Friday, March 12, 2004
I was informed that conservative need to stop complaining about the lack of diversity in opinions. There's lots of diversity! my fellow student informed me.
See - on the subject of gay marriage:
1 - one professor thinks that gays should be allowed to be married, but
2 - another professor thinks marriage itself is an inherently unequal institution, and
3 - 3 agrees with 2, but thinks marriages can be equal only if it is a gay marriage and
4 - thinks marriage needs to be abolished all together.
See? I was told. Just between those four professors, there's lots of diversity!
I argued that, unfortunately, all those arguments are generally left-wing arguments. The problem comes from a lack of professors with right-wing opinions.
Not only that, I said that basically 100% of the faculty in our program: 1 - hate Bush, 2 - think socialism is a great idea, 3 - think religion is for unthinking dupes and 4 - want more affirmative action, not less.
I was informed those last four positions were NOT opinions, but facts (or truisms) about the world.
My problem is that I am not very quick on my mental feet when engaging in impromptu verbal debate. Not that it would change anyone's mind if I were. English faculty and their obedient followers (i.e. - grad students) seem to lack the ability to actually engage in real, honest, sustained debate with conservatives. The labels "racist, sexist, classist, homophobic" are all they need. Why debate when one can just throw around labels?
See - on the subject of gay marriage:
1 - one professor thinks that gays should be allowed to be married, but
2 - another professor thinks marriage itself is an inherently unequal institution, and
3 - 3 agrees with 2, but thinks marriages can be equal only if it is a gay marriage and
4 - thinks marriage needs to be abolished all together.
See? I was told. Just between those four professors, there's lots of diversity!
I argued that, unfortunately, all those arguments are generally left-wing arguments. The problem comes from a lack of professors with right-wing opinions.
Not only that, I said that basically 100% of the faculty in our program: 1 - hate Bush, 2 - think socialism is a great idea, 3 - think religion is for unthinking dupes and 4 - want more affirmative action, not less.
I was informed those last four positions were NOT opinions, but facts (or truisms) about the world.
My problem is that I am not very quick on my mental feet when engaging in impromptu verbal debate. Not that it would change anyone's mind if I were. English faculty and their obedient followers (i.e. - grad students) seem to lack the ability to actually engage in real, honest, sustained debate with conservatives. The labels "racist, sexist, classist, homophobic" are all they need. Why debate when one can just throw around labels?
