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posted by CoolHand on Monday August 29 2016, @01:42AM   Printer-friendly
from the it-takes-all-kinds dept.

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.


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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Azuma Hazuki on Monday August 29 2016, @07:46AM

    by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Monday August 29 2016, @07:46AM (#394524) Journal

    The Buddhists had far better ethics than Jesus and beat him to it by centuries. And I can't help but wonder why the Old Testament God, Yahweh, couldn't be bothered to say something like "don't fuckin' commit rape" in that list of 10 but had two, or three depending on which kind of Christian you are, commandments devoted to kissing his ass.

    Also, "do not use the name of the Lord in vain" refers to swearing oaths, i.e., not committing perjury. It was also believed that the true name of God had magical power, and was not to be invoked by common mortal man. This is why you see devout Jews writing G*d even though the actual word being censored out would be some variation on YHVH. We don't know what the vowels were, as the old Hebrew only had yod-hey-vav-hey,

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    I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
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  • (Score: 0, Flamebait) by The Mighty Buzzard on Monday August 29 2016, @10:50AM

    Nasty, hateful spew. Do please continue giving us fine examples of why nobody should ever listen to a word you say.

    --
    My rights don't end where your fear begins.
    • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday August 30 2016, @05:20PM

      by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday August 30 2016, @05:20PM (#395354) Journal

      Because being nasty and hateful makes someone wrong automatically? Hah.

      Considering how important it is to you and your kind not to be "PC" and how you're supposedly all about logic over "fee-fees," you have a very, very sensitive ego. Hypocritical as hell, too; you project like a mile of movie theaters. And apparently you got your head wedged so far up your ass you don't even see this.

      Thanks for proving every single thing I say about you, and then some, every single time you open your rotten mouth, Mr. Self-Admitted Staff Troll.

      --
      I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
      • (Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Wednesday August 31 2016, @01:59AM

        by The Mighty Buzzard (18) Subscriber Badge <themightybuzzard@proton.me> on Wednesday August 31 2016, @01:59AM (#395552) Homepage Journal

        No, being nasty and hateful just makes you a cunt that's not worth anyone's time to listen to. Not everyone has my utter lack of give-a-shit about your lameass attempts to sway public opinion by shit talking everyone you disagree with. I grew up with four brothers, I was in the Army, and I've spent far too much time around Texans. Your fu? It's shit.

        --
        My rights don't end where your fear begins.
        • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday August 31 2016, @04:36AM

          by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Wednesday August 31 2016, @04:36AM (#395579) Journal

          You're getting rather upset, Uzzard...might want to calm down before you burst a blood vessel.

          Look at what you've been reduced to: nothing but macho posturing ("Hurr durr Imma vet durp-tee-durr had four bruvvers wot now mate?!"). Oh, and ad homs. Or ad-fems I suppose; is that even a thing? The truth is, Uzzard, you did this to yourself. Every time you let something slip you show everyone what kind of walking disaster area you are, and you *keep doing it.* You're not even intending to; it's when you're not trolling, when you let your guard down and say what you really believe, that the worst of you comes out for all to see.

          I almost feel sorry for you now, Mr. Staff Troll. Almost.

          --
          I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
  • (Score: 1, Disagree) by ewk on Monday August 29 2016, @11:36AM

    by ewk (5923) on Monday August 29 2016, @11:36AM (#394606)

    "couldn't be bothered to say something like "don't fuckin' commit rape" "

    No. 7 looks pretty clear to me.

    --
    I don't always react, but when I do, I do it on SoylentNews
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 29 2016, @01:36PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 29 2016, @01:36PM (#394655)

      "couldn't be bothered to say something like "don't fuckin' commit rape" "

      No. 7 looks pretty clear to me.

      Same with #8, on a "theft of services" type of level (I have funny, unexplored ideas about marriage, sex, and prositution).

      Stealing a person's body, even if it is on a time-limited basis, is still taking something which doesn't belong to the taker.

