Racist Free Speech: How Far Is Too Far?

“Barnard Professor Triggers Free Speech Controversy After Writing About “Detonating” and Gassing White People” by Jonathan Turley

A book by a Barnard College English instructor named Ben Philippe has caused a firestorm due to his depiction of a fantasy of gassing white people.  The book passage has led some to demand review from the college for possible discipline or termination. As will come as no surprise to many on this blog, I believe such writing should be protected as a matter of free speech and academic freedom.  The incident does however raise another case highlighting the uncertain or conflicting treatment given such writings by universities.

-Jonathan Turley

Science, The New Religion?

“A New American Divinity – Part I: Scientism” by Noelle Garnier (The National Pulse)

As I read this article I couldn’t help but think of one of my favorite essays by Neil Postman called “Science and the Story We Need.”

God is dead, Nietzsche said before he went insane. He may have meant gods are dead. If he did, he was wrong. In this century, new gods have rushed in to replace the old but most have had no staying power.

But in the end, science does not provide the answers most of us require. Its story of our origins and of our end is, to say the least, unsatisfactory.

Into the breach has come still another contender—the offspring of the science-god—the great god of technology.

Does This Rhyme? Wokism and Red Terror

Most people have heard the old saying, “if we don’t learn from the past we’re doomed to repeat it.” But some would argue that history doesn’t repeat itself. With them I would share something I heard recently:

If history doesn’t repeat itself then it certainly rhymes.

In many ways I don’t believe most who espouse Critical Race Theory are Marxists, but I also believe that they don’t realize how much the two rhyme.

www.revolver.news/2021/04/woke-cancel-culture-lenin-bolshevik-red-terror/

Equity in Virginia Math Education: No One Gets Ahead

Students will no longer be allowed to take advanced Math courses until the 11th grade. Algebra and Geometry will no longer be offered. Make no mistake this will as the website improve equity within their mathematics program. Of course, equity does not mean equal opportunity but instead means equal outcomes. The only way to ensure equal outcomes is to allow no one to advance.

“Virginia moving to eliminate all accelerated math courses before 11th grade as part of equity-focused plan” (Fox News)

Virginia Department of Education Website: Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative (VMPI)

This story really reminds me of “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut. I remember a time when this story was read in high school, but I guess now some schools are using it as an instruction manual instead.