Phansey said he would have hoped his former employer would protect his right to free speech.
“I would have hoped that Babson, an institution of higher education that I love and to which I have given a great deal, would have defended and supported my right to free speech,” Phansey said. “Beyond my own situation, I am really concerned about what this portends for our ability as Americans to engage in political discourse without presuming the worst about each other.”
The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education jumped to Phansey’s defense Thursday.
“The professor’s post is obvious rhetorical hyperbole and cannot reasonably be read as a threat, incitement, or even a sincere endorsement of violence,” said Adam Steinbaugh, director of the Individual Rights Defense Program. “Babson’s process-free termination of the professor in an attempt to quell criticism on social media is censorship, plain and simple, and reveals Babson’s stated commitment to freedom of expression to be worthless.”
As tensions flared between the United States and Iran in the aftermath of President Trump’s order to kill Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Phansey posted to Facebook Tuesday, “In retaliation, Ayatollah Khomenei should tweet a list of 52 sites of beloved American cultural heritage that he would bomb. Um… Mall of America? Kardashian residence?” The post, reported on by Turtleboysports.com Tuesday, has since been removed.
Trump threatened in a tweet over the weekend that the U.S. had a list of 52 Iranian sites it could target should the Middle Eastern country retaliate.
Phansey initially apologized for his “bad attempt at humor” in a statement Wednesday, saying he is “completely opposed to violence and would never advocate it by anyone.”
Clearly he should have put in a
smiley face or “(/satire)” because
otherwise people would think he
hates America!
“It was a botched joke”—John Kerry
...who said you need to get a good education “otherwise you get stuck in Iraq”
Soldiers responded with a sign:
Help us John Carry we R stuk in Irak