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Greeson: Oklahoma rightly denounces racism but accepts domestic-violence offenders

University of Oklahoma students rally outside the now closed University of Oklahoma's Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house during a rally in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, March 10, 2015. The university's president expelled two students Tuesday after he said they were identified as leaders of a racist chant captured on video during a fraternity event. A moving truck can be seen at rear. Fraternity members were given a midnight Tuesday deadline to be moved out of the house. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)
University of Oklahoma students rally outside the now closed University of Oklahoma's Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house during a rally in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, March 10, 2015. The university's president expelled two students Tuesday after he said they were identified as leaders of a racist chant captured on video during a fraternity event. A moving truck can be seen at rear. Fraternity members were given a midnight Tuesday deadline to be moved out of the house. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) University of Oklahoma students rally outside the now closed University of Oklahoma's Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house during a rally in Norman, Okla., Tuesday, March 10, 2015. The university's president expelled two students Tuesday after he said they were identified as leaders of a racist chant captured on video during a fraternity event. A moving truck can be seen at rear. Fraternity members were given a midnight Tuesday deadline to be moved out of the house. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

By Jay Greeson 5 min read

By now you have certainly seen the racist video rants of the stupid drunk SAE fraternity yahoos at Oklahoma.

It’s embarrassing and awful and staggering that those types of racial slurs and feelings can still be around today, much less chanted and shared en masse and reportedly part of the culture of the organization since other chapters are being investigated and warnings and messages were relayed from the national headquarters.

It’s 2015, and that video was the vision of the hatred and the modern reincarnation of the fight that drew the nation’s attention to Selma, Ala., 50 years ago last weekend.

There is no defending that type of hatred, and even waving the banner of “free speech” is not congruent here. Yes, those students are free to say whatever they like, but they are not free from the repercussions of such speech.

Freedom of speech is guaranteed in the constitution, and that’s one of the greatest things about our great country. That secures the freedom to say what you think and not be worried about being prosecuted, whether it’s brilliant or asinine. The SAEs are not facing charges — remember, stupidity is not a crime — as much as they have been reprimanded by the university (two were expelled this past week), and those decisions by the fraternity or Oklahoma or whatever organization are not related to the constitution.