During the Cold War, whistle-blowers and dissenters were threatened
and penalized; they lost jobs, faced social and governmental
harassment, and often lived thankless and persecuted lives. It was
never entirely clear where the speech boundaries lay, or when one
might get sanctioned. Today, the “War on Terror” is becoming a
hegemonic framework, the Patriot Act has been made permanent, and
there are ongoing revelations about increased surveillance in the
United States. Along with these developments, there are increasing
efforts to punish academics for expressing contentious views. At a
minimum, teaching topics that disrupt the comfort zone can be
emotionally draining and may produce some negative reactions in the
classroom. Under such pressures, self-censorship can be a natural
consequence. Yet open democratic deliberation, well-rounded
education, and intellectual freedom are prerequisites for best
serving our world.