Lecture Notes: Talk at Boston University by Ben Shapiro

Introduction

• Speaker: Ben Shapiro
• Event Organized by: YAF (Young Americans for Freedom) at Boston University
• Opening by Nick Dean and Diana Soriano:
  • Prohibited flash photography
  • Q&A to be held at the end
  • No disruptions tolerated
  • Acknowledgements to supporters and BU administration

Diana Soriano's Introduction

• Impact of Ben Shapiro: Personal anecdote about discovering and being positively influenced by Shapiro
• Criticism of Opposition: Mention of criticism from BU Students Against Hate Speech for inviting Shapiro
• Highlighting Shapiro’s Work: Editor-in-chief of DailyWire.com, author, and syndicated columnist

Main Points of Shapiro’s Speech

Introduction by Ben Shapiro

• Gratitude: Thanks Fred R. Allen, YAF, and BU for organizational support
• Protesters: Mentions of protesters outside as a demonstration of First Amendment rights
• Criticism of Cancel Culture: Highlights opposition from groups demanding to ban him from speaking

Core Thesis: America’s Founding Principles

• Conflict: Whether America was built on slavery or freedom
• Traditional View of History: America founded on principles of freedom and equality (Judeo-Christian values, natural law)
  • Evils like slavery were strayed from principles but corrected over time
• Revisionist Viewpoint: America as an agglomeration of exploitation; slavery and racism are foundational

Founding Fathers’ Stance on Slavery

• Slavery in Historical Context: Common globally and in Western countries at the time
• Statements Against Slavery: Notable figures like John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and George Washington publicly opposed slavery
• Legislative Moves: The Northwest Ordinance (1787) and the Constitution’s ban on slave importation after 1808
• Constitutional Clauses: Three-Fifths Compromise intended to limit slaveholding power
• Frederick Douglass’s Viewpoint: America’s principles align with liberty and justice for all

Civil War and Emancipation

• Catalyst: The South’s intransigence on slavery leads to the Civil War
• Lincoln’s Role: Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th Amendment
• Civil Rights Movement: Continuation of struggle for freedom; key figures like Martin Luther King Jr.

Modern Implications and Misconceptions

• Argument Against Slavery’s Economic Benefit: Industrial North’s victory over the South, inefficiency of slave labor
• Racism Today: It persists but doesn't define American society or its foundational principles
• 1619 Project Critique: Criticizes the project’s stance that America’s prosperity is solely due to slavery

Responses to Critics and Opposition

• Black BU: Direct rebuttal to claims that the speech denies the evils of slavery; America’s progress toward freedom highlighted
• Public Good Concept: Policing as a public good, not a personal benefit
• Free Will Question: Acknowledges the philosophical challenge but emphasizes its importance for a functional society
• Vegetarianism/Veganism Hypocrisy: Admits personal struggle despite recognizing the moral argument

Q&A Session

• Disruption Handling: Offers open floor for differing questions
• Topics Addressed: Nick Fuentes’ stance, free will, the role of the state in policing, and personal responsibility in dietary choices

Concluding Remarks

• Acknowledgement of Bias and Decency: Encourages treating individuals beyond racial biases
• Statement on Rap Music: Personal tastes vs. acknowledgement of rap as music
• Black American Contributions: References to historical figures and continued struggle for freedom

Notable Quotes

• John Adams: "My opinion against it [slavery] has always been known."
• Frederick Douglass: "The great principles contained by the Declaration of Independence"
• Martin Luther King Jr.: "Magnificent words of the Constitution ... a promissory note to every American"

Closing

• Encourages questions and dialogue
• Emphasizes the importance of understanding history in the context of progress towards freedom