By Anna B. Mitchell/staff,BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF

Copyright postandcourier

Of course, if there’s anything politicians in both political parties are good at, it’s hypocrisy. The bigger issue is what society considers acceptable behavior in public — whether at a town hall or a protest march or, most significant because of its much broader reach, on social media.

While Attorney General Alan Wilson appropriately promised that Clemson and other colleges wouldn’t be prosecuted for firing uncivil employees, we’re still concerned about the state law that encourages lawsuits against and even prohibits anyone — including private businesses and nonprofits — from firing people based on their political beliefs. There is no justification for that sort of invasive policy toward private businesses and non-profits, and depending on the circumstances, we’re not convinced it should even apply to government. At the least, the Legislature should limit this law to actions by government entities.

We also reject the idea that firing professors for celebrating violence could threaten their academic freedom. Academic freedom, which predates social media by many decades, was intended to allow professors to take unpopular positions in matters related to their area of expertise. It was not about shielding them from accountability when they spout off whatever emotional response they have to the day’s news on social media. If Clemson or any other institution of higher education has tenure policies or contract language so broad as to include hot takes on social media, it needs to change that language now.

We absolutely need to protect real academic freedom, and we need to encourage everyone to engage in vigorous political debate. But we don’t need to encourage people to be jerks, and we do need to remember that the First Amendment doesn’t mean you can’t get fired or face other consequences for being a jerk. It simply means, appropriately, that you can’t get convicted and jailed or fined for being a jerk.