SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/opinion/sunday/a-confession-of-liberal-intolerance.html?_r=0
WE progressives believe in diversity, and we want women, blacks, Latinos, gays and Muslims at the table — er, so long as they aren't conservatives. Universities are the bedrock of progressive values, but the one kind of diversity that universities disregard is ideological and religious. We're fine with people who don't look like us, as long as they think like us.
O.K., that's a little harsh. But consider George Yancey, a sociologist who is black and evangelical. "Outside of academia I faced more problems as a black," he told me. "But inside academia I face more problems as a Christian, and it is not even close."
I've been thinking about this because on Facebook recently I wondered aloud whether universities stigmatize conservatives and undermine intellectual diversity. The scornful reaction from my fellow liberals proved the point.
"Much of the 'conservative' worldview consists of ideas that are known empirically to be false," said Carmi. "The truth has a liberal slant," wrote Michelle. "Why stop there?" asked Steven. "How about we make faculties more diverse by hiring idiots?"
To me, the conversation illuminated primarily liberal arrogance — the implication that conservatives don't have anything significant to add to the discussion. My Facebook followers have incredible compassion for war victims in South Sudan, for kids who have been trafficked, even for abused chickens, but no obvious empathy for conservative scholars facing discrimination.
The stakes involve not just fairness to conservatives or evangelical Christians, not just whether progressives will be true to their own values, not just the benefits that come from diversity (and diversity of thought is arguably among the most important kinds), but also the quality of education itself. When perspectives are unrepresented in discussions, when some kinds of thinkers aren't at the table, classrooms become echo chambers rather than sounding boards — and we all lose.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by Ethanol-fueled on Monday August 29 2016, @02:33AM
It's not nearly as black-and-white as you suggest. It's pretty much like everything else in politics, you gather as much information as you can about all sides and assign weights to them.
When I was on Slashdot (despite my bigoted comments) I was an honest pro-Israel liberal Democrat, had voted for Obama's first term, and repeatedly lambasted the senior Slashdot staff for having attended a Christian college because I was an edgy super-atheist.
I'm still an atheist and consider believing in an imaginary sky-daddy a flaw, but besides that I've had many positive impressions of Christians who strive to do the right thing and yet have the honest barbarism to admit when shit is fucked up. I prefer women who have had some religion in their upbringing because they make great girlfriends. More often than not modern Christians will gladly discuss religion but listen to your viewpoint if you have non-Christian leanings. Early Christianity had a strong intellectual tradition, and we owe many of our groundbreaking scientific developments to them. Even if you aren't a Christian you can still appreciate their contributions to art, history, music; and the religion itself is rich with symbolism. Many Christians are cultural only, that is, they are steeped in the tradition but don't believe in a literal sky-daddy. The bible itself says that the kingdom of heaven is already in your midst, not some sky-palace up in the clouds.
I've met some pretty awesome Christians, Whites, Asians, Blacks and Latinos. Jews and Muslims, however, are scum and I've never met a single instance of either who wasn't a rude and malignant asshole. Nuke 'em!
(Score: 5, Insightful) by Absolutely.Geek on Monday August 29 2016, @03:06AM
That was close I almost had to give a positive mod to Eth; but luckily he finished as we have come to know and love.
Jews and Muslims, however, are scum and I've never met a single instance of either who wasn't a rude and malignant asshole. Nuke 'em!
Don't trust the police or the government - Shihad: My mind's sedate.
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 29 2016, @03:33AM
Yeah, at least he dares to say it.
(Score: 3, Funny) by The Mighty Buzzard on Monday August 29 2016, @10:33AM
No worries, Flamebait plus Underrated covers situations like this.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 29 2016, @01:54PM
Isn't that called Projection.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Monday August 29 2016, @02:16PM
Hey, he's got a reputation to maintain, man!
(moderated as if the last line didn't exist)
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 2) by shrewdsheep on Monday August 29 2016, @08:42AM
I've met some pretty awesome Christians, Whites, Asians, Blacks and Latinos. Jews and Muslims, however, are scum and I've never met a single instance of either who wasn't a rude and malignant asshole. Nuke 'em!
I have.
(Score: 2) by DutchUncle on Monday August 29 2016, @02:27PM
"Early Christianity" was sort of Jewish. Jesus, the original disciples, the writers of the original gospels . . . all Jewish. Are you categorizing them too?