Sue G

11. Comment #353830 by anna09 on March 20, 2009 at 1:14 pm

As an American, I would just like to say, this is fucking embarrassing.

I don't understand how this issue even made it this far.

Other Comments by anna09

12. Comment #353833 by digibud on March 20, 2009 at 1:22 pm

I would hope the good folks at the University would send whatever information they are required by law to send and not one bit more.

Other Comments by digibud

13. Comment #353835 by toomanytribbles on March 20, 2009 at 1:25 pm

cretins.

Other Comments by toomanytribbles

14. Comment #353838 by toomanytribbles on March 20, 2009 at 1:26 pm

lol i just remembered the etymology and i looked it up at dictionary.com to write it nice and tidy:

cretin:
1770–80; < F; Franco-Provençal creitin, crestin human being, lit., Christian (hence one who is human despite deformities)

Other Comments by toomanytribbles

15. Comment #353839 by maton100 on March 20, 2009 at 1:30 pm

Incestuous vexation.

Other Comments by maton100

16. Comment #353840 by Dark Matter on March 20, 2009 at 1:35 pm

Questions to ask:

Is the investigation going to lead to any formal charges?

If so, then what are the charges?

If not then who is paying for this investigation?

Is it the Oklahoma State taxpayers?

During a time of recession and economic crisis, is this the best use for taxpayers' money?

I am sure that there are many in Oklahoma who would like to fund this witch hunt but shouldn't the full cost of such an investigation be disclosed to the voters of Oklahoma (especially if the investigation leads to no charges in which case can be said to be a complete waste of time, resources and taxpayers' money?)

I only hope that some budding journalist out there can get the answers to these questions and expose these 17th century throwbacks.

Dark Matter

Other Comments by Dark Matter

17. Comment #353846 by reductionist on March 20, 2009 at 1:44 pm

I kinda want this investigation to lead to something, so we can see another Dover-esque slaughter.

Childish, I know.

Other Comments by reductionist

18. Comment #353848 by NewEnglandBob on March 20, 2009 at 1:47 pm

I wonder if there is someone that we could write and email to request a Federal investigation for violation by the Oklahoma legislators of first amendment constitutional rights.

Maybe if the legislators responsible for this travesty are convicted and jailed, they might learn what guaranteed freedoms mean.

Other Comments by NewEnglandBob

19. Comment #353851 by reductionist on March 20, 2009 at 1:53 pm

I'm sure the ACLU and NCSE've got those bases thoroughly covered ;)

These "legislators" have already dug themselves into a nasty hole. If the story does go national, their only hope will be Faux News.

Other Comments by reductionist

20. Comment #353852 by Mr_Melbourne on March 20, 2009 at 1:54 pm

I wonder if this a case of any publicity being good publicity when it comes to this level of stupidity?? Lets hope the other US states can see how ridiculous this is.

Other Comments by Mr_Melbourne

21. Comment #353855 by ennui on March 20, 2009 at 1:57 pm

Would this action pass the Lemon Test?

Here's a write-up of even more Oklahoma legislature shenanigans (Re: embryonic stem cell research).

ERV blog

Other Comments by ennui

22. Comment #353857 by clunkclickeverytrip on March 20, 2009 at 2:04 pm

I'm sure they'll find that a lot more money will be required to "investigate" than was involved in orchestrating the whole event. A budget comparison would be really enlightening. But it's not really about money is it...

Other Comments by clunkclickeverytrip

23. Comment #353862 by JHJEFFERY on March 20, 2009 at 2:19 pm

I think Rep. Hamilton needed a letter from us that was not so negative as many of you may have written so I dropped her this note of encouragement:
Dear Representative Hamilton:

I have become aware that you are investigating the appearance and speaking engagement of evolutionist and atheist Richard Dawkins at the University of Oklahoma. I, for one, write to applaud you. I grew up in Arkansas (that's right, Epperson v. Arkansas--the "monkey case") and now live in Florida where creationists are fighting the good fight to put "teach the controversy" into the state high school science standards so that evolution can be attacked.

I am tired, tired I tell you, of living in states that are the laughingstock of the universe and the knuckle-dragging capitols of the world. Forget about that First Amendment crap--that doesn't apply to Dawkins or his ilk. It's time for Oklahoma to take its rightful place as the most backward state in the union and get me off the hook. Thanks for all.

Keep up the good work.

Very truly yours,

Jerry H. Jeffery, J.D.

Other Comments by JHJEFFERY

24. Comment #353867 by MelM on March 20, 2009 at 2:39 pm

I don't know what law or policy violation the legislators expect to find. If there is none, then this is harassment and I agree that harassment by a legislature violates the First Amendment.

