Jonah Goldberg's got a good post (probably from a few days ago) up on NRO which dissects a fairly honest and defiantly assertive manifesto by a liberal, liberal arts professor on why he and others like him--are liberal.
At the Naval War College during a lecture to the entire student body (generally a fairly conservative group), one of the more liberal-leaning professors took a question from the audience as to why he taught at the War College when he could have taught at any other school (the question was posed in the context of "You've got some impressive academic and diplomatic credentials, why wouldn't you want to teach to a more like-minded student body?"). His response: "Because here I am not only allowed, but encouraged to teach as I wish. Even though my world-view is more consistent with that of most political science departments at major universities, I rejected being told that there is but one "correct" interpretation of history or political policies. There are few places that disallow free thought and expression as a university campus in the United States. In my quest to find a place to express my views freely, I was pleasant surprised, and encouraged, to discover that the United States Military provided such a refuge." This was some 20 years ago so the quote is undoubtedly inexact, but the context I'll never forget.
Appears to me that the libprofs are "glass half empty" types of folks. C'mon, you have a sociology degree (several actually), but you have a nice office and get to hang out at the college. You're not like your MSW buddies who are dealing with the welfare class or the criminal class on a day to day basis.
At the Naval War College during a lecture to the entire student body (generally a fairly conservative group), one of the more liberal-leaning professors took a question from the audience as to why he taught at the War College when he could have taught at any other school (the question was posed in the context of "You've got some impressive academic and diplomatic credentials, why wouldn't you want to teach to a more like-minded student body?"). His response: "Because here I am not only allowed, but encouraged to teach as I wish. Even though my world-view is more consistent with that of most political science departments at major universities, I rejected being told that there is but one "correct" interpretation of history or political policies. There are few places that disallow free thought and expression as a university campus in the United States. In my quest to find a place to express my views freely, I was pleasant surprised, and encouraged, to discover that the United States Military provided such a refuge." This was some 20 years ago so the quote is undoubtedly inexact, but the context I'll never forget.
ReplyDeleteAppears to me that the libprofs are "glass half empty" types of folks. C'mon, you have a sociology degree (several actually), but you have a nice office and get to hang out at the college. You're not like your MSW buddies who are dealing with the welfare class or the criminal class on a day to day basis.
ReplyDeleteWell at least he's gone beyond the "only idiots are conservatives" argument.
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