Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
the students explain that free speech has been "appropriated by hegemonic institutions" and should ultimately be curtailed because "it has given those who seek to perpetuate systems of domination a platform to project their bigotry."
Quote:
Historically, white supremacy has venerated the idea of objectivity, and wielded a dichotomy of ‘subjectivity vs. objectivity’ as a means of silencing oppressed peoples. The idea that there is a single truth–’the Truth’–is a construct of the Euro-West that is deeply rooted in the Enlightenment, which was a movement that also described Black and Brown people as both subhuman and impervious to pain. This construction is a myth and white supremacy, imperialism, colonization, capitalism, and the United States of America are all of its progeny. The idea that the truth is an entity for which we must search, in matters that endanger our abilities to exist in open spaces, is an attempt to silence oppressed peoples.
I'm sure they're getting great value for their indoctrination, I mean "education".
Free speech, a right many freedom movements have fought for, has recently become a tool appropriated by hegemonic institutions. It has not just empowered students from marginalized backgrounds to voice their qualms and criticize aspects of the institution, but it has given those who seek to perpetuate systems of domination a platform to project their bigotry.
Which, without all the big, fancy words? tl;dr - Freedom of speech is a double-edged sword.
The second one:
Quote:
Your statement contains unnuanced views surrounding the academy and a belief in searching for some venerated truth. Historically, white supremacy has venerated the idea of objectivity, and wielded a dichotomy of ‘subjectivity vs. objectivity’ as a means of silencing oppressed peoples. The idea that there is a single truth--’the Truth’--is a construct of the Euro-West that is deeply rooted in the Enlightenment, which was a movement that also described Black and Brown people as both subhuman and impervious to pain. This construction is a myth and white supremacy, imperialism, colonization, capitalism, and the United States of America are all of its progeny. The idea that the truth is an entity for which we must search, in matters that endanger our abilities to exist in open spaces, is an attempt to silence oppressed peoples.
tl;dr - Saying that the school is founded on "the discovery of truth" implies that there is only one "real" objective truth. The rest of the paragraph documents the historic use of how touting a subjective fact as an objective truth has been used to justify and propagate discrimination.
While I disagree with students getting to decide who is and isn't allowed a voice, I also disagree with administrators admonishing legal protests. If a protest blocks access to a building, but is still within legal limits, then it's legal and should be protected. I very much agreed with their statement that "Protest that doesn’t disrupt the status quo is benign and doesn’t function to overthrow systems of oppression, which is the ultimate goal."
It's an interesting window on what kids are learning these days, in this case black college kids who have apparently taken a few race and gender studies courses from professors who are fans of postmodernism. Somehow I don't think the whole "objective truth is a Euro-construct" thing is going to catch on as a rallying cry for the masses.
It's an interesting window on what kids are learning these days, in this case black college kids who have apparently taken a few race and gender studies courses from professors who are fans of postmodernism. Somehow I don't think the whole "objective truth is a Euro-construct" thing is going to catch on as a rallying cry for the masses.
It correlates with the idea that "history is written by the victor" and how one's own biases affect how a story is told. Hence the idea of arguing against an "objective truth" in matters of politics. For instance, if you compare how America teaches the Revolutionary War against how it is taught in England, there are quite a number of differences. Even in America, there is still arguments from different sides on what the Civil War was "really" about.
And while their wording goes a bit above the reading level of the average American, they're not wrong.
The rest of the paragraph documents the historic use of how touting a subjective fact as an objective truth has been used to justify and propagate discrimination.
Nah, they're saying there is no such thing as objective truth, that it's just something made up by the bad white men who gave us the Enlightenment and the modern world.
Quote:
I very much agreed with their statement that "Protest that doesn’t disrupt the status quo is benign and doesn’t function to overthrow systems of oppression, which is the ultimate goal."
When students come to see the search for objective truth itself as part of a system of oppression which must be disrupted and overthrown they have made themselves unteachable and it is better for everyone if they simply do not attend university.
Last edited by The Dark Enlightenment; 04-19-2017 at 07:49 PM..
It correlates with the idea that "history is written by the victor" and how one's own biases affect how a story is told. Hence the idea of arguing against an "objective truth" in matters of politics. For instance, if you compare how America teaches the Revolutionary War against how it is taught in England, there are quite a number of differences. Even in America, there is still arguments from different sides on what the Civil War was "really" about.
And while their wording goes a bit above the reading level of the average American, they're not wrong.
If there's no objective truth, how would you know?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