Really, what are they looking for?
or
What legislation are they contemplating?
or
Who do they want to punish by withholding money?
or
Who do they want to frighten?
or
Who (or what dept.) do they want to hold up for public scorn?

Other Comments by MelM

25. Comment #353868 by GloriousFool on March 20, 2009 at 2:41 pm

They really are a laughing stock.
Oklahomans should be burying their heads in shame.

Other Comments by GloriousFool

26. Comment #353873 by JazzX on March 20, 2009 at 3:15 pm

I think this is a good thing!

When they read the entire transcript of Richard's talk, they might learn something in those tiny ignorant brains.

Other Comments by JazzX

27. Comment #353874 by jshuey on March 20, 2009 at 3:16 pm

Nothing will or can come of it. It's just petty political posturing...throwing red meat to their cousin-marrying, bible-thumping, Neanderthal constituents.

Other Comments by jshuey

28. Comment #353881 by zonotrichia on March 20, 2009 at 3:30 pm

Clearly, there some crackpots in the Oklahoma Legislature, as there are in most state legislatures. Until some body that is more representative of the OK Legislature as a whole takes action, I wouldn't tar the entire legislature, nor the state of Oklahoma, with the embarrassing behavior of a couple of pandering idiots.

Other Comments by zonotrichia

29. Comment #353896 by Diocletian on March 20, 2009 at 4:17 pm

To Jshuey:

Over 20 years ago, when the Christian Right restructured their strategy to move into school boards and local city/state politics - most people said 'Nothing will or can come of it...' Here we are still battling in a number of States to keep creationism out of public education and to bring in real science. We cannot afford not to fight at every battle - and free speech is one that is truly worth fighting over.

Other Comments by Diocletian

30. Comment #353915 by Thea Popi on March 20, 2009 at 5:24 pm

I don't think I'll be visiting Oklahoma soon.

Other Comments by Thea Popi

31. Comment #353917 by Ed-words on March 20, 2009 at 5:33 pm

Word of the Day- (Middle English -14th Cent.)

This legislature is just OFFAL.

Other Comments by Ed-words

32. Comment #353919 by lackofgravitas on March 20, 2009 at 5:39 pm

Whenever I see a story that pisses me off this much, I go in search of a Unicorn Chaser, something to cheer me up.

Strangely enough, one of my favourites resides right here at RD.net

There. Isn't that better?

Other Comments by lackofgravitas

33. Comment #353925 by zeerust2000 on March 20, 2009 at 5:58 pm

I know this point has been made many times before, but as an Australian I am thinking "What on earth is going on over there?". For a state government over here to investigate a speech given by a noted evolutionary biologist at the invitation of a university, whatever he said about religion, would be unthinkable. Where are the voices of the political opposition opposing this nonsense for the stupidity that it is? This whole business about spending so much time, energy, and money to oppose a well established branch of biology just leaves me speechless. I repeat..."What on earth is going on over there?"

Other Comments by zeerust2000

34. Comment #353927 by Ed-words on March 20, 2009 at 6:08 pm

Zeerrust2000 #33 says,

"What on earth is going on over there(USA)?"

So what on earth is going on in Australia
with the ban on those bus ads?

Other Comments by Ed-words

35. Comment #353932 by njwong on March 20, 2009 at 6:21 pm

Will RD.net quickly put up the video of Richard's speech at the University of Oklahoma so that the rest of the world can know what is so incendiary about Richard's speech that must be curbed by the Oklahoma Legislature? Who knows, after it is put up for public consumption, the Oklahoma Legislature may want to draft a resolution later to oppose this public dissemination of Richard's speech, and then draft a bill to take down all videos of the event. After all, the video is sure to be "contrary and offensive to the views and opinions of most citizens of Oklahoma", and should thus be censored.

Other Comments by njwong

36. Comment #353934 by j.mills on March 20, 2009 at 6:30 pm

njwong said:

Will RD.net quickly put up the video of Richard's speech at the University of Oklahoma so that the rest of the world can know what is so incendiary about Richard's speech that must be curbed by the Oklahoma Legislature?

You're not allowed to see it, njwong. Trust me, it's for your own good. (However, I will have to write your name down in this little black book of people who expressed an interest in Satan's evolutionism.)

