A half-listening student, a hypersensitive campus and the speed at which gossip travels on the Internet conspired to create a very damaging game of broken telephone for one York University professor this week.
Cameron Johnston, who has been teaching at York for more than 30 years, has been forced to respond to allegations that he made anti-Semitic remarks in a lecture on Monday afternoon after a student misunderstood his comments and began sending emails to Jewish groups and the media.
Johnston was giving his introductory lecture to Social Sciences 1140: “Self, Culture and Society,” when he explained to the nearly 500 students that the course was going to focus on texts, not opinions, and despite what they may have heard elsewhere, everyone is not entitled to their opinion.
“All Jews should be sterilized” would be an example of an unacceptable and dangerous opinion, Johnston told the students.
He didn’t notice Sarah Grunfeld storm out. Grunfeld, a 22-year-old in her final year at York, understood Johnston’s example to be his personal opinion.
She contacted Oriyah Barzilay, the president of Hasbara at York — an Israel advocacy group on campus — who then sent a press release to media and other Jewish community groups calling for Johnston to be fired.
But wait! There’s more.
Johnston is Jewish.
(via Legal Insurrection)
The Crawdad Hole 
If he meant the statement would be an example of an unacceptable opinion, why doesn’t the paper have his entire statement in quotation, including the part which puts it into context. In any case, it was most likely an overreaction from the student.
In general though and apart from this particular case, I’m not a fan of people from any social group thinking they can use offensive language or say offensive things about their own group that would not be permissible to others, especially when such things are said via public channels.
More likely she’s not an Obama supporter. Progressive Obots tend to be the ones who are more anti-semitic.
And racists against AA’s (in the form of being patronizing).
Honk.
Can they fire the student for being such an idiot?
Harvard Pressures Freshmen to Sign a Moral Pledge This is too much.
I had to watch a movie 20 years ago in a film class and the professor warned the entire lecture hall the class before as well as twice that day before showing it that many would probably find it highly offensive. informed us that it would not be included on any exams and you didn’t have to attend. it was Andy Warhol’s Bad. people were walking out and screaming at him. The school was inundated from students and parents calling for the man’s job. The movie is universally offensive wherein lies its charm.
Blog rule #10:
May I use your IBSP?
It’s part of education. And I have a HUGE problem with altering or erasing history. Getting rid of racism, or smoking, or whatever, in old books or films.
How can one have a history as a society, if history is altered to fit today’s idea of what is acceptable? History and art and literature ought to be preserved, warts and all. I have no problem with alerting students that some stuff might be offensive. But the trend toward actually re-writing or editing is alarming.
Ouch!
I believe America has become a great place and unlike moomoo I understand the significance of the flag. But if we narrow it down, don’t we only tell our children the good things about their grandparents, omitting the rest. is it fair to not say that your grandfather beat your grandmother in order to preserve the sense of pride you want your child to possess?
I’d never want to burden my child, but I’d want them to have some history so I would tell the best stories. Am I in doing so depriving her of a truth?
I did not mean ouch against you — just mean I had to think again.
Well, I didn’t say that a small child should be told upsetting things. Nor should family members necessarily be told “the whole truth” about grandpa.
But for history, art, literature, etc, I think it’s a travesty to change it. Like taking classic old movies and removing the smoking. Smoking was a huge part of the culture in the 50’s and 60’s. Or rewriting Huck Finn in a “sanitized’ version. Ridiculous.
We tell children the facts they are ready for. No need for long and technical explanations of conception and birth for a three year old- but certainly the whole process should be imparted before the child reaches puberty?
Same with history- start simple and work towards a more comprehensive knowledge base before voting age?
All history lessons are subjective to a degree, and there will always be some social propaganda imo. By high school and definitely by college age, kids should to be able to study and explore beyond the formal lectures and interpretations. Being able to think critically for themselves is important. Doesn’t happen enough.
This piece for instance in the Chronicle of Higher Education on deconstructing evil seems to have bit of a political agenda. But it could just be me, may depend on who’s reading it.
Or this piece in Nature on free will, scientists claiming we may have less of it than we want to admit. Useful way to defuse responsibility for one’s actions, not sure that’s a good idea. Like using an insanity defense for all of society. There are always reasonable exceptions to the rule of course, one way or another.
WMCB
I think I may have insulted you twice today(as henry on another Blog)
I apologize. i am questioning., I care about a brat and want her to be equipped with a healthy self-image. I want her to know she IS and that SHE MATTERS. and she is not defined by a man’s affection.
Huh? Sweetie, you have not insulted me at all. I’m just not that thin-skinned.
😀
Found this poll interesting, Reuters always skews a tad left.
It’s more like 1-1/2 tads.
Texas Monthly, Paul Burka: What is Palin up to?
The cows seemed to like it.
If you really want to make a cow happy:
Huh, I wouldn’t trust leaving my cow and that guy alone for too long.
And in really important news …
LA Porn Studio Begins Construction On ‘Post-Apocalyptic’ Underground Bunker
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/09/14/la-porn-studio-begins-construction-on-post-apocalyptic-underground-bunker/
There are no words.
At least Charlie Sheen will survive the apocalypse.
4,026 hits so far today with two hours still to go
Do you sleep.
I’ll sleep when I’m dead
I realize this is a stupid question but i am going to ask it anyhow?
Would it be constitutional for a Hillary/Bill ticket?
Can a former President serve as VP?(One can dream)
Hillary probably wouldn’t need Bill to win, but Obama would have to step down. That ain’t going to happen, and I don’t think she was or is thinking about 2012. The damage is done, we’re getting a Republican next year, just question of who.
It would not be constitutional because if Hillary were unable to serve for whatever reason, Bill can’t ascend to the presidency.
Wouldn’t it just skip over him? Does the law require that the VP be NBC? And is marriage an impediment? I know its out there?
Bill Clinton has already served two terms, the maximum under the U.S. Constitution (22nd Amendment)
http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_Am22.html
The 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution establishes that the V.P. will succeed the president when the president “is unable to discharge his powers and duties”. But Bill Clinton cannot succeed a president because he’d be violating the 22nd Amendment. H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter could serve as V.P., but only for 4 years.
http://www.usconstitution.net/xconst_Am25.html
no but he would still be very active.a real twofer. 🙂
Sarah’s at it again. http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=10150295067853435 🙂
😆
Dario
Thanks i am an idiot. Knew about the 2 term limit and thought couldn’t succession just skip the VP forgot about the whole if Pres is unavailable VP bit. Really just wishful thinking as i try to keep my eyes up for 10 more minutes.