Amy Gutmann: We Must ‘Stand By Free Speech When It’s Offensive Speech’

Amy Gutmann, president of the University of Pennsylvania, spoke with HuffPost Live at Davos on Friday about freedom of speech.

“The challenge of free speech is when there’s speech you really don’t like,” Gutmann said. “We have to live up to the challenge and stand by free speech when it’s offensive speech, as well as when it’s speech we like.”

Gutmann said offensive free speech fosters more discussion, which can be a good thing.

“The creative spirit comes alive when you can robustly argue with people and feel protected, and feel safe,” she said.

“When the speech is offensive I feel we have a responsibility to respond,” Gutmann added.

Below, live updates from the 2015 Davos Annual Meeting:

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Gabrielle Fitzgerald said there were some “real overreactions” to Ebola in the United States, specifically mentioning how it makes no sense for people to assume doctors who’ve treated Ebola patients are infected with the virus.

Gabrielle Fitzgerald of the Paul G. Allen Foundation spoke to HuffPost about a trip to West Africa she took on her way to Davos.

“I think the cinema experience will be a better experience for consumers,” Gelfond said. “There are two reasons people go to movies: it’s a differentiated experience.. and the other is its a social experience.”

“I think as long as the theaters in general keep those elements, people will still go to theaters,” Gelfond said. “That being said theres never been a technology that you can hold back forever.”

IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond spoke with HuffPost Live about the company’s decision to run HBO’s “Game of Thrones.”

“IMAX sees ourselves at the top of the food chain as far as a premium experience,” Gelfond said.

“Thinking of it in a strange way, IMAX is another device,” Gelfond said.

Alexis Ringwald, co-founder and CEO of LearnUp, at Davos

Alexis Ringwald, co-founder and CEO of LearnUp, said she went on a “listening journey” through unemployment lines in America and discovered there’s a skills gap and a challenge even for people to get an entry-level job.

“We decided to partner with employers directly — they’re the only ones who know exactly what skills you need,” she said.

Ringwald said a couple of hours of LearnUp training will triple someone’s chances of getting a job.

Handley said he’s disappointed with the parties at Davos.

“Let’s be honest, they’re not very good,” Handley said.

The Huffington Post