At The Ohio State University's Blackwell Inn this past week, the conservative voice of George Will carried through an audience of over 250 people, as he took the stage to discuss the trajectory and essence of conservatism in America. The event, called "A Front Seat at the Conservative Movement," was presented by the university’s Salmon P. Chase Center for Civics, Culture, and Society aimed to introduce ideas outside the common discourse, according to the OSU News.
According to OSU News, Lee Strang, Executive Director of the Chase Center, saw the importance of Will's appearance, highlighting that their mission is, "to leaven our university’s conversation by raising questions not currently being asked, engaging answers to those questions not currently being considered." The conversation touched upon the purpose of politics. This topic seems especially pertinent in today’s climate, where politics often results in heated disagreements and sometimes estrangement amongst peers and family members.
George Will initiated the dialogue by questioning the very reason behind our political engagement. "It's entirely appropriate that the Chase Center host Mr. Will on the topic of the conservative movement because our mission at the Chase Center is to leaven our university’s conversation by raising questions not currently being asked and engaging answers to those questions not currently being considered," said Strang in a statement obtained by OSU News. Will spoke of his desire for a restrained political approach that returns to the foundations of the American founding. However, he acknowledged that his viewpoint might be seen as outdated in the current political landscape.
In his talk, George Will expressed concern over the expanding definition of harmful speech and the possible repercussions this could have on free speech at educational institutions like Ohio State. "A young person might come to Ohio State and hear an idea he or she had not heard before and say, ‘That makes me sad. It makes me anxious. It makes me angry. It harms my equilibrium," he noted, according to OSU News, emphasizing that universities should challenge rather than mollycoddle their students. Will encapsulated his support for free speech and rigorous academic dialogue amidst a backdrop of rising concern over the limits of expression on college campuses.
George Will's optimism was palpable as he wrapped up his speech with a hopeful nod to the past, invoking Abraham Lincoln's philosophy on liberty as definitive of America. Will's steadfastness in his beliefs resonates with a deep-seated conviction in the values he perceives as foundational to the nation and the conservative movement he longs to see reborn in its original sentiment, summarizing, "And if I have anything to say about it ... it will again," he concluded, as reported by OSU News.
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