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?

Our Newest Sponsor!

We here at Blue Crab Boulevard have been struggling along, blogging for free. Since we're poor and all, we've been actively seeking advertisers to help pay the expenses around here. Hell, just keeping the Magic 8-Ball photographer in pretzels is a MAJOR expense. You have no idea how that guy can eat. But we digress.

At any rate, we have FINALLY landed a major advertiser here at the Boulevard and we are very excited. Ladies and gentlemen, Blue Crab Boulevard is very proud to present:

Talibanmates.com

Please Visit Our Sponsors!

Our thanks to Yale for helping us secure this lucrative sponsor!

Update: Welcome visitors from Nail Yale. Please do look around. Other Yale related posts are under the Yale Follies category on the sidebar.

New Student Interview

We here at Blue Crab Boulevard are absolutely relentless in our pursuit of the truth. Our intrepid Magic 8-Ball photographer gets very little credit for his skill at capturing important moments in history. Yet he gallantly continues, day after day, laboring to bring you the latest lowdown from Yale. Today we have a candid photo of president Richard Levin and a close adviser having a chat with a new candidate for admission as a special student. After all, it's important that Mr. Hashemi feel right at home, isn't it?

(Look, if you can do a better photoshop, please do. Otherwise quit complaining).

New Official Yale Resource!

Wandering about the web in search of new and interesting things is one of the many services we here at Blue Crab Boulevard do so well.

Today, we found a special new site that, while not actually an official Yale site yet, will be soon. If Richard Levin has anything to say about it. Ladies and gentlemen, we are proud to present:

TALIBAN REUNITED!

Have a nice day!

Nail Yale

Clint Taylor over at Nail Yale sent this link along and asked me to post it.  As he puts it:

 These are the addresses of the Yale Corporation, and I want to up the ante and start applying pressure to them since the administration has clammed up.  If you could encourage some linking and sending in of red fingernails (or at least e-mails and faxes) I would be pretty gosh-darn thankful.

Please, if you blog and you read this, link to Clint’s post. If you don’t blog but comment on blogs, or correspond with bloggers, get the word out. Let’s generate a blog-burst out there.

Clint’s doing the right thing (as is John Fund) by trying to keep this issue alive so Yale can’t keep stonewalling.

Those of us who don’t have  "reason, science or history" on our side, at least have justice and truth going for us.

(Plus a little – some would say very little, including me - Photoshopping skill to poke fun with).

UPDATE: Thanks to Nail Yale for the link. My other posts about Yale can be found under the "Yale Follies" tab on the sidebar. Please do take a look around. There’s a home page link at the top of the sidebar.

Yale President Levin Responds to Latest John Fund Article

Exclusive to Blue Crab Boulevard: Our intrepid photographer was able to catch this shot of Richard Levin, president of Yale along with two other Yale officials. Although not identified, they are believed to be the Director of Admissions and the Public Relations spokesman.

© Magic 8-Ball Photography

John Fund article here.

Oh, incidentally, there was an article today’s Inside Higher Ed has this gem:

“The outsiders are largely right-wing commentators,” says Zachariah Victor, a member of Yale’s Graduate and Professional Student Senate. “They don’t have reason, science or history on their side, so they try to degrade intellectuals and universities. Rational argument cannot support them, so they turn to ‘morality’ and religion. They have little expertise, so they deprecate expert opinion and appeal to populist sentiment. They cannot comprehend the breadth of our constitution, so they try to subject the rights of the few to the superstitions of the many.”

We here at Blue Crab Boulevard will continue to do our utmost to degrade intellectuals of Mr. Victor’s (.22) caliber at every opportunity. Glad to help, Zach!

Hey Mr. Taliban

Ilya Somin over at the Volokh Conspiracy weighs in on the Taliban at Yale. While I have been guilty of several instances of attempted humor on the issue, he makes a solid, reasonable argument for why Yale is so very, very wrong on this issue.

Is anyone at Yale listening?

By the way, is attempted humor against the law – yet?

A Memo

Memorandum

From: President Richard Levin

To: All students and faculty

Re: Yale Mascot

For many years now the mascot for this proud institution has been the bulldog. The likeness has adorned pennants and flags and even provided a convenient nickname for our various sport teams.

However, since the recent uproar caused by nefarious outside agitators over our admission of the esteemed Mr. Hashemi has caused a decline in our annual alumni donations, Yale finds itself needing to attract additional revenue. Fortunately, supporters of Mr. Hashemi have graciously agreed to provide the necessary funds.

There is, however, one small problem. It seems that certain donors have a set of beliefs that find dogs and even depictions of dogs offensive. Dogs are considered to be unclean and therefore unworthy of being the visible symbol of the great institution that is Yale.

In keeping with our goal of increasing understanding and cooperation with all cultures, I have decided that Yale will no longer allow the use of the bulldog as our mascot. Since there are already a large number of pennants and flags already in circulation with the offending pcture, the University will provide free, stick-on symbols to cover the offending graphic until a suitable, geometric symbol can be adopted. I am including a photograph showing the proper use of the new symbol.

Regards,

Dick

HEY! Mr. Taliman!

Somehow it seems fitting to parody Harry Belafonti's song in this context.

The invaluable Penraker has launch the latest in a series of electronic RPGs at the outright hypocrisy that is so evident at Yale today. Yale is so tolerant and forgiving of the former Taliban propaganda minister, saying he was so very young (cue Cat "Kill Rushdie" Stevens). It is so nice that they are so very open minded and understanding, isn't it? Hell, Hashemi doesn't even have to apologize for his actions, the poor, misguided youth. Yale shall make room for him and give him a fine, Western education!

Unless you are guilty of using the word "nigs" in a personal notebook when you were seventeen years old. Then the full weight and fury of the student body shall be unleashed upon you. It doesn't matter if you apologize over and over again, either.

Seventeen year-old Kiwi Camara uses the word "nigs" to refer to African Americans as a prodigal Harvard law student. He later apologizes, and denies that he harbors ill feelings towards African Americans. Several years later, editors at the Yale Law Journal, unaware of his controversial past, offer to publish an article he wrote in a symposium issue, and later invite him to speak at the relevant symposium. When the "community" discovers Camara's past, all hell breaks loose at Yale, with outraged students arguing that a moral reprobate like Camara should not be allowed to publish in the hallowed Journal, much less speak in Yale's hallowed halls. Camara apologizes again, unequivocally. (See previous VC coverage by Eugene here.) Nevertheless, mass meetings, protests, etc. ensue, culminating last Friday when 1/3 of the symposium audience walked out on Camara's talk.

Stunning, isn't it?

(Note: I was not able to trackback to Penraker, but I did put one in for Volokh)