I will say this, though. Yesterday my wife and I were down at Yale and it brought back memories of a recent incident. I think it was last year or maybe the year before, in the lead up to Halloween, a professor sent an email to the students in the dorm she shared with students. In the email the professor, essential advised the students to relax a bit about the costumes they may see. Maybe, not take offense to easily. Her husband, another professor at Yale spoke, publicly to a group of students in his wife's defense. The unraveling of events was very disturbing. At this point I don't believe either the wife or husband still hold positions at Yale. I remember seeing one student in a video of the confrontation with the husband say something along the lines of the purpose of Yale was to provide a safe environment from aggression. It was the students feeling that the email and the husband's defense of his wife's intent were nothing more that an aggression against the students.

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make, along with a large number of comedians like Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld and others, is that something very odd has happened to the college environment. When we elevate concern for 'micro aggressions' over exposure to a wide variety of thoughts and lifestyles, we're doing students a supreme injustice. In fact, many of the so-called social justice warriors are anything but.

Triar may think that I'm unwilling to listen to or speak with people that disagree with me. That couldn't be further from the truth. I'm more than happy to have a discussion but if you're going to make an assertion, is it too much to ask that you back that assertion up with something more than a picture, an unrelated video or a video from a website that contains "news" right along side pitches for "Super Make Vitality" drops???

 

I'm reading Akhil Reed Amar's newest book on "America's Constitution, a Biography" and in the preface, I'm struck by a comment, the likes of which I have said many times over:

"Many could probably recite at length from some favorite song, poem, speech, or scripture yet few could quote by heart even a single paragraph of the supreme law of our land, one of the most important texts in the world history."

I can't tell you how many times I've assailed people about their voting habits and familiarity with the political landscape. My usual rant goes along these lines:

We're more likely to know the starting lineup of the New York Yankees (insert any favorite local team) than we are to know who represents us in Albany (any corresponding State), let alone Washington, DC.

 

[QUOTE=...................................

We're more likely to know the starting lineup of the New York Yankees (insert any favorite local team) than we are to know who represents us in Albany (any corresponding State), let alone Washington, DC.[/QUOTE]

Paul, in the modern era I believe you can substitute any names and state parliaments for that comment, most have very fickle interests in the common man and any 'plebs' like us, we are but 'cannon fodder' in their minds.

The worm turns (John Heywood, 16th century) sooner or later and the establishment will pay the price for their indiscretions.

 

My question to you Offroad is this:

Is it inevitable that the establishment commit these indiscretions or is it more likely that our complacency is the mulch upon which the indiscretions flourish?

 

Paul, IMO it is fueled by complacency or misunderstanding by many due to a lack of knowledge, logic or political education, whatever, but the politicians then take undue advantage of this overt scenario for their own purposes. Maybe this is smart on their part or just plain dishonest .......... who can tell! IMO the latter of the two.

 

I thought of you guys when I read this article about Renzi. It echoes some of my earlier thoughts on the EU.

 

Charlie, I've stayed away from this thread since our PM's. Come on man. If you're really concerned about what we talked about stop poking the bear.

 

HAHA. Fair enough! I retract!

Best,


Charlie V

 

I'm laughing because "don't poke the bear" is something I say so often, I have a keyboard shortcut for emoticons for it...

And thank you, Paul, for pulling me back. Sincerely.

At least you know that your thoughts have been on my mind.

Best,

Charlie V

 

It's a shame. I'm almost halfway through Akhil Amar's latest book, "The Constitution Today: Timeless Lessons for the Issues of Our Era" and I'd love nothing more than to discuss it with you but, perhaps that's something that would be better done face to face. Maybe one day...