Posted on 12/01/2015 10:50:06 AM PST by Kaslin
Two weeks ago, the Columbia University newspaper, the Spectator, published an article titled "Students, faculty address institutionalized racism at University Life event."
As described in the article, one example of the institutionalized racism that black Columbia students must endure is the university's Core Curriculum.
In the words of one of the panelists, fifth-year undergraduate student Nissy Aya, a young black woman, "It's traumatizing to sit in Core classes. We are looking at history through the lens of these powerful, white men. I have no power or agency as a black woman, so where do I fit in?"
Her words are worthy of analysis and response.
First, they provide a fine example of how successfully universities have indoctrinated students with leftist ideas and rhetoric. For example, who, outside of academia, ever uses the word "agency" as she did? Did you ever say to anyone that you have or don't have "agency?"
This is not trivial. When people use words or terms that are used in only one setting, it means that that setting has profoundly influenced them and that the setting is a closed intellectual universe.
Her use of the word "traumatizing" is also a product of indoctrination. Columbia taught this young woman to be traumatized by its own Core Curriculum. Some things -- war, torture and the murder of a loved one, for example -- are objectively traumatizing. No one is taught to be traumatized by such things. But a university curriculum that attempts to convey the finest ideas and art developed in Western culture, and often in the entire world, and which has been taught to tens of thousands of students of all backgrounds for nine decades -- that should not constitute a trauma.
The notion that she is "looking at history through the lens of these powerful, white men" means that race trumps profundity, wisdom, beauty and excellence. Thus, Shakespeare is not the greatest playwright we know of, he is just a white European (and male, to boot). Likewise Beethoven, Bach and other Western composers did not compose what is arguably the greatest music ever composed; they, too, were first and foremost white.
Whereas the Columbia Core Curriculum originally set out to teach the history of the West and the best art and literature that has been produced, the left has succeeded in teaching that no art is better than any other. It has done so by substituting race, gender and class for wisdom, beauty and profundity, and through its doctrine of multiculturalism, which asserts that all cultures are equal.
And how did Columbia respond to Aya?
Director of the Center for the Core Curriculum Roosevelt Montas said: "You cannot grow up in a society without assimilating racist views. Part of what is exciting about this conversation is that it's issuing accountability for us to look within ourselves and try to understand the way that racism shapes how we see the world and our institutions."
And, according to the Spectator, Executive Vice President for University Life Suzanne Goldberg "added that in addition to meeting with students, the Office of University Life is convening a task force of students, administrators and faculty to further explore issues of diversity on campus."
In other words, instead of defending the pursuit of wisdom and human greatness, Columbia sided with Aya and all the other students lamenting the "institutionalized racism" and resultant traumas endured by non-white students at the university.
At an actual learning institution, rather than at the left-wing seminary Columbia and nearly all other American universities have become, administrators would have told Aya that if she has really been traumatized by the Columbia Core Curriculum, she stands little chance of navigating any of the inevitable vicissitudes of real life because she has opted to remain a child, and therefore woefully unprepared for adulthood.
At a real university, administrators would have also told her and all the other "traumatized" students of all colors and backgrounds, that by using the word "traumatized" they have trivialized the suffering of all those individuals the world over who really have been traumatized.
But of course any administrator who said something so honest would be labeled racist by faculty and students at that university, The New York Times, Hillary Clinton, MSNBC and the rest of the American left.
After all, in their view, if you think students should concentrate on studying Bach, Shakespeare and Leonardo da Vinci, you are depriving black students of their agency. Is that not clear?
People should read taglines...lots of wisdom there...
Is she even a senior?
Yeah.
Where do you fit in, Toots? You’re the beneficiary of the inspired efforts of all those white male giants who came before you and purchased your whiny self-indulgence with their sweat and blood. You’re the heir to the freedoms they bought you with their lives. And your a member of an elite club called America that was founded by white men with vision and courage.
So shut up and get to class or go get a job at Starbucks.
She should leave Columbia and go attend some black-run academy in Harlem or something.
Isn't privilege a good thing? When you say "it's been my privilege to entertain you tonight" as BB Kind did every show for 50 years, that's a good thing. He's privileged.
