The United States' First Amendment (printed at the upper-right hand corner of this page) gives protection to citizens from the fear of being censored by the government and its entities. As a media outlet, we fully support this right.
In fact, our profession thrives on it.
Free as speech may be, speakers have a duty to represent their cases in a considerate manner.
In regards to the images used on its cover, "Indoctrination or Education?", the nearly 60-page document published by the Parents and Students for Academic Freedom about the Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution program at Ball State University, fails in this respect.
The cover, seen at the right, is an example of an organization attempting to persuade and prove a point by using means based on fear.
In the background of the cover is an image of the smoking World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11.
Any depiction of this event obviously has an extremely emotional significance on many who see it.
To use this powerful and terrifying image on a pamphlet that labels the Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution program at this university as one focused on indoctrinating students into anti-American mindset is nothing short of sensationalism.
In no way does referring to the events of Sept. 11 further the group's argument that the university's program is slanted toward the left. It is merely an attempt by the creators of the publication to attract attention to their work by preying on what is a common fear of many Americans in today's society: terrorism.
If the group producing this pamphlet must rely on such a shocking image that carries little, if any, connection to its argument to grab a reader's attention, than maybe its argument is not strong enough.
Assuming a picture is worth a thousand words, this organization has chosen an image that speaks nothing about its message, yet volumes about its approach.
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