Grain Rider

Reminiscience of first weeks

2008-04-04T22:55:00.000-07:00

With this weeks topic... I couldn't help but pull up my free speech essay from earlier in the class because I feel it speaks so true to the topic. Read below and let me know what you think. Thanks!!!

“Your very own personal thoughts may be yours but that doesn’t mean they are right, and, that is perfectly okay.” In the United States of America, many people understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Many may believe this is because we come from a land where freedom shall be given and when it is taken away oppression began. Others may believe it is simply so we can have true collaboration into seeing all the different viