Monday, May 30, 2016

More on the Lack of Ideological Diversity on College Campuses (and the Wider World), Part II

In a new book by Kim Holmes, a former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State and former V.P. of the Heritage Foundation, he discusses three categories of "tolerance" (really intolerance) displayed by the Left. There is "peer pressure tolerance," where one may have an opinion, but others need not take it seriously. The second level is "self-censorship tolerance," where one may have an opinion, but must keep that opinion to himself. The third level is "mandated tolerance," where you are not even entitled to hold certain opinions, "especially those involving sexual politics, religion, and anything that can be labeled as 'hate speech.'" (From "The Closing of the Liberal Mind," 2016, by the Heritage Foundation, and published by Encounter Books, pages 92-93.)

The latter category is prevalent on many college campuses. After all, that type of speech would constitute "microaggressions," and "hate speech," mandating "safe spaces" for today's emotionally fragile college students. The greater problem is that these college students do ultimately leave academia, and take their closed minds with them into the larger world. We know conservative speakers are not welcome on most college campuses. But look what happens in the greater society. We see newspapers refusing to print opposing views on "global warming" or "gay marriage." At Trump rallies we are seeing violent protesters trying to shut down speech they oppose.

I am not speaking of peaceful protesters. I am speaking of those who will engage in various disrespectful and illegal activities, such as attacking police and police cars and burning American flags, in their efforts to block speech. I am not a fan of hate-speech laws. I am not a fan of laws in some European countries criminalizing certain speech. And I am not a fan of those who try to shut down Trump from speaking. Such tactics only reinforce my intended vote for Trump. Bloomberg and Koch worried that the lack of true dialogue on college campuses would "create graduates who are unwilling to tolerate differing opinions," calling it "a crisis for a free society."

The problem is that the Left dominates in the universities, in the media and in Hollywood. College professors then teach their biased viewpoints to their students. Case in point. Ami Horowitz is a filmmaker who went to Portland State University. He stood in a courtyard telling students he was raising funds for "American Friends for Hamas." (You can Google this sad display of ignorance by college students.) In any event, he is seen telling students things such as: "we want to fund operations against Israel," "attacks we're talking about are cafes and schools, you know - soft targets," and "suicide bombers is all we've got, it's the poor man's F-15."

And finally, he said this: "we're looking to wipe Israel off the map," and "we're looking to destroy Israel. We don't want just Gaza, we want to have all of Israel." Being students, the amounts offered in donation to the cause to destroy Israel were small, ranging from $5.00 to $27.00. Said one student: "I've actually been learning about, in this last school year, about everything that's going on over there, so I like the sound of what you're doing. It sounds like a great thing to do." If this student actually learned the truth, he would know that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. He would know that the Arabs have tried to destroy Israel numerous times, refusing to accept the existence of a Jewish State. And he would know that Hamas is a terrorist organization that also oppresses women and gays and non-Muslims. But the universities are dominated by leftist professors.

Said another student: "I'm totally against the Israeli genocide (of Palestinians)." Genocide? When and where? Would that be Israel's war of self-defense against Hamas in 2014? A war that was precipitated by Hamas' constant pounding of Israel with thousands of rockets? I wonder what this student learned from his professors.

As readers of this blog know, I use every opportunity to remind my Jewish liberal readers that these leftists vote for Democrats. They are part of your party. And many support Bernie Sanders, the Jewish candidate for President, and the candidate who is the least supportive of Israel. Sanders was allowed to appoint 5 people to the Democrats' platform committee. He chose, among others, James Zogby, Cornel West and Keith Ellison, Muslim member of Congress. Zogby is the founder of the Arab American Institute. West expressed his belief that, to this writer, Israel was not allowed to defend itself, by saying: "Let us not be deceived. The Israeli massacre of innocent Palestinians, especially the precious children, is a crime against humanity!"

College students are, for lack of a better word, being brainwashed. They are being fed the left-wing ideology, without the necessary diversity of opinion. These students then graduate, having internalized what they've been taught, as the absolute truth. You cannot debate them, because they won't debate. They will express anger at opposing views and refuse to listen. Hearing an opposing view causes them to be uncomfortable, as they feel their self-identity is under attack. If you think I am only referring to recent college graduates you are mistaken. There are far too many adults who also refuse to read or hear a conservative viewpoint. While they never tire of mocking me, they will not debate me.

You see, the fear expressed by Bloomberg and Koch about the future of our society is here now. We already have the threat to a "free and democratic society." We have already reached the point of "crisis for a free society."

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