Professors at war-Searching for dissent at the MLA (and not finding any)

Boston.com ^ | 1/4/04 | Scott Jaschik

[jalisco555]

SAN DIEGO -- "Why are you headed to San Diego?" asked the man next to me on the plane. "I'm going to a meeting of English professors to hear what they have to say about the war with Iraq," I replied.

[jalisco555]

More groupthink from the champions of diversity.

[Support Free Republic]

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[MEG33]

This is a fun article,exposing the silliness of the left.I am happy the English Profs have foreign policy and the War on Terror covered./sarcasm

[AZFolks]

I, for one, am furious at this. Not because English professors do not have every right to have their own opinions but because they use what is intended to be an intellectual forum to advance their ability to teach to wallow in a self serving sense of importance. Make no mistake, their ferocious language disguises the frustration that the "unwashed (us)" are ignoring their sage advice. This defines the education establishment unfortunately. They are not really interested in teaching, they are interested in coercing us to their views and, if that fails, to mock us. Instead of teaching our children how to write they comfort themselves with nonsense. How to stop it - I don't really know but changing the power structure in Washington which supports their abdication of teaching responsibility is a good place to start.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

leftism on campus

[MEG33]

This is the University atmosphere.Parents are paying to have their kids hear this drivel!The govt in Washington isn't in charge of them.

[BlueLancer]

bump for later ...

[Hibernius Druid]

Before today's tenured radicals, yesterday's flower children, took over American postsecondary education, indoctrination was considered an academic mortal sin. Now it's a way of life.

[Drango]

Note to my alumni assocation..."Stick it where the sun **** ****"

[yankeedame]

disguises the frustration that the "unwashed (us)" are ignoring their sage advice.

"Visions of the anointed" as Thomas Sowell called it.

[NutCrackerBoy]

The White House uses Condoleezza Rice and Colin Powell to create a distorted multiracial mask on imperialism. What does it mean when imperialism comes wrapped in a black bow?...The United States ignores the problems facing minority citizens while taking over countries where people do not look or worship like white Americans. The new patriotism looks a lot like the old slash-and-burn imperialism. -Cynthia Young, faculty member of the University of Southern California

It is inescapable that every shared perception no matter how true or false is a story. It is inescapable that all of us continually invent stories for shielding vulnerable parts of our self-worth from hurt. Most stories are finally dispelled by the light of truth. But oh the ones remaining are ever so robust!

Civilizational ascendancy favors some people over others, and Western civilization, particularly the USA, is a juggernaut. The story of racism, colonialism, sexism, straightism is almost impervious to any light of truth, and is the evil intellectual juggernaut of our time.

[verity]

Hope I do not bore you with this anectode:

In 1957, a European History Professor was in the middle of explaining the benefits of socialism when Jack, a former member of the 82d Airborne attending school on the GI Bill, stood up and told the Prof he was spouting Communist crap and that is not what he was there to learn.

There were no repercussions!

Nostalgia! Ahhhhhhhhhh.

[eleni121]

There are plenty of English profs, teachers, instructors, etc. who do not attend and do not join the MLA, including me. The MLA like the NEA and other professional organizations have been ambushed by activists left over from the 60's and the riffraff they have spawned. The Left has openly said that taking over the nation's elite organizations is one way to undermine and destroy America.

These bozos the article referenced spout leftist, anti Christian, anti capitalistic chatter to build up their self-esteem at the expense of the political rulers since most of their students absolutely hate taking English classes.

[jalisco555]

What really gets me is the way these people complain about how they are being threatened by a climate of fear and oppression. As if John Ashcroft is about to send the secret police to their homes at 3 AM. Of course no one ever censors or intimidates them in real life- just the opposite.

My wife is an MLA member. She missed the San Diego meeting but wants to attend next year. I may go with her to give an inside report.

[eleni121]

Some of these jokers-so-called defenders of civil liberties would never allow their students to enjoy the same. They intimidate and punish conservative Christian thought in their classes and mock anyone who dares to voice contrary opinions.

Maybe I should join and find out what they are doing but I really do not think that their influence matters in the least. I would rather wage the little free time I have in other more important arenas.

[eleni121]

Students still do this by the way - stand up and tell their lefty professors that they are not learning anything and that their politics make them ill. Of course, many others are afraid to voice their true opinions for fear that their grades will be affected.

[jalisco555]

Maybe I should join and find out what they are doing but I really do not think that their influence matters in the least.

IIRC, membership is pretty cheap and is on a sliding scale based on income (From each according to his ability, etc.). It might be worth joining for the comic relief. As to the matter of influence, keep in mind that this is a major event for job-seekers so people feel obligated to go if they are looking for an academic position. And young, newly minted Ph.D.'s are in no position to disagree politically with the tenured radicals who hold the key to their future employment.

[jalisco555]

My wife and I have hosted several faculty parties at our home. When the discussion turns to politics I try my best to keep quiet so as not to jeopardize her job but it can be hard. I'm not the only one with this problem. I remember one incident where the chairman was explaining to a junior faculty person his plan to offer a course in gay Latin-American writers and would she be interested in teaching it. She smiled and nodded through gritted teeth. She clearly objected to the whole project but felt she had no choice but to go along.

[Hobsonphile]

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[dirtboy]

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