(IN)Tolerance vs Diversity April 8, 2013 , Herbie Douglas, PhD (CRUSHING THE RIGHT OF CONSCIENCE IN ACADEMIA)
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” 2 Timothy 3:1-5, NKJV
Perilous times will come and Paul is not referring to earthquakes, world conflicts or germs out of control. He is talking about human behavior and how men and women with great access to those public forums of the world that foster division in our homes, schools and halls of government by thinking they have the “right” to be dismissive of the “rights” of others!
One way all this can be summarized is to note the amazing conflict developing in the last 50 years, now reaching fever pitch: Unity, Diversity, Political Correctness! Anybody that still has conversations at the dinner table, or attending most any school, or running for public office is baffled, at first, how these words are hurled at those who differ.
I have been keeping a file of this phenomenon and the latest is a news bulletin:
“Professor Makes Students 'Stomp on Jesus.'” The story went viral--how a Florida Atlantic University student said he was punished after he refused a professor’s directive to stomp on a piece of paper with the word “Jesus” written on it. The university, meanwhile, defended the assignment as a lesson in debate! (That shows how a good word like “debate” is being used these days. )www.redstate.com/.../jesus-stomping-fau-professor-is-democrat-party... So what is the story?
Ryan Rotela, 21, a junior majoring in communications at FAU's Davis campus, felt his religious rights were violated and he says he was personally offended by one of his instructors. As part of a classroom exercise in early March, Ryan says an instructor in an Intercultural Communications class told him and his classmates to write the name "Jesus" on a sheet of paper and then put it on the floor and stomp on it. Some students stomped on the paper, but Ryan did not because he felt it was insulting to his religious beliefs.
Ryan brought his concerns to the instructor's supervisor, and says he was later suspended from the class. He told the instructor, Deandre Poole, that the assignment was insulting and offensive. “I said to the professor, ‘With all due respect to your authority as a professor, I do not believe what you told us to do was appropriate.’” (According to his university profile, Poole has a PhD from Howard University and is authoring a book titled, “Obamamania: The Rise of a Mythical Hero.”)
Paul Kengor, the executive director of the Center for Vision and Values at Grove City College, said that he was not surprised to hear that a university would offer such an offensive lesson in the first place. He said, “These are the new secular disciples of ‘diversity’ and ‘tolerance’ — empty buzzwords that make liberals and progressives feel good while they often refuse to tolerate.
Kengor said classes like the one at Florida Atlantic University demonstrate the contempt many public institutions hold for people of faith.”
www.thenewamerican.com › Culture › Faith and Morals
On Friday, March 22, the university issued a statement: “We can confirm that no student has been expelled, suspended or disciplined by the university as a result of any activity that took place during this class,” the university said in a prepared statement.”
However, according to a letter written by a University Associate Dean Rozalia Williams, Rotela is facing a litany of charges – including an alleged violation of the student code of conduct, acts of verbal, written or physical abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion or other conduct which threaten the health, safety or welfare of any person.”
“In the interim, you may not attend class or contact any of the students involved in this matter – verbally or electronically – or by any other means,” Williams wrote to Rotela. “Please be advised that a Student Affairs hold may be placed on your records until final disposition of the complaint.”
Hiram Sasser, director of litigation at the Liberty Institute, told Fox News the university’s behavior is “outlandish” and called their press release “inaccurate.”
“We believe the university punished him in retaliation for him exposing the class assignment to the public,” Sasser said. “Sadly, it is a testimony to the indoctrination that some of the public schools and universities are engaging in – to demonize anything that was valuable in the culture.” radio.foxnews.com › Home › topbar (The Liberty Institute wants Rotela reinstated with full credit for the course – along with an apology.)
The university initially defended the Christ-bashing lesson which is included in the textbook titled, “Intercultural Communication: A Contextual Approach, 5th Edition:”
“Have the students write the name JESUS in big letters on a piece of paper,” the lesson reads. “Ask the students to stand up and put the paper on the floor in front of them with the name facing up. Ask the students to think about it for a moment. After a brief period of silence instruct them to step on the paper. Most will hesitate. Ask why they can’t step on the paper. Discuss the importance of symbols in culture.”
Rotela said that he was baffled by the university’s latest statement. “The university has a huge problem with integrity,” he said. “They are tripping over their own words. . . . Gee, I wonder if the instructor would dare do this with the name of Mohammed.” radio.foxnews.com › Home › topbar
WHO WOULD THINK THAT SUCH EPISODES WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THE UNITED STATES EVEN 50 YEARS AGO?
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Topic: ACADEMIC INTOLERANCE Abounds - Harvard educated professor abuses position (Read 3237 times)
