You know me, I'm all about scorched earth. — frank
If unity is what you're after, you should at least throw the lynch mob a bone. Tell them you understand why they're concerned. Acknowledge their fears. Acknowledge the tragic events that are generating their angst. Maybe then point out to them that there are victims they're overlooking, one of them being the first amendment. — frank
You forget to mention that she has had success in her lawsuit (or the pressure group Council on American-Islamic Relations, which filed the lawsuit on her behalf), so maybe the legal system is still working in Texas. See Texas speech pathologist celebrates temporary free-speech win, hopes it inspires. Amawi, an US citizen and a person of Palestinian origin, has stated in her lawsuit that she has “seen and experienced the brutality of the Israeli government against Palestinians.” So obviously she takes it seriously.If one is simply vexed over the issue of free speech then this story regarding a children's speech pathologist in Texas who was fired because she refused to sign a pledge stating that she would not engage in any economic boycott of Israel should be more alarming. — Maw
It just makes people feel good about themselves to shit on somebody else. Combine that with a sense of self righteousness and it's an addictive drug. — frank
Life is the best teacher. — frank
You forget to mention that she has had success in her lawsuit (or the pressure group Council on American-Islamic Relations, which filed the lawsuit on her behalf), so maybe the legal system is still working in Texas. See Texas speech pathologist celebrates temporary free-speech win, hopes it inspires. Amawi, an US citizen and a person of Palestinian origin, has stated in her lawsuit that she has “seen and experienced the brutality of the Israeli government against Palestinians.” So obviously she takes it seriously. — ssu
Latest privileged white academic in the firing line for having incorrect views is Camille Paglia. It was only a matter of time I guess. — jamalrob
There are, finally, political costs of illiberal activism. By targeting Paglia’s job, student activists may alienate people who are open to substantive critiques of her ideas, yet insistent on the absolute necessity of safeguarding a culture of free speech, regardless of whether the speech in question is “correct” or “incorrect.”
It's just ridiculous bullshit that the university ought to condemn. — frank
I just want to point out that while making this point, you have turned a blind eye to sexism and racism because it wasnt quite explicit enough to trip your alarms.
I don't accept the persecution of the people you've mentioned. I'm asking you to do what you advised: get it right. This is for both of us: — frank
Earlier you accepted RationalWiki's assessment that he used to be sexist and homophobic. Have you changed your mind about that? Just give that a big juicy acknowledgement and we're done. I don't think either of us gives a rat's who advises the British government.But what sexism or racism have I turned my blind eye to? — VagabondSpectre
Do you really think that Scruton is the crocodile in this situation? That I'm just defending him because I think he can destroy me? — VagabondSpectre
I think we should set up an Outrage Bingo - the right-wing targeted version.Latest privileged white academic in the firing line for having incorrect views is Camille Paglia. It was only a matter of time I guess. — jamalrob
Earlier you accepted RationalWiki's assessment that he used to be sexist and homophobic. Have you changed your mind about that? Just give that a big juicy acknowledgement and we're done. I don't think either of us gives a rat's who advises the British government. — frank
I'm asking you to recognize that our society contains racist and sexist elements. All it takes is a lost war or an economic downturn to have them coming out into the open. — frank
Maintaining an environment of hostility to racist and sexist views is not some leftist over-reaction. It's very much an expression of who we are. Sure, let them say what they want, but be clear and loud when they're wrong. — frank
We all float down here, already. — fdrake
Do you think democracy will be able to overcome this trauma with some kind of coming-of-age trial and triumph? — VagabondSpectre
I don't think it's a threat to democracy, it rarely leads to disruptions in anything, or political movements. What is a continuing threat to democracy, a threat through omitted necessary action, is the reduction of politics to the perturbation or stabilisation of the norms of discourse (in social media). — fdrake
It's already political discourse, the powerful meet behind closed doors, they don't have to post on social media to have an impact. — fdrake
But that's the rub isn't it? We're divided and conquered into these groups which are emotionally focused on the most trivial aspects of ourselves and the other, to the point that it crowds out any room for movements that don't match their attention-getting-power. — VagabondSpectre
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