The problem came in arguing my point of view on any subject as I hadn't a clue regarding polemics, and surely could martial few facts to support my views. The difficulty in that is liberals don't need facts to support views since liberalism in the modern sense requires no foundation.
I suspect that is the biggest problem among college conservatives. It's just common sense that requires one to be liberal. So why would a liberal even engage in conversation with a conservative who obviously has no common sense?
My son went through a liberal high school and college as a conservative. Yet even in high school he took the time to memorize facts, dates and cause vs. effect in political decisions. It also helps that he has a pretty good memory. He discovered in high school that even his most liberal teachers didn't hold his views against him, which I found interesting. In fact in social studies-type classes they would even call on him to get the "conservative take" on this and that. He graduated valedictorian.
I don't know that he had the same experience in college, although I can promise he never tried to hide his views. He was Navy ROTC, so he had the opportunity at least once or twice per week to advertise. His classes were much more science oriented.
I believe you can argue conservatism in school these days, yet you need a sense of humor...no matter what, and it helps to read the conservative pundits, and a good memory is essential.
I am amazed and heartened to find out there is even ONE conservative at Swarthmore, which if I recall correctly is a Quaker-run school. While I agree it is a good way to hone your debating skills by living in such an atmosphere, it is also very exhausting and requires something of a thick skin. I feel that way living in New York, where it is just assumed that you hate Bush and support Kerry.
In 1930's Germany, Russia, Italy...you name it...this same senario was played out. No dissent! Report you to the superiors. Pretty soon there was no dissent and the nations deteriorated into dictatorships and chaos. What ovens? What concentration camps? We never knew about it...and BS on and on!Forewarned is forearmed!
The only one I had any real trouble with was my German professor bitching about Reagan/Bush.
After a couple days of this I told him in no uncertain terms, if he was going to bitch, whine and moan about them, it had better be in GERMAN.
That cut about 95% of his whining.
What a little ninnyhead. Her parents are probably paying $35K per year or more, and neither she nor they investigated what she was getting into.
Conservative views are generally arrived at by logic. Leftist views are only arrived via feeeeelings used for the aquisition of political power at the expense of society.
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Time for her to look for a more "balanced" college, and transfer any credits...escape the BS.