The idea of forced equality is evil. It is rightful that some people have more at birth, it validates the sacrifices made by their ancestors. Perhaps it can be taken too far, as in Kim Il Jong, but in general it is a part of a well ordered society.
We are surely moving away from being a well ordered society, but there is no reason that normal people have to agree with this.
Thank goodness for them that I have not been exposed to any of this nonsense. I would certainly tell them to fork off very directly, and that might further damage their weak little snowflake selves.
Well, if she's the "woman of substance" in the Cardinals shirt, I would suggest she stick to the "Plus Size" section of the store.
Perhaps as an American?
A few years ago a Tea Party rally was staged in some city, amongst which were a few black Tea Party members. One jackass reporter asked one of the black members if he was worried about what "his people" might think. His reply was priceless. "These are my people," he quipped. "Americans!"
A couple of weeks or so ago, Bill O’Reilly was showing a clip of Jesse Watters doing his “Watter’s World interview. Watters was interviewing people about some American history. A black woman told him that she is against history. I could not believe my ears over such ignorance.
This statement is actually given in code. The correct translation is as follows:
"I am a loser and a misfit, and I am such an abject mediocrity that I can barely even pass remedial classes at Columbia. I must blame the 'institutionalized racism' of this school and its curriculum because I'm not honest enough to acknowledge my own limitations."
She doesn’t belong in or fit in our society. I can think of a few dozen places where she can go to get away from White society and have power and agency as a black woman.
Well said. I’d suggest that she consider numerous historical accomplishments worldwide and what attributes seem common among them. Seeking to alter or ignore historical fact doesn’t serve any useful purpose. It is what it is. History is a resource to learn from. No one is holding her back from charting her own course in life.
If the realities of history prove unbearable, then perhaps her course of study should be narrowed to only that which she finds comforting and enabling. There are employers seeking such people, and when that new career starts I’d like to be the first to congratulate her by ordering large fries with my hamburger.
A liberals history concept of history starts at breakfast
“so where do I fit in?”
Honestly? You don’t. And we are collectively stupid to try and make your ancestors roles in history anything more than they were: they were slaves. They did NOT create this country any more than the mules who hauled lumber did.
Its sad but true. Some few here and there became great
BUT those white males you so love to mock and deride DID create the mechanisms that allow you to be what you want to be. You are no longer a slave because of their sacrifices and blood. You can vote because they decided to extend you the vote. You do not have to endure a quasi second class status. For the last 40 years you have been allowed to rise faster than your abilities in many cases.
And now you whine because you have to learn that history and the struggle it took to get you into your present class.
I strongly suggest you sit down and shut the f—k up.
From perspective of Columbia College alum, things are not as bad. Every year there are loudmouth ignorANUSes making their voice heard, but there is no consensus among even left-of-center student body (not to mention the alums) to get rid of Core Curriculum. I keep supporting Columbia College out of gratitude but made a point some years ago to earmark the annual check for Core Curriculum only. The school administration is hopelessly lib, but it knows who is writing the checks, and that ain’t Aya or Keisha from Bronx.
No, I was a returning undergraduate coming out of the Marines to a time 43 years ago when the antiwar left were causing similar disruptions on campuses.
Had no time or tolerance for them then, or now.
Idiot reporter, smart and intelligent black Tea Party member
And she’s already got 15 credits!
I was thinking along the same lines.
Universities are a product of the “Western Intellectual Tradition”, and as such, yes, the core concepts have the perspective of Western, mostly male, mostly white, originally all-Christian, scholars. Many women, non-whites, and non-Christians have certainly participated in university education for years, and are welcome to do so.
But why on Earth would someone choose to attend a “university”, then bitch because it isn’t something else? If she wants to limit herself to an institution uniquely based on concepts developed by blacks, or women, or transsexuals, she can do so. If there aren’t any, then she can found one. Will she next go into a Mosque and complain that it holds no Christian services, has no idols to worship, etc.?
Of course the answer is that “logic” is a white male thing.
Every time I see the term “white privilege” used, I think “white competency,’ and things tend to make more sense. There is a lot of jealousy regarding ability.
If “white privilege” exists it is because it was earned.
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