A Post For Yale
As Clint Taylor points out, defenders of Yale in many venues are Yale students or alumni who are, with or without coordination, using an "us against them" strategy. Casting the objections of people (like me) who don't think it's right for a taliban mouthpiece to be a student at Yale as "outsiders" who are just ganging up on poor, old Yale. Those who disapprove, then, are somewhat (or completely) lacking in credibility. Because they are "outsiders" and not fit to judge the likes of Yale. One opinion piece said outside commenters were "ossified", another said outsiders had no knowledge of history, another that outsiders had no expertise therefore denigrated true (Yale) expertise.
Ah, well. Some of us, who are "outsiders" to Yale, may actually have a bit of knowledge and expertise. It may not be the superior, Yale flavored expertise or knowledge, but it's something. You see, some of us were taught that it did not matter where you came from or where you were lucky enough to go to school. We were taught to think some inalienable rights were given to each of us. Including the right not to be silenced by those who think of themselves as our betters. That is exactly what comes across when the argument of "outsiders" is used. That is a tactic to shut down discussion, not an actual argument.
Regardless, the institution that is Yale has a long history. One that should bring pride to those who are lucky enough to have attended. Thinking people do not denigrate others because of where they were born or where they were educated. Thinking people do not judge people by their economic status, or by their race. Thinking people do, and should, judge others by their actions and the company they keep.
To those who defend Yale for the decision to admit Mr. Hashemi, there is one question that needs to be answered. Do you understand the nature of good and evil?
Not in religious terms, but in absolute terms? Is one who apologizes for evil any better than one who commits the evil?
This is one of the Buddhas at Bamiyan, Afghanistan. It was built in the 4th century:
The Taliban decided, after all the centuries the Buddhas stood there, that they must be destroyed, like this:
(CNN)
Mr. Hashemi defended the regime that did this. He defended acts like this, and much worse - acts against living people rather than statues that were once a part of humanity's shared heritage.
Who exactly are the outsiders?
Yale Follies | Gaius Friday, 7 April , 2006
By jpe, Saturday, 8 April , 2006 @ 1:37 am
Is one who apologizes for evil any better than one who commits the evil?
The answer to this doesn’t turn on moral non-relativism; it turns on how looped out one’s ethic is.
By Black Jack, Saturday, 8 April , 2006 @ 10:19 am
What’s next, sending Baghdad Bob to one of our most prestigious Journalism schools? Just think of all the useful the contributions he could make there. It would enrich the cultural and educational experience of the students and faculty, improve the “diversity” index, and show the voters just what the American Academy thinks of fascists. And we have Yale to thank.
By Gauis Arbo, Saturday, 8 April , 2006 @ 10:27 am
I don’t know what Yale is thinking, frankly. This will damage them in the long run, I think.
By Patp, Sunday, 9 April , 2006 @ 6:25 am
I have been following Clint Taylor’s campaign with great interest. I even emailed Mr. Surovov (and received a reply) when he first was revealed as the person who anonymously called Clint “retarded”. I notice that a lot of the criticisms made about Yale’s decision ask Yale the same question: “Do you know the difference between good and evil?” After years of multiculturalism, postmodernism, critical theory (read Marxism), and relativism in academe, why would Yale know the answer to that question? The question alone presupposes that there is one answer and that there are moral absolutes (A is A). So, don’t expect Yale to be able to answer that question. And shame on them. A friend of mine called academe AKA-LAME-IA, which I think is a good handle for what passes as the educated these days.
I teach at a non-Yale university, and I know the difference between good and evil.
By Gauis Arbo, Sunday, 9 April , 2006 @ 7:02 am
I think a lot of people do. Yale, and too many other universities and colleges, have made it their business to erase that knowledge. Relativism should not apply to a lot of fields.
By Black Jack, Monday, 10 April , 2006 @ 11:06 am
I’m sure the honorable men making the tough calls at Yale know the difference between good and evil, and in their collective wisdom have come to a decision: they prefer evil.