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adsii1970

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  • About me
    In-house Philosopher
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    Anywhere but there
  • Interests
    Model railroading, backyard astronomy, space exploration, music (composition, play the French Horn, Oboe, Alto Recorder, and Cornet), learning to play the ukulele (seriously, I am :D), kit-bashing, camping, and hiking, reading great science fiction, and escaping the university campus any chance I get!

    I teach World Civilization, U.S. History, and U.S. Foreign Policy at the college/university level. So, with that said, I love history, love to do research, and enjoy good conversation.

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  1. Life on the university campus:
    (Spring Semester, first posting)

    An open discussion during what started as a routine lecture in ancient Mesopotamian cultures

    A few years ago, I had a student leave a comment on a faculty and course evaluation that she hated to miss one of my lectures. But what she said next raised a few eyebrows among the campus administrators, I'm sure. She said, "there's no telling what a normal lecture may be transformed into - and I love the way we can discuss current issues on a backdrop of history."

    It happens. University students, especially first and second year students, want to talk about what's happening now and how it fits into the larger picture of humanity. Yesterday is an example of when the needs of students intersects with a topic of ancient Mesopotamian culture. What happened was unplanned but was certainly a learning moment for the students who were there.

    Yesterday, I was giving the concluding lecture on ancient Mesopotamia. And as a part of that, I spend about fifteen minutes summarizing how today, we are still impacted by those early cultures. And then, as part of that, I was discussing the ancient religions, comparing their various beliefs, and how we still see their impact on our society today. But that's not where the lecture was derailed. It was when I began talking about their laws and legal codes. A student stopped the lecture and asked, "how can people be so dumb to believe that government and forcing compliance through law is the answer to any problem?" Yes, this person has identified themselves as an anarchist in every assignment and every discussion in class. And while being an anarchist is certainly their right, something happened in the lecture hall that wasn't.

    "The highest result of education is tolerance." - Helen Keller (1880-1968)

    What happened yesterday was a demonstration of intolerance and hostility that I've not witnessed in a while. In a reply to his rant against the multiple legal codes, rituals, and taboos of the various Mesopotamian societies (including that of ancient Israel), several students began to contribute by sharing how they believed every society had to have some common law to define what was acceptable and unacceptable conduct. And then the real fireworks began. As an anarchist, he began to promote the concept that humankind is naturally good, that if left to their own moral compass, people will seek to get along. It's society and it's artificial constructs (laws) that create conflict.

    Anyone disagreeing with his view was quickly belittled as not being truly enlightened to understand utopia as created by pure human freedom. He began name calling, no longer discussing divergent views or opinions, but attacking anyone that disagreed with him. For me, I am all for encouraging open, intelligent academic debate. But once the line is crossed and the defense of any opinion rests upon "you're too stupid to understand" or "you're only here because our government says ____ ." No real academic argument other than "my opinion is the only valid opinion that matters."

    After twenty minutes, I did something I only rarely do, and have not had to do in about three years - I again, asked the students to "move along and let's get back to my lecture, but he continued his anti-government/anti-law crusade. Leaving me no choice, I had to eject the student from yesterday's lecture. He did not leave willingly, so I had to get campus security involved.

    Intolerance is an ugly monster that grows inside each of us. The question is do we have what it takes to hold it down?

    After his departure, I had several students visibly shaken by the events that just happened. From the first day of the semester, I always tell my students the lecture halls I teach in are free speech zones. I encourage open and free discussions - as long as the discussion relates to the course materials and disagreements are handled in a respectful manner. So, when a few students began verbally attacking the student I ejected, they were surprised to hear me defending him! I explained it wasn't his opinion that was flawed. It was his belief that his opinion was the only valid opinion which was flawed. His attempt to impose his views on government and law on others - without their consent - is oppression. If we are not careful; in our attempts to demand to be heard and tolerated, if we yell and scream too loudly, we can silence the other voices around us. We, then, become the oppressor as other voices as silenced.

    I was able to salvage what was left of the lecture, but it wasn't about the Mesopotamian cultures.  It was about something more important - about the ability to be who you are - and to be okay with who you are. It was also a discussion on how society, throughout time has functioned. It was interesting listening to the students' exchange of ideas about the speculation of why those early Mesopotamian societies chose to implement laws/codes and civil governments to provide commonality for the good of the community.

     

     

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