Monday, April 26, 2004

Political Correctness - My Thoughts

1. It seems to me that the issue of Political Correctness was vastly overstated, if not outright created, by conservatives. They took a few incidents, such as the questionable one involving Professor Stephan Thernstrom, and extrapolated from them a crowbar to try to pry liberals out of the college.

2. Paradoxically, the suggestion that their might be a liberal bias (or any other kind of bias) in teachers will have a chilling effect on student's willingness to discuss issues, whether or not such bias actually exists. The grading process is far from transparent to the student, despite the teachers best intentions. It is assumed by students that college professors have a certain amount of lee way in giving grades. It is further assumed that College Professors will use that perogative to benefit those students they like, and will use it to the detriment of those students they don't like (In one way this is largely true. Students who show a genuine interest in the course material are both more likely to enjoy a favorable relationship with the professor and are more likely to do well in the class). So if we have created on campus an atmosphere in which it is assumed that all professors are liberal until proven not, and if we further assume an ongoing movement to punish conservatives in the name of "political correctness," well many conservative students are naturally going to hedge their bets by keeping their mouths shut.

3. Conservative organizations, such as Young Republicans Clubs, are growing on our college campuses, both in numbers and in influence.

4. Most commentators who attack political correctness are infuriated at the existence of liberal organizations or feminist movements being on campus, while having no problem with conservative or corporate entities molding our young minds.

5. The subject of speech codes or a harassment policy is a landmine, but here's a pair of branches I'm willing to go out on. Freedom of Speech and discussion improve a college; students should be able to explore what they will. Anarchy, however, is not freedom.

6. The Canon is not going to crumble if some students and professors choose to study subjects outside of the canon.

7. Making students take multicultural classes may or may not be a good idea. Offering such classes, however, is 100% a good idea.

8. When someone complains about political correctness, ask the following questions. a. What actual consequences do you think you will suffer if you express your view point? b. Why would your viewpoint cause such problems?

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