Debate, and discuss, just dont Bore me.

It seems at OSU (Ohio State) that yes, that is one of a group of books that some members of the faculty have decided is sexual harassment. 

A librarian suggested 4 conservative tomes as part of the first year reading Experience, one of which was Rick Santorum's book, and another by David Horowitz.  While no one will argue that these are conservative writers, I hardly think they are demonstrative of sexual harassment.  Indeed, I fail to see how any books could be thus construed (unless naming Jane Doe and what you would do to her was a book).

So it seems that some universities have not only gone off the deep liberal end of railing against conservative works, they are now seeking to ban books because they are not to their ideals of liberal standards.  And not only to get the books banned, but to criminalize anyone who dares recommend them (there is no statement that the librarian was advocating any of the themes of the books).

Universities are making a mockery of themselves.  And the worst part is they don't even realize it.  Remember that hoax about the kid who wanted to check out Mao's little Red Book?  The left just went that one one better.


Comments
on Apr 17, 2006
This is ridiculous.
I find myself leaning more and more to the left as time goes on and as I see more of the world and the people in it, but I'm still rather centrist. To hear of either side trying to ban things like this just fills me with rage. Censorship is, and will always be, a tool of the closed-minded to try and force their point of view, whatever it may be.
I don't care what it says - I really don't think that it should be banned.
Who am I to make the moral decisions for others?
on Apr 17, 2006

This is ridiculous.
I find myself leaning more and more to the left as time goes on and as I see more of the world and the people in it

And you will always be one I respect!  Left of right, as long as we can FREELY debate the issues, there is no need to worry. It is one side (left or right) stifles debate that we have to worry.

on Apr 17, 2006

It is one side (left or right) stifles debate that we have to worry.

IT IS WHEN ONE SIDE.

Please JU, fix the edit.

on Apr 17, 2006
Please JU, fix the edit.


Amen. I've been bothered for weeks now when I accidentally put in too many l's or not enough n's or accidentally (and this seems to happen to me the most) post twice.
And the sidebar, please ladies and gentlemen. I'm going to be down on my knees pleading soon!
on Apr 17, 2006
And again, I accidentally send before I'm done, so it turns into two comments instead of one.

It is when one side (left or right) stifles debate that we have to worry.


You are exactly right. I love to discuss politics and world views with people all around me - but I can't agree with anyone who will stiffle the opposition just because they don't like what's being said.

Many times, lively discussion and thought can bring one to change their own mind, from what they thought was a for-sure idea they were concrete in to the opposite, just be hearing and weighing the differing sides.
That is what has made America so great - the fact that differing viewpoints can exist in the same country, and nobody feels the need for political revolution everytime someone they don't necessarily agree with gets elected. Think what could have happened in the 2000 presidential elections in just about any other country in the world . . .
The moment our ability to discuss different angles of the same issue is taken away is the moment America dies.
on Apr 18, 2006

The moment our ability to discuss different angles of the same issue is taken away is the moment America dies.

YOu say you are leaning left, and if you dont already know I lean right.  I fully acknowledge that those on the extreme right are book burners, but they have been relagated to the side show and out of the mainstream of debate and ideas.

The ones on the extreme left are book burners as well.  But instead of ostracizing them, they seem to be getting mainstreamed on the left such that books like Hucckleberry Finn, written in an early time are now banned for the words they contain.  Words that were in general use at the time.  That is not to say those words should be used today, but to deny their generally accepted usage in the past is not an act of self preservation, but of self destruction, and is just plain stupid.

A couple of these books, I am told, as I am only familiar with 2 of them, are quite radical and espouse ideas that are contrary to some lifestyles.  So?  How are people to learn of homophobia or blatant racism, and learn to guard against it, if they are coddled and constantly told "not to look at that man behind the curtain"?

The left does itself and cause no service by stifling reality.  It wont go away by ignoring it, only when confronted, with the armor of intelligent debate and discourse can intollerance and bigotry be defeated.  Not by pretending it does not exist.

on Apr 18, 2006
I've been learning a lot about the country of Spain, seeing as how spanish is my major and I'd like to learn more about the culture. So I'm currently enrolled in a class on culture and civilization of spain.

As we've been studying the last century, and the horrors that occured during the years of the Franco dictatorship, I've realized that a great part of that problem has been the censorship that the entire country suffered during those decades. When the dictatorship fell, and democracy came back to the country, there was a huge sigh of relief and an outcry to purge the censorship they had suffered for so long.
Speaking with my teacher, who grew up in Barcelona in the final years of the Franco tyrrany, she has always spoken of how wonderful it was when "free thought" (as she put it) was returned to the country. That's what both sides threaten - the right book burners or the left coddlers.

While we may lean to different sides, at least the both of us have open minds and are willing to endure the existence of ideas that we might not necessarily agree with.
on Apr 18, 2006

While we may lean to different sides, at least the both of us have open minds and are willing to endure the existence of ideas that we might not necessarily agree with.

And fight the same fight no matter who the enemies of free thought are.

I have never been to Spain (missed out on my Senior Class Trip to Majorica - but that was during the last year of Franco's rule too), But have spoken to some Spaniards, and while the tyranny of Franco is not always put on display, it is still there as a lesson to them.  One I hope we dont have to relearn.