Truespeak

A few days ago, the Associated Press ran an article that I found to be disturbing, but very telling. It seems as though some of our nation's college students are reluctant to learn anything new out of fear that it may contradict their "core values."

Traditionally, clashes over academic freedom pitted politicians or administrators against instructors who wanted to express their opinions and teach as they saw fit. But increasingly, students are invoking academic freedom, contending that biased professors violate their right to classes free from indoctrination.

In many ways, the trend echoes past campus conflicts — but turns them around. Once, it was liberal activists citing the importance of "diversity" in pressing their agendas for curriculum change. Now, conservatives have adopted much of the same language in calling for greater openness to their viewpoints.

Similarly, academic freedom guidelines have traditionally been cited to protect left-leaning students from punishment for disagreeing with teachers about such issues as U.S. neutrality before World War II and involvement in Vietnam. Now, those same guidelines are being invoked by conservative students who support the war in Iraq.

To many professors, there's a new and deeply troubling aspect to this latest chapter in the debate over academic freedom: students trying to dictate what they don't want to be taught.

(emphasis mine)

In other words, "Don't challenge my beliefs as a conservative. Don't offer me a differing viewpoint, because I don't want to hear it." In even simpler terms, "Don't make me think. Just allow me to be a sheep."

This is part of the problem in today's political world. Many people have become so closed-minded that they refuse to listen to any opposing viewpoint. If it doesn't come from Rush, Coulter, or Faux News, then it must be tainted by a liberal bias and is therefore unreliable. Even our colleges and universities are being brought into question.

So how do we solve this problem? As Dr. Teresa Whitehurst, a clinical psychologist, explains, some would say that you just have to be careful that you don't get "too much education" because it could lead to liberalism.

I've been giving a lot of thought lately to a conversation I overheard at a Starbucks in Nashville last winter. It was a cold and rainy night as I worked away at my laptop, but the comforting aroma of cappuccino kept me going. My comfort was interrupted, however, by two young men who sat down in upholstered chairs near my table. One was talking, the other listening, in what appeared to be an informal college orientation.

"The only trouble with David Lipscomb (a conservative Christian college nearby) is that old man Lipscomb apparently didn't like football. So we don't have a football team, but we have a great faculty."

"But you do have to be careful about one thing," he said more quietly, coming closer and speaking in hushed tones, "My professor-I have this great professor-told me that you have to be careful not to get too much education, because you could lose your foundation, your core values."

The neophyte nodded solemnly, his eyebrows raised with worry.

"If you get a bachelors," the seasoned student reassured, "you'll probably be okay. But my professor said that when you get a master's, and definitely if you go beyond that, you can lose your values. He said that college students have to be watchful because if you get too much education, you could turn LIBERAL. He's seen it happen to a lot of good Christians."

Both young men looked around again to make sure no-one was listening (unfortunately my hearing is excellent, even when I wish it weren't), and shuddered visibly. They shook their heads at the terrifying fate that could befall them.

You see, to some people liberalism and education are one in the same. This is, of course, categorically false. Education does not equal liberalism, it equals information. When you are educated, you are informed. And when you are informed, you have the capability to make your own decisions. This is what the conservatives fear the most: an educated country.

As long as the majority of Americans are willing to be led around like sheep, the conservatives will be happy. An informed population is their worst enemy. An informed population is curious and curious people tend to seek the truth. The truth is not something the current administration is terribly fond of. But from the AP article, it appears as if there is a rising tide of Americans that don't want to be informed. They simply aren't curious enough to seek the truth. They are content to live in their sheltered world of misinformation and right-slanted views and the rest of the world, the informed part, can just go to hell.

So much for challenging ourselves to be better people. So much for challenging ourselves to be critical thinkers. So much for challenging ourselves to be the leaders of tomorrow. We're content to be the followers of today. We are content to strive for mediocrity.

Pity the world if the conservatives get their way.