I'll be the first to admit that Jed Smock is crazy. But anyone who advocates censoring Smock because he is practicing his First Amendment right to free speech is also losing his or her mind.

A spokesman for the Muslim Student Association (MSA), Ramy Nasr, was quoted in the Collegian as saying "The existence and allowance of such blind hate and obvious ignorance at . . . Penn State is . . . shocking and embarrassing."

The right to free speech is the cornerstone of any free society, and the fact that some of us who are pursuing collegiate level education would advocate censorship of ideas is equally shocking and embarrassing. In a free society, ideas are judged in an open forum and accepted or rejected on their merit.

We are all able thinkers here. Let's decide for ourselves whether or not Smock's rhetoric is worth accepting as truth. Incidentally, I think that Smock's intermittently racist speeches are a blessing in disguise.

For the first time since Sept. 11, I have noticed Muslim and Christian students sincerely discussing important issues, comparing and contrasting each other's beliefs. By talking with Muslim students congregating around him, I now have a better understanding of principles in the Koran then I ever did.

What Smock has succeeded in doing is not stir up hate or win converts, but rather get people talking about ideas, listening to each other and questioning why we believe what we do. And that's how progress is made.