Another Seuss Cancellation Thread (Summer 2023)

[dismalist]

My read on the situation is that someone at the school is nervous (justifiably or not) about violating FL regulations regarding AfAm history/literature. If the school didn't explain who and what was going on at the event, then someone was afraid they be reprisals after the fact

Not someone, everyone. This is the nature of bureaucracy. A bunch of small, scared people.

[Wahoo Redux]

IHE: College Leaders Crack Down on Student Protests.

[Diogenes]

University of Austin is so brave lol (original site is down today due to massive traffic-here's the archive.org link) https://archive.is/NFgCq#selection-411.3-421.0 

[marshwiggle]

University of Austin is so brave lol (original site is down today due to massive traffic-here's the archive.org link) https://archive.is/NFgCq#selection-411.3-421.0 

The article drips with sarcasm, but I gave up  before I found any suppression of speech. Was there some?

All I could find was the author being offended at the politics of speakers there.

[dismalist]

The US of A has 3500+ colleges and universities. That's just like 3500+ hamburger joints, each serving a different type of hamburger. Along comes another hamburger joint, so now we're at 3501+, that puts vinegar on its fries, and some people go into fits of laughter, criticism of the decor, and what not. One doesn't have to send one's kids there. This is a non-issue.

Looks like nobody likes competition.

[Diogenes]

University of Austin is so brave lol (original site is down today due to massive traffic-here's the archive.org link) https://archive.is/NFgCq#selection-411.3-421.0 

The article drips with sarcasm, but I gave up  before I found any suppression of speech. Was there some?

All I could find was the author being offended at the politics of speakers there.

Do your homework and read the whole thing, then I'll respond.

[Diogenes]

The US of A has 3500+ colleges and universities. That's just like 3500+ hamburger joints, each serving a different type of hamburger. Along comes another hamburger joint, so now we're at 3501+, that puts vinegar on its fries, and some people go into fits of laughter, criticism of the decor, and what not. One doesn't have to send one's kids there. This is a non-issue.

Looks like nobody likes competition.

I should have made it more clear by putting "University" in quotes. Maybe they'll sell these kids a bridge next...

[dismalist]

The US of A has 3500+ colleges and universities. That's just like 3500+ hamburger joints, each serving a different type of hamburger. Along comes another hamburger joint, so now we're at 3501+, that puts vinegar on its fries, and some people go into fits of laughter, criticism of the decor, and what not. One doesn't have to send one's kids there. This is a non-issue.

Looks like nobody likes competition.

I should have made it more clear by putting "University" in quotes. Maybe they'll sell these kids a bridge next...

Many colleges already do sell bridges! One more college may mean a better bridge. :-)

There's nothing to be afraid of -- unless the bridge is really better. We shall see.

[marshwiggle]

University of Austin is so brave lol (original site is down today due to massive traffic-here's the archive.org link) https://archive.is/NFgCq#selection-411.3-421.0 

The article drips with sarcasm, but I gave up  before I found any suppression of speech. Was there some?

All I could find was the author being offended at the politics of speakers there.

Do your homework and read the whole thing, then I'll respond.

OK, I slogged through to the end. Here's a typical section.

Surveying the political field without venturing a step, endlessly weighing both sides, taking it all in with tranquility—this is an agreeable position. It allows banal contrarianism to masquerade as enlightened equanimity. Take, for example, a question Roiphe likes to contemplate in her writing and teaching. Is he at fault, because he assaulted her, or is she, because she drank too much and passed out? To refuse to decide on that question is, in effect, to allow the consequences of the second interpretation—exoneration—to unfold. What such heroic indecision often amounts to, in practice, is a craven reaffirmation of the powers that be.

He just can't believe that the standard social justice framing of everything would ever be challenged by anyone publicly. That's pretty much his whole message.

[jimbogumbo]

My read on the situation is that someone at the school is nervous (justifiably or not) about violating FL regulations regarding AfAm history/literature. If the school didn't explain who and what was going on at the event, then someone was afraid they be reprisals after the fact

Not someone, everyone. This is the nature of bureaucracy. A bunch of small, scared people.

dismalist: honest question. If you were the Principal or a School Board member, which law would you break? Despite the protests of the Florida Education czar it truly looks to me like the school has to break one.

Note: as a teacher I'd certainly choose to obey the FL law as written. That's the one that can get me fired in this case.

[jimbogumbo]

Actually I was too kind. The czar says you don't need to send a permission slip for subjects that are required by law, but a separate law says the teacher HAS to get permission if a student might be offended. That puts the teacher imho between the proverbial rock and hard place.

[dismalist]

My read on the situation is that someone at the school is nervous (justifiably or not) about violating FL regulations regarding AfAm history/literature. If the school didn't explain who and what was going on at the event, then someone was afraid they be reprisals after the fact

Not someone, everyone. This is the nature of bureaucracy. A bunch of small, scared people.

dismalist: honest question. If you were the Principal or a School Board member, which law would you break? Despite the protests of the Florida Education czar it truly looks to me like the school has to break one.

Note: as a teacher I'd certainly choose to obey the FL law as written. That's the one that can get me fired in this case.

All of them, jimbo, all of them! :-)

[marshwiggle]

Actually I was too kind. The czar says you don't need to send a permission slip for subjects that are required by law, but a separate law says the teacher HAS to get permission if a student might be offended. That puts the teacher imho between the proverbial rock and hard place.

That's brilliant, using the language used by progressives of "offense", which pretty much means everyone has a Sword of Damocles over them about anything. Maybe eventually both sides will agree to quit the madness.

[Wahoo Redux]

Maybe eventually both sides will agree to quit the madness.

Maybe you should lead the way, Marshbug.  Think you can quit the madness?

[marshwiggle]

Maybe eventually both sides will agree to quit the madness.

Maybe you should lead the way, Marshbug.  Think you can quit the madness?

Do you have any examples of me suggesting speech should be filtered because it might offend someone?