Desecration of 9/11 memorial abuses free speech

On the night of Monday, Sept. 10, the Duke Conservative Union in conjunction with members of the Duke College Republicans placed 2,974 flags in front of the Duke Chapel. As heads of the two organizations, we were proud to see everyone come out and help set up our non-political memorial to those who were murdered on 9/11.

Unfortunately, our pride turned to disgust to find behind the memorial a picture in chalk: the twin towers, and scrawled in giant letters "inside job." At first, we merely shook our heads and continued on our ways. However, later in the day, we were approached by an individual who had lost a member of his family in the attacks and who was very upset over this desecration of these memorial grounds.

This atrocity abuses the right of free speech. On a day of reflection and mourning, it engaged in the base conjecture of political theories that debase us all. No one would dare make a political statement by desecrating grounds near the Korea or Vietnam memorials, and rightfully so. One should make a political statement by engaging facts and debating members of the opposing side, not by sullying grounds designated for a memorial.

The true greats of 9/11/07 were the many who spent their school night setting up this memorial, not those who ignobly attempted to disgrace these grounds. We wish to thank them for their hard work and are proud their good labors have not been undone by this terrible action.

David Bitner

President, Duke Conservative Union

Trinity '10

Samuel Tasher