    • (Score: 4, Informative) by FatPhil on Monday August 29 2016, @02:22PM

      by FatPhil (863) <reversethis-{if.fdsa} {ta} {tnelyos-cp}> on Monday August 29 2016, @02:22PM (#394698) Homepage
      female consent adultery rape
      partner y n n
      partner n n y commandment 7 is deficient
      married y y n
      married n y y
      single y n n [*]
      single n n y commandment 7 is deficient

      Commandment 7 makes 3 out of those 5 rapes look nonrapey. It's pretty clear that it does not say "don't fucking rape". In a fair few places the psycho space fairy basically says "go ahead and rape, it'll help you relax after you've murdered all the males in my name."

      [* Even if the man is married, this still isn't adultery, only the state of the female - promised to another man or not - matters. It's basically a law governing whether you've harmed that other man for using his property.]
      --
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    • (Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 29 2016, @03:08PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 29 2016, @03:08PM (#394744)

      Adultery isn't fornication. If they meant fornication they'd say fornication. Adultery means cheating on your spouse, which means raping somebody who isn't married is acceptable - the bible even specifically makes that clear, as all you have to do after raping a virgin is pay her father her dowry and you're golden.

    • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday August 30 2016, @05:04AM

      by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday August 30 2016, @05:04AM (#395133) Journal

      And this, RIGHT HERE, is what is wrong with the Abrahamic worldview concerning sex. Good grief.

      People downthread have already said it, but this bears repeating: "thou shalt not commit adultery" is neither solely about, nor all-encompassing of, rape. Adultery very often is not at all rape-y, and most rape is not of a married person. You disgust me.

      --
      I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
      • (Score: 1) by ewk on Tuesday August 30 2016, @07:53AM

        by ewk (5923) on Tuesday August 30 2016, @07:53AM (#395181)

        "neither solely about, nor all-encompassing of, rape"
        And that's why it pretty much covers it... It actually does cover a lot more (according to the Christian teachings (*)), but, hey, don't let the sounds of the whoosh over your head distract you from your rant.
        And once you let go of that limited view that adultery can only be consensual (or not) between person 1 (married) and person 2 (married [but not to person 1] or not), the rape-reference actually makes sense. (Or not, but then think about it a bit more. You seem like an intelligent person, so you'll understand it eventually)

        (*) which, btw, I do not subscribe to, but don't let that bother you too much.

        "You disgust me."
        Now, now, that's not a very Buddhist thing to say...

        --
        I don't always react, but when I do, I do it on SoylentNews
        • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday August 30 2016, @04:10PM

          by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday August 30 2016, @04:10PM (#395317) Journal

          I'm not a Buddhist :) I like some of the ideas contained in the Pali canon and some of the Mahayana scriptures, but don't feel they represent reality...though they DO seem to have figured out a lot of psychology that the Western world is only now approaching, which is fascinating.

          The rest of your post is barely even worth replying to. You seem to forget, as an AC below pointed out, that your Bible says a lot about rape outside this, directly about rape, *and it treats rape as a property crime.* 50 shekels and forced marriage if a man rape someone's daughter. Essentially it's "you broke it (her hymen), you buy it."

          If you don't follow these teachings, stop supporting them. Women are not property. My vulva and vagina and uterus are not commodity goods.

          --
          I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
          • (Score: 1) by ewk on Tuesday August 30 2016, @05:18PM

            by ewk (5923) on Tuesday August 30 2016, @05:18PM (#395352)

            This reading comprehension thing is not really working, is it?
            After all, you still insist on "your Bible" even when I explicitly state that "I do not subscribe to".
            To me an indication that further discussion will become rather fruitless and cumbersome (and even more off topic).

            As about AC's... I don't read those. Can't distinguish one AC from the other AC anyway, so that only mixes things up.

