Understanding microaggression and free speech in light of the John Kasich articles
Republican Presidential candidate John Kasich’s town hall forum at Richmond gained a significant amount of attention due to a comment he had made toward an undergraduate student during his Q & A. Though a small moment during the town hall forum, Kayla Solsbak wrote an article addressing Kasich’s comment, focusing upon his disrespectful language -- requesting mutual respect -- if nothing more than as a voter interested in politics. Dylan McAuley, an undergraduate student and a member of the Young Republicans club that had helped bring Governor Kasich to campus, responded to Kayla’s with an opinion piece designed to denounce and silence her. Though the situation can be perceived as minor or as a “joke,” it was one that was significant for others. All those who have experienced similar situations of microaggression, whether it be due to their gender, sexuality, race, ability, or ethnicity, understand this form of marginalization. Dylan’s article can be read both as a response to Kayla and it can stand alone. It must be read with a less biased level of critical analysis than was used on Kayla’s original article.