Comments on: Authors of controversial fliers come forward http://blog.dailycolonial.com/newsblog/2007/10/10/authors-of-controversial-fliers-come-forward/ The latest from the newsroom, including what we're working on for tomorrow's edition. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:28:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=wordpress-mu-1.0 by: Raoul http://blog.dailycolonial.com/newsblog/2007/10/10/authors-of-controversial-fliers-come-forward/#comment-68254 Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:05:23 +0000 http://blog.dailycolonial.com/newsblog/2007/10/10/authors-of-controversial-fliers-come-forward/#comment-68254 The same depiction of Arabs in robes as menacing used by Kokesk and company to slander others, well it was all just seen as good fun by Kokesh not that long ago: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1910101/posts The same depiction of Arabs in robes as menacing used by Kokesk and company to slander others, well it was all just seen as good fun by Kokesh not that long ago:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1910101/posts

]]> by: Alexander Kachenko http://blog.dailycolonial.com/newsblog/2007/10/10/authors-of-controversial-fliers-come-forward/#comment-68212 Wed, 10 Oct 2007 20:33:03 +0000 http://blog.dailycolonial.com/newsblog/2007/10/10/authors-of-controversial-fliers-come-forward/#comment-68212 I think this incident can allow us far more insight into the makeup of our campus than most of us are willing to admit. I found the backlash to be funny, though a bit disturbing. Over a dozen student organizations condemn the poster, the UPD is asked to investigate it, and the President of the University feels the need to denounce it. Why? No one in there right mind could take the poster literally, yet that is what everybody did. They ignored the fact that it was clearly making fun of racists, in effect calling racists ignorant to facts. What is motivating our administrators to call the cops over a politically motivated poster, and more importantly, why are student organizations bending over backwards to join the fight against a poster that appears racist only when looked at from the most unintellectual level possible? Are they so afraid of being called racist that they feel the need to immediately denounce anything that discusses racist sentiments, even if it's underlying message is one of tolerance? More important than what are administration or organizations are doing is what we are doing and learning in the process. There was an idea born in the 60's that a college campus is suppose to support the free exchange of ideas. A "market place of ideas" is allowed to prosper and becomes self-regulating, with unfounded opinions and biases being overwhelmed by logical factual argument and discussion. I think the fear of being racist have completely silenced all but a few opinions on anything relating to racist. Take the Jena 6 movement for example. I clearly saw the marches in support and heard the chants of "Free the Jena 6," but never heard any actual discourse on the subject. We are in the political capital of the country and no one is bold enough to call into question the rule of law. Instead, everything surrounding the event was called up as evidence of an inherently racist society with racist legal and judicial practices. That is certainly not the case, and it hurts minorities to preach that point of view. There are elements of the Jena 6 story that are racist, but if no one is willing to dismantle and honestly discuss the issue and then argue as to what is or is not racist, there is no way to address the systematic problems short of a blind demand to overhaul society and government. Let me give and example. There was criticism that those responsible for hanging the nooses in the tree were not prosecuted for federal hate crimes. The FBI sent an agent to investigate the issue, but the students responsible were underage, and therefore by law, could not be prosecuted unless they were affiliated with the KKK or some other hate organization (at least this is how I've come to understand it). It seems reasonable that someone underage might not fully understand their actions. I am sure there are great arguments for and against the law's exclusion of minors, but if I cannot be free to criticize other's opinions and call into question their motives without being labeled a racist or a bigot I have no desire engage in that conversation. Simply put, as a society, we cannot advance race relations unless we can freely discuss them. I think this incident can allow us far more insight into the makeup of our campus than most of us are willing to admit. I found the backlash to be funny, though a bit disturbing. Over a dozen student organizations condemn the poster, the UPD is asked to investigate it, and the President of the University feels the need to denounce it. Why? No one in there right mind could take the poster literally, yet that is what everybody did. They ignored the fact that it was clearly making fun of racists, in effect calling racists ignorant to facts.

What is motivating our administrators to call the cops over a politically motivated poster, and more importantly, why are student organizations bending over backwards to join the fight against a poster that appears racist only when looked at from the most unintellectual level possible? Are they so afraid of being called racist that they feel the need to immediately denounce anything that discusses racist sentiments, even if it’s underlying message is one of tolerance?

