In this case, the concept is “diversity.” And — surprise! — the protectors and saviors of such a laudable social imperative are those academics who, for good reason (we can’t, after all, have a chaotic combination of differences, can we?), enjoy their “diversity” tightly controlled, preferably by the very people who get to define what comes to count as “diversity,” for purposes of social policy, in the first place.
Which — and this is probably just a happy coincidence — happens to be themselves.
Luck? Or Utopian fatalism — where the marketplace of ideas is finally, inexorably (and quite properly) cajoled into multiculturalist orthodoxy by progressive ideologues, the upshot being that the scope of acceptable positions recognized as intellectually valid (as opposed to cancerous, vile, horrific, despicable, and deserving of censure: eg., opposition to race-based affirmative action, or the framing of same sex marriage as a legislative concern rather than a “civil right”) is constrained in such a way that the academy takes on all the intellectual and aesthetic daring of an English garden.
— Though in its defense, at least the buses to the diversity training seminars run on time.
How many kinds of sweet flowers grow
In an English country garden?
We’ll tell you now of some that we know
Those we miss you’ll surely pardon
Daffodils, heart’s ease and phlox
Meadowsweet and lady smocks
Gentian, lupin and tall hollyhocks
Roses, foxgloves, snowdrops, forget-me-nots
In an English country garden
How many insects come here and go
In an English country garden?
We’ll tell you now of some that we know
Those we miss you’ll surely pardon
Fireflies, moths and bees
Spiders climbing in the trees
Butterflies drift in the gentle breeze
There are snakes, ants that sting
And other creeping things
In an English country garden
How many songbirds fly to and fro
In an English country garden?
We’ll tell you now of some that we know
Those we miss you’ll surely pardon
Bobolink, cuckoo and quail
Tanager and cardinal
Bluebird, lark, thrush and nightingale
There is joy in the spring
When the birds begin to sing
In an English country garden
Once upon a time, one of the Founders — a Founding Mother, if I recall correctly — said, “I disagree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” I personally consider that a liberal statement, perhaps the fundamental liberal statement.
“I hate what you say, and will see you punished for it” is quite different.
Regards,
Ric
It does let the peasants know their place though, Ric. So we have that going for us.
I tried to scrounge up something smart assed to add but, honestly, I got nothing. It’s just sad. As a “old” person back in school for another degree it’s amazing how intellectually dishonest the level of discourse has become on political and social questions on today’s campus.
In my geology courses, we have to deal with the chemical, biological, geological and physical relationships of global warming. The thing that amazes me is watching undergrads spew half chewed talking points on how global warming is almost entirely anthropomorphic with the emotional level of a partisan abortion debate at professors with multiple degrees in the subject. These are typcially the same students that can’t solve some of the simplest problems in the class, yet refuse to accept that the data we have doesn’t back up that view. When asked to prove it, then become incedulous and in some cases verbally abusive.
Even more ironic is how adamant the professors in the non-science subjects both accept and endorse those talking points that the undergrads share. The parrot them with no skepticism or critical thinking. In doing so, I’m sadly amused that the science department is the only place on campus where the Al Gore version of global warming isn’t an accepted fact that is madated by the volume, as opposed to validity, of it’s arguements.
or the framing of same sex marriage as a “civil right†rather than a legislative concern
Maybe should be flipped …as a legislative concern rather than a “civil right”?
Either way, just delete this comment after you check it out. Cheers.
I’m sadly amused that the science department is the only place on campus where the Al Gore version of global warming isn’t an accepted fact
Yet.
I’m sure Hugo Chavez’s “educational mandates” haven’t been lost on his pals in the Goricle wing of the Dem party.
Thanks, BBR. My head is clogged with bacterial violators today. Fixed it.
Being immune to the effects of cognitive dissonance must be nice.
https://proteinwisdom.com/?p=9850#comment-248322
I feel for you, back in school for some additional “higher” education.
I couldn’t do it without yelling & screaming.
As for “diversity” and “multiculturalism”, rue the day that these precepts took root in the liberal mind.
Today’s cadre of (seemingly) not very bright professors apparently considers it practically a religious duty to constantly reinforce a few key concepts like those. From the pulpit.
Keeping the notion of “differences” and “separation” amongst beings alive and well.
It would be a mistake to say that the revocation of the invitation had satisfied Maureen Stanton. Indeed, her sensitivities, never dull, had been immeasurably sharpened, whetted by a victory she thought rather too easy, as our dear reader will soon learn.
I manage, tanstaafl. Besides, once you accept your role as “the grumpy old man” of the class you kinda geet a kick out of it.
Being immune to the effects of cognitive dissonance must be nice.
I’m pretty sure that spittle-flecked invective is a symptom of just such an affliction. Either that or acute otitis media.
As for “diversity” and “multiculturalism,” rue the day that these precepts took root in the liberal mind.
The worst thing that can happen to a virtue is for it to become popular. At that point, people are concerned with (1) affecting the show of said virtue rather than having it written in the fleshy tablets of the heart, (2) playing a game of one-upmanship to become “X-ier than thou,” and (3) persecuting those who don’t engage in (1) and (2).
The end of this cycle is for the situation to get so onerous that people rebel against the excesses and declare the virtue “uncool” or “dangerous,” thereby discarding the real thing along with the popular ersatz version.
Are we going to see increased racism and sexism and homophobia (the holy triumvirate) from this? Wouldn’t surprise me at all.
I went to UC Davis from ’88 to ’91. In my freshman year, living in the dorms, we were told representatives from GLAD (Gays and Lesbians at Davis) were going to come to our dorm and give a presentation on how much we should love and accept them. Being the idiot that I was, my friend and I started a petition which stated we did not want said representatives lecturing us. No one in the dorm would sign it and I didn’t understand why. Until a couple days later when my friend and I were treated to UCD’s version of re-education. Glad to see those great traditions are being carried forward to today’s generation.
dicentra – not only will it happen, but it happens every school year. I remember the backlash to the diversity police in the early 90s – the cycle has become so normal people don’t even notice it anymore.
https://proteinwisdom.com/?p=9850#comment-248410
As you say, the ersatz virtue worn (self-righteously) on the sleeve stands in for the real thing.
You can readily see the (non) depth of professed values (the “coolness” of the virtue as opposed to the virtue itself) when push comes to shove and mean & negative replace the phony sweetness & light.
You would never want to trust one of these holier than thou types (“we know better for you than you know for yourself”) to have your back.
“Are we going to see increased racism and sexism and homophobia (the holy triumvirate) from this?”
Everybody yaks about it so much, race based this, sex based that, “fear or man” (what ?).
Don’t ask don’t tell seemed to dominate at least one year of Bill Clinton’s Presidency. I thought…are we friggin’ insane ?
A very small percentage of people (who are already “free” in America to “practice their lifestyles”) seems to be getting an inordinate amount of attention from universities and governments.
These topics for discussion and consideration are overly reinforced and, near as I can guess, really a poor excuse for the intellectual rigor that ought to be at the center of secondary & higher education.
I guess just another example of America, The Experiment, going down in a burning ring of tedious fire.