To the Editor:
I was disappointed, but not surprised, when a law school classmate forwarded me the Providence Journal blurb about the silly pie-throwing stunt at the Thomas Friedman lecture the other night. People should not be too quick to dismiss the antics as the work of a couple overzealous individuals. Such incidents are only the symptom of a culture of intolerance for dissimilar views at Brown among many of the more active advocacy groups. In my time at Brown I witnessed in many of the politically-active circles an unwillingness to show basic respect for other's viewpoints, to the point that many of these Brown students think some viewpoints do not deserve the right to be voiced. Vocal students at Brown should ask themselves - if I'm not even willing to let those I disagree with speak, why in the world do I expect anybody to listen to me?
Matt Lawrence '06April 23
