Posted on 02/21/2021 5:38:19 AM PST by Kaslin
The latest insanity from the Left (or one of the latest insanities, at least; they seem to compound daily) is that a group of Harvard students and faculty are demanding the university rescind degrees awarded to Ted Cruz, Kayleigh McEnany, and other conservatives and “Trump allies.” Why? Because said students and faculty members disagree with them about politics. Because they find their views to be “offensive.”
Where in the world did people get the notion that they can cancel others just because they offend them? Are the would-be cancelers oblivious to the fact that the Constitution expressly protects freedom of speech while offering not one word about freedom from offense?
Yes, they probably are. As to why they didn’t learn that, and where they got this idea that there’s some sort of right not be offended—well, that is a topic for another column. As a practical matter, I’m more concerned about stopping this poisonous idea in its tracks and helping young people learn to grapple with the reality that not everybody thinks like them—which is really just another way of saying, help them grow up.
To that end, each semester, I give the following short speech to my college students on the first day of class and also include a version of it in my syllabus. I share it here in the hope that it might do some good in the wider world. If you agree, perhaps you can forward it to a millennial or Gen-Zer that you love. If you disagree — well, I hope at least you’re not offended by this:
“There’s a lot of talk these days about 'hate speech' and other things people say that are “offensive.” So before we go any further, I need you to understand that 'hate speech' s not an actual thing, as the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed—including very recently in Matal v. Tam (2016).
“Yes, people sometimes say things that others find offensive. And while we should probably try to avoid offending people whenever possible — something my parents taught me when I was a child — there’s no way you can go through life without doing so occasionally. I certainly can’t teach a class of any substance without saying something that someone might find offensive.
“Not that I go out of my way to offend. Personally, I’ve never taken a ‘shock jock’ approach to teaching, saying outrageous things in order to provoke a response from students. That’s just not my personality. But I’ve had professors like that, and you probably will, too. Just be aware that they’re allowed. It’s called academic freedom.
“But even if I don’t mean to offend you, I just might. And if I don’t, one of the writers we’re studying probably will. After all, writers WRITE about all sorts of controversial topics, like sex and gender and politics and race and what have you. Any writer worth reading ultimately writes about the human condition, of which all those are important elements.
“So my advice to you, as we embark on this class, is twofold. First, keep in mind that being offended is a choice. Others can say what they want; you have no control over that. What you can control, however, is how you respond. You can choose not to be offended, even if someone’s words are objectively offensive— although that’s relatively rare. The vast majority of the time, offense is subjective: something taken, not given.
“More importantly, in the context of a college course, you should understand that being offended is an emotional response, not an intellectual one. The appropriate intellectual response to offensive speech, whether objectively wrong or merely subjectively distasteful, is to formulate a cogent rebuttal.
“Why, exactly, is the speaker (or writer) wrong? Why are you right? What evidence can you marshal to support your position?
“Unfortunately, as a society, we seem to have gotten the idea that the answer to offensive speech is to shut down or cancel the speaker. But that never works, long-term, as the history of oppressive regimes clearly shows. That’s especially true in the United States, where many of us have grown accustomed to speaking our minds and view efforts to silence us as a personal challenge.
“Instead, the antidote to wrong or offensive speech is more speech, not less. When it becomes apparent that a bad idea cannot withstand reasoned argument, then it will die, and not before. That, in my humble opinion, is one of the main things you’re going to college to learn.”
Bet you anything that a lot of snowflakes will be offended by Prof. Jenkins’s speech.
Whomever goes through something like this needs to file multi-million dollar liable suits against them.
You “earn a degree.” It cannot be taken away once earned.
“Where in the world did people get the notion that they can cancel others just because they offend them?”
That’s what I don’t get. “They” offend us every day, but we’re adults about it.
(My tagline.)
Two rules, corollaries of each other:
1. Do not say things that unnecessarily offensive to another, save the offensive for when they really deserve it.
2. Always take care that you are not too easily offended, as this invites retaliation. Sometimes heavy-handed, watch that counter punch.
They have a right to their emotions and we have a right to not accept their emotions, just as a parent teaching a three year old that you are not giving in to their temper tantrum no matter how loud they scream. These people never went through that stage of emotional development and self discipline.
They are not entitled to impose their biased perception of facts upon us.
Leave it to a gay, bi-polar British actor like Stephen Fry to have one of the best quotes on the culture of perpetual offence:
“It’s now very common to hear people say, ‘I’m rather offended by that.’ As if that gives them certain rights. It’s actually nothing more... than a whine. ‘I find that offensive.’ It has no meaning; it has no purpose; it has no reason to be respected as a phrase. ‘I am offended by that.’ Well, so f**king what.” (Stephen Fry, 2005)
“Because said students and faculty members disagree with them about politics. Because they find their views to be “offensive.”
Well most of the nation finds THEM offensive so there ya go, common ground.
There are two basic types of decision makers, “Logical” and “Emotional.”
The logical decision maker gathers the facts, evaluates them, and then makes a decision. They continue gathering facts and modify or adjust their decision based upon the revised facts.
Emotional decision makers first make a decision based upon how they feel about it. They then fall in love with their decision, and we all know how love is blind to any facts not supporting the design they love. Emotional decision makers will even attack anyone who asks a question, the answer to which reveals facts not supporting their decision.
Emotions are not logical.
“Where in the world did people get the notion that they can cancel others just because they offend them?”
It’s been creeping into schools & workplaces for a long time. Remember years ago teachers being told not to use red ink when they mark a student’s paper, and not to use gold stars anymore because it may hurt feelings of the students who got lower grades? And then schools deciding not to give grades at all so as not to offend?
Offending progressives is fun, do it at every opportunity.
Well, I am offended at your being offended, and I’ll raise your offendedness by screaming and shouting louder than you! 😡
Never be offended because it’s just words and opinion. You can walk away or sometimes the confrontation and turning it around is just fun.
Whatever you say in today’s world will always offend someone and the main thing here is never apologize.
Im offended that your offended, next!
Stories like this are a big reason why I generally don’t criticize U.S. employers when they push the government to approve more H1B visas for foreign workers. Imagine what it’s like to hire one of these stunted losers after they graduate from a top U.S. university.
To your point...How exactly would rescinding a degree once conferred work?
So if, say Harvard, were to rescind a degree, would they refund the tuition, plus interest? I highly doubt that. Further, on what grounds? Where, in Harvard’s rules is there anything about conduct of the graduate after the fact?
For example, Moochelle Obama had to surrender her Illinois law license or be disbarred. Should Princeton rescind her degree as well?
None of these nitwits ever explain in detail how this would work and how such rules would be applied and to whom.
"The right to offend is far more important than any right not to be offended." -- Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean, Blackadder, Johnny English)
Try that argument with the IRS for the Earned Income line on your 1040.....Please report back if successful....
It crept into homes even before that. I can remember in Jr. High getting licks for fighting. I took my licks and never let me folks know because I would have gotten worse at home. We all know what would happen if the same thing happened now.
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