Other Comments by j.mills

37. Comment #353936 by LeeLeeOne on March 20, 2009 at 6:35 pm

You think Oklahoma has problems? You really need to look at ND - "One of the issues hotly debated was House Bill 1445, which states that life begins at conception. If passed, it would ensure that before a woman is to have an abortion, she be informed that she will be terminating the life of a human being. Sponsors say its intent isn`t to ban abortions, but rather to decrease the number of them. Opponents say the legislature shouldn`t interfere with a woman`s choice to have an abortion.

"If it prevented even one woman from having an abortion, and suffering remorse from it later on, it would be a good bill," says Rep. Chuck Damschen (R), of Hampden."

EDIT: Oh, BTW, it did pass, went to the Senate, and now is in discussion at the judiciary branch.

Other Comments by LeeLeeOne

38. Comment #353939 by zeerust2000 on March 20, 2009 at 6:44 pm

Ed-words #353927 said:

Zeerrust2000 #33 says,

"What on earth is going on over there(USA)?"

So what on earth is going on in Australia
with the ban on those bus ads?

You're right Ed-words, we've got our share of thin-skinned believers over here too who use legal means to preserve their personal beliefs from challenge. However the whole evolution 'controversy' is fairly low-key over here (touches wood).

Other Comments by zeerust2000

39. Comment #353954 by Rodger T on March 20, 2009 at 8:24 pm

?

Other Comments by Rodger T

40. Comment #353955 by mordacious1 on March 20, 2009 at 8:25 pm

Rodger

I agree. (?)

Other Comments by mordacious1

41. Comment #353956 by MelM on March 20, 2009 at 8:27 pm

37. Comment #353936 by LeeLeeOne,

You might be interested in this video.

"What should the penalty be for illegal abortions?"

http://atheistmedia.blogspot.com/2009/01/whate-should-penalty-be-for-illegal.html

Very strange!

Other Comments by MelM

42. Comment #353957 by Eli on March 20, 2009 at 8:32 pm

Man, these loonies are always making a mockery of established sensible law.

It doesn't suffice the have the freaking Pope talking shit about condoms in Africa, now we have a bunch of unrepresentatives wasting public time and money trying to shut an atheist up.

Do you folks still have any hope on humankind? I fear tomorrow everybody will lose more and more vocabulary and will begin acting like maddened turd-chewing shrews or something.

Other Comments by Eli

43. Comment #353958 by Lake209 on March 20, 2009 at 8:43 pm

Please come to the eastern-U.S., Mr. Dawkins - especially down South. Representing all of those who do keep hope for humankind - we'd love to have you. FYI: Charleston, South Carolina, is a really beautiful place :) Lots of evolution in progress... figuratively and literally. Plus, our seafood is unmatched!

Other Comments by Lake209

44. Comment #353959 by aquilacane on March 20, 2009 at 8:48 pm

witch hunt, get the pitchforks. Seriously, this is a joke. I want to raise cain, where is my riot gear.

Children should not have such power. Mock them. This is not to be negotiated, handled diplomatically, politely, or professionally. Just mock them and dismiss them like the children they are.

Can we not start an atheist homeland already? FUCK!

Other Comments by aquilacane

45. Comment #353962 by jimcarson on March 20, 2009 at 9:34 pm

Please, please, please, please file some charges against Professor Dawkins, OK legislature. Please.

This would be multi-million dollar publicity. It would be a 21st century Monkey Scopes, but with the slam dunk case of First Amendment speech in addition to slam dunk Darwinian science. Just imagine Richard defending himself in court or before a panel of hick legislators. Gold, I tell you!

Please cook up some charges.

Other Comments by jimcarson

46. Comment #353964 by huzonfurst on March 20, 2009 at 9:53 pm

It might be time to rethink the Civil War and just let some of these god-fearin', evilution-hatin' states secede and be done with it!

Other Comments by huzonfurst

47. Comment #353965 by pkruger on March 20, 2009 at 10:03 pm

"an unproven and unpopular theory."

I am really getting tired of hearing grown up people saying this.

Other Comments by pkruger

48. Comment #353968 by memeweaver on March 20, 2009 at 10:47 pm

So the "wind rushing off the plain" is a reference to the babblings of their legislature.

Other Comments by memeweaver

49. Comment #353982 by BroughtyBoy on March 21, 2009 at 1:22 am

Frightening. Pat Condell`s latest - "Free Speech is Sacred" seems particularly pertinent in light of this. Enough to make you militant.

Other Comments by BroughtyBoy

50. Comment #353987 by mercon on March 21, 2009 at 1:37 am

I hope OG file charges against RD,talk about good Pr,news flash,headlines all over the world.

Other Comments by mercon

Reload Comments | Back to Top

More Comments: 1 2 3 | Next | Last