More important than what are administration or organizations are doing is what we are doing and learning in the process. There was an idea born in the 60’s that a college campus is suppose to support the free exchange of ideas. A “market place of ideas” is allowed to prosper and becomes self-regulating, with unfounded opinions and biases being overwhelmed by logical factual argument and discussion.

I think the fear of being racist have completely silenced all but a few opinions on anything relating to racist. Take the Jena 6 movement for example. I clearly saw the marches in support and heard the chants of “Free the Jena 6,” but never heard any actual discourse on the subject. We are in the political capital of the country and no one is bold enough to call into question the rule of law. Instead, everything surrounding the event was called up as evidence of an inherently racist society with racist legal and judicial practices. That is certainly not the case, and it hurts minorities to preach that point of view. There are elements of the Jena 6 story that are racist, but if no one is willing to dismantle and honestly discuss the issue and then argue as to what is or is not racist, there is no way to address the systematic problems short of a blind demand to overhaul society and government.

Let me give and example. There was criticism that those responsible for hanging the nooses in the tree were not prosecuted for federal hate crimes. The FBI sent an agent to investigate the issue, but the students responsible were underage, and therefore by law, could not be prosecuted unless they were affiliated with the KKK or some other hate organization (at least this is how I’ve come to understand it). It seems reasonable that someone underage might not fully understand their actions. I am sure there are great arguments for and against the law’s exclusion of minors, but if I cannot be free to criticize other’s opinions and call into question their motives without being labeled a racist or a bigot I have no desire engage in that conversation. Simply put, as a society, we cannot advance race relations unless we can freely discuss them.

]]> by: Gek http://blog.dailycolonial.com/newsblog/2007/10/10/authors-of-controversial-fliers-come-forward/#comment-68206 Wed, 10 Oct 2007 16:57:57 +0000 http://blog.dailycolonial.com/newsblog/2007/10/10/authors-of-controversial-fliers-come-forward/#comment-68206 I'm sure the fliers did have the hoped-for response. They slandered another group anonymously; and now the YAF is catching heat for the fliers (that they had nothing to do with) while dealing with the slander. And the Administration has (so far at least) shown that slander is acceptable, but groups who are slandered need to make some efforts to remedy the situation (so the parties who are slandered now have to clean up the mess). What more could you ask for? Slander someone, no punishment, no penalty, and the University will help you by presuming the slander is true, and giving more problems to the party you've slandered. Well, I guess you could ask for a pony too; but that would seem greedy. Did anyone ask if the counter-events would also be anonymous unopposed slander? Seeing as that was obviously their real goal (planned and achieved, regardless of their current statement) I have to wonder what comes next. Do they try violence again? We've seen with the rushing the stage of the Minutemen at Colombia that violence against Conservatives is generally accepted behavior as well. Why stop at anonymous slander? everyone knows there won't be any penalties for any attacks against conservatives; regardless of the illegalities, damage, or actions taken. Why stop at such a cowardly and weak attack as anonymous slander? I’m sure the fliers did have the hoped-for response. They slandered another group anonymously; and now the YAF is catching heat for the fliers (that they had nothing to do with) while dealing with the slander.

And the Administration has (so far at least) shown that slander is acceptable, but groups who are slandered need to make some efforts to remedy the situation (so the parties who are slandered now have to clean up the mess).

What more could you ask for? Slander someone, no punishment, no penalty, and the University will help you by presuming the slander is true, and giving more problems to the party you’ve slandered.

Well, I guess you could ask for a pony too; but that would seem greedy.

Did anyone ask if the counter-events would also be anonymous unopposed slander? Seeing as that was obviously their real goal (planned and achieved, regardless of their current statement) I have to wonder what comes next.

Do they try violence again? We’ve seen with the rushing the stage of the Minutemen at Colombia that violence against Conservatives is generally accepted behavior as well. Why stop at anonymous slander? everyone knows there won’t be any penalties for any attacks against conservatives; regardless of the illegalities, damage, or actions taken. Why stop at such a cowardly and weak attack as anonymous slander?

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