            --
            I don't always react, but when I do, I do it on SoylentNews
            • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday August 30 2016, @08:26PM

              by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Tuesday August 30 2016, @08:26PM (#395421) Journal

              You didn't read my reply did you?

              I have news for you: if you defend something, it's yours. You may not be a Christian, but if you defend their views (technically Jewish views, but Mt. 5:17-20 has Jesus explicitly say they're still in effect...) they are indeed yours. You are defending a worldview that sees women as chattel. I am not a commodity. Get this through your head.

              --
              I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
              • (Score: 1) by ewk on Wednesday August 31 2016, @06:21AM

                by ewk (5923) on Wednesday August 31 2016, @06:21AM (#395603)

                I did read your reply and found no new points of view. Sorry if you thought otherwise.

                Yet, out of the goodness from my heart and as a final closure, I have news for you too: pointing out something is not defending that something.

                Hazuki: "Why aren't there laws against speeding cars in this town?"
                ewk: "Look there... that looks like like speed limit sign..."
                Hazuki: "You moron, why are you defending that cars might speed at all?"
                ewk: .....

                --
                I don't always react, but when I do, I do it on SoylentNews
                • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday August 31 2016, @09:01AM

                  by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Wednesday August 31 2016, @09:01AM (#395627) Journal

                  False analogy. More like this:

                    Why the hell aren't there laws against speeding in this town?
                    Hey look, a "yield to pedestrians" sign! That makes it allll better!
                    ...what does that have to do with speeding?
                    What is your problem, woman?! Look, there's a sign!
                    But...the problem is speeding, not people forgetting to stop for a crosser...
                    Yeah well they're the same because reasons so shut up i'm going home now and taking my ball with me bitch
                    (WT actual F?)

                  --
                  I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
                  • (Score: 1) by ewk on Wednesday August 31 2016, @10:09AM

                    by ewk (5923) on Wednesday August 31 2016, @10:09AM (#395636)

                    vulva, uterus, vagina AND now even a ball as well... now if you only had a brain...

                    --
                    I don't always react, but when I do, I do it on SoylentNews
                    • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday August 31 2016, @04:50PM

                      by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Wednesday August 31 2016, @04:50PM (#395738) Journal

                      You don't read so good, do ya boy?

                      --
                      I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
                      • (Score: 1) by ewk on Wednesday August 31 2016, @04:59PM

                        by ewk (5923) on Wednesday August 31 2016, @04:59PM (#395740)

                        You don't keep promises (about that ball and pissing off) so good, do ya sis?

                        --
                        I don't always react, but when I do, I do it on SoylentNews
                        • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Wednesday August 31 2016, @05:24PM

                          by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Wednesday August 31 2016, @05:24PM (#395754) Journal

                          I can't help poking the idiots in their cages, is all. Bad habit of mine. I never, ever let things go without giving them what they deserve. You fail reading comprehension hard, then you double down and start trolling? Yeah, you're gonna have a Bad Time (TM).

                          --
                          I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...
                          • (Score: 1) by ewk on Thursday September 01 2016, @08:06AM

                            by ewk (5923) on Thursday September 01 2016, @08:06AM (#396089)

                            Bad Time(TM_) ?? Oh goodie... for now you're not even an itch that warrants scratching. So don't flatter yourself.
                            As for the trolling, doubling down and lack of reading comprehension... seems you looked in the mirror when you came up with that.
                            But, since I do have better things to do than try and attain the impossible, I'll leave the thread to you.
                            Have fun and maybe you learn something from it if you reread a few times. Probably not, but who knows... stranger things have happened.

                            --
                            I don't always react, but when I do, I do it on SoylentNews
                            • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Thursday September 01 2016, @05:08PM

                              by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Thursday September 01 2016, @05:08PM (#396261) Journal

                              Oh, I've learned plenty from re-reading your posts...and that is that I massively overestimated you. What a shame; you seemed reasonable and intelligent enough :(

                              --
                              I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...