The Kremlin Has Continuously Silenced
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DEAR READERS: A Letter From the Editor Dear Reader, School’s only been back in session for one month, yet so much has already happened at Chapel Hill this semester. Parties, rush week, boycotts and demonstrations, Richard Spencer’s random attempt at relevance, and a few unfortunate reminders that we really are a basketball school in Kenan Stadium. Oh yes, and classes. Silent Sam has been at the forefront of the campus conversation as per usual, though the events at Charlottesville have certainly intensified the cries to see old Sam put out to pasture. Should the statue go? The staff here at Carolina Review have a few things to say about it, some saying it won’t accomplish anything to take Sam down, others saying Sam ought to be re- contextualized, while others say things I won’t spoil for you here. Silent Sam proved to be a popular topic for the writers in this issue, but others chose to tackle the evergreen topic of free speech on college campuses, tying in to the UNC School of Media and Journalism’s recent Free Speech Day celebration. I went in a completely different direction, and chose to write a piece on the mission of Carolina Review, seeking to clarify the role of our publication on campus to those who are unfamiliar with it. We’ve got a lot to say, because there’s a lot that’s been going on. It’s been an exciting start to the semester, with promise of more excitement in store this year. I don’t imagine we’ll ever run out of things to write about. Lux et Libertas, Alec M. Dent Editor-in-Chief Donations & Subscriptions right to edit letters for length, clarity, and vulgarity. To become a subscriber to Carolina Review, give a gift, or Please keep letters to the editor below 300 words. Not change your subscription address, contact us at carolin- all letters will be printed. 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Carolina Review reserves the CONTACT US CONTACT 2 CAROLINA REVIEW • SEPTEMBER 2017 CONTENTS If Sam Goes Down, They Still Stay Down 4 Matt McCullers The Past is Dead, Long Live the Future 6 Will Rierson Speech For All (Except Some) 8 Jesse Oliver Free Speech? What’s That? 10 Wyatt McNamara Free Speech Repression in Russia 12 Ana Delgado We’ll Stay Local, Thanks 14 Alec Dent Through the Looking Glass 16 Chris Antonello Staring into the Sun and Weathering the Storm 18 Hinton Carter 19 Letters from a Protestor Editor-in-Chief: Alec Dent / Layout and Copy Editor: Paige Roberts / Associate Editors: Will Rierson, Ana Gabriela Del- gado / Staff Writers: Chris Antonello, Hinton Carter, Jesse Brooks, Jonathon Beatty, Sami Snellings, Wyatt McNamara, Matthew McCullers, Richard Wheeler / Editors Emeriti: Charlton Allen, founder; Nathan Byerly, Bill Heeden III, Scott Rubush, James Bailey, Steve Russell, Matt Rubush, Deb McCown, Adam Herring, Fitz E. Barringer, Brian Sopp, Taylor Stanford, Ashley Wall, Bryan Weynand, Elizabeth Merrit, Nash Keune, Zach Dexter, Anthony Dent, Alex Macey, Chase McDonough, Kelsey Rupp, David Ortiz, Francis C. Pray III. Special thanks to the Collegiate Network, the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, and the Carolina Liberty Foundation LEGAL: Carolina Review is a recognized student group at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a 501(c)(3), nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. This issue was paid for, at least in part, by student activity fees. All inquiries, letters, and donations should be mailed to 282 Frank Porter Graham Student Union, UNC-CH Campus Box 5210, Chapel Hill North Carolina 27599-5210. Please email [email protected] for more information. First issue is free. Year long subscriptions cost $50-100 depending upon level. Copyright @ 2017 Carolina Review. All rights reserved. Printed in Raleigh, North Carolina by Chamblee Graphics, Inc. TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 If Sam Goes Down, They Still Stay Down Why These Protests Do Nothing for African-Americans in Need MATT MCCULLERS Senior U.S. History, English Raleigh, NC [email protected] This past summer, I Americans. A liberal might standing in line to collect spent most of my time in say that all of this has to do their food stamps whether grocery stores as a seasonal with Silent Sam. They will or not the man on the face of merchandiser for Pepsi trace the current economic the dollar bill owned slaves? Bottling Ventures in North disparity of African- No, because they understand Carolina. I went everywhere Americans back to slavery and that an increased awareness in the greater Triangle area. the Confederacy. They will of the past won’t really help I serviced stores in affluent take the easy road and blame them. They look at these areas like north Raleigh slavery and the Confederacy protests against Confederate and Cary, and serviced for why there is such monuments and it may stores in less affluent areas economic disparity amongst appease them emotionally like Southeast Raleigh the black population. In turn, for a short period of time, and Henderson. It was in that means anything that but they will still remain in these less affluent areas memorializes or represents poverty. I guess it’s safe to say where I gained a powerful that should be expunged that a majority of poor blacks perspective. Frequently, from our society and our are more concerned with I’d witness lines of people history. surviving on a grossly limited getting their food stamps at income than a silly statue. All Does it really matter to those blacks living in poverty around the country whether or not a memorial for dead Confederate soldiers remains on the premises of UNC?” the store. There were times Though slavery is partly in all, dedicating mass efforts when I’d be filling up the responsible for this issue, and time towards removing drinks in the coolers near the there are other, more these statues do absolutely register where I’d see folks recent factors for why many nothing for the African- embarrassed because they African-Americans struggle American Food Lion shopper didn’t have enough money to economically today. But in Henderson who does not pay for all of their groceries. that’s not what’s important have enough money to buy It broke my heart. here. Does it really matter to groceries. those blacks living in poverty So what does this have around the country whether Again you may be thinking, to do with Silent Sam? A or not a memorial for dead what does the economic majority of the people that Confederate soldiers remains disparity of African- I saw this summer with dire on the premises of UNC? Does Americans have to do with financial issues were African- it really matter to those people Silent Sam? It has nothing to 4 CAROLINA REVIEW • SEPTEMBER 2017 “It’s assuredly more comfortable and easier hanging out in tents with your liberal friends, drinking donated coffee and eating do- nated food in front of a statue than going into downtown Durham and working in a soup kitchen.” do with the statue and front of a statue than going everything to do with the into downtown Durham and protesters. I have to admit I working in a soup kitchen. was pretty impressed with Ultimately, if this protest the resiliency and dedication will teach us anything it of these protesters who teaches us how misdirected occupied the statue for and lazy our generation is days…until campus police with serious problems like hilariously kicked them out. African-American economic These students somehow disparity. This reactionary found the time and the and counterproductive motivation to camp out at approach to this issue helps this statue for a full week. nobody. There is no lawfully It’s really incredible, to be protected systemic racism honest. Just imagine if these anymore thanks to the very people put their efforts Civil Rights Act of 1964 and towards actually helping several other laws in the disadvantaged African- 1960s. And just because UNC Americans, the same African- has a statue of a Confederate Americans whom they accuse soldier doesn’t mean we live Silent Sam of oppressing. in a society where blacks are What a wonderful thing it economically disadvantaged would be for these protesters because of racism now. It’s to do charity work for Habitat easy to blame the past for for Humanity, or Catholic current issues, but what does Parish Outreach, or Durham that do for the future? In this Rescue Mission. Though they case, absolutely nothing. would not be solving the large issue of economic disparity So again I ask, what does amongst blacks, they would Silent Sam have to do with be doing more for people in those African-Americans need than camping outside a living in poverty? If our statue could ever accomplish. generation continues to approach issues in this Despite the impressive careless way nothing will be dedication and effort these done to ultimately improve protesters have towards the lives of poor African- tearing down Silent Sam, Americans.