Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations and possible Republican presidential candidate Alan Keyes spoke to a gathering of approximately 75 students and Hanover residents on Saturday in 105 Dartmouth Hall.
Keyes spoke extensively about his belief that the federal government is no longer democratic, and also touched on an issue that is currently being debated at Dartmouth - the right of colleges to restrict freedom of speech and association on college campuses.
Regarding democracy, Keyes told the crowd "there is a lot at stake" in the 2000 presidential election and the current form of government "excludes most of the people most of the time."
"We are making the transition to a form of government away from self-government towards centralized control," Keyes said.
Keyes referred to this form of government as "a kind of slavery in which the whole population will participate."
"Self-government is hard," Keyes said. "It requires strenuous effort. In order to exist, a disproportionate number of people will have to stay active and involved."
Keyes said that his "number one" issue, abortion, is in his opinion linked to freedom and liberty. He stated that he is adamantly pro-life and believes the inability to control sexual passion is part of what keeps Americans from having liberty.
"In exchange for the ability to indulge in our passions, we give
up our dignity. We embrace stupid self-indulgence in exchange for
liberty," Keyes said.
He continued by saying that character is a prerequisite for liberty, while a willingness to impose moral discipline on oneself constitutes a prerequisite of freedom .
Keyes also answered a question from an audience member regarding his opinion on the right of college administrators to restrict freedom of speech and association on college campuses, and particularly, the right of fraternities and sororities to exist.
Keyes said the right of free speech includes an implicit "understanding of propriety." In other words, people have the right to free speech as long as they observe rules of public decency.
Keyes also expressed his view on campus living arrangements, and acknowledged that his opinion on the subject was likely to be unpopular.
In his opinion, he said, colleges have a certain responsibility to parents.
"They have the right to decide living arrangements for the kind of community they want," Keyes said. "Colleges not only have the right to do it - they have an obligation to do it. Education is the business of preparing [people] for freedom."
Keyes told the audience many of his positions on issues: he supports the death penalty, the right to bear arms, and school choice. He is also opposed to abortion and the income tax.
Keyes ran unsuccessfully for the 1996 Republican presidential nomination. He is currently considered to be a potential candidate for the 2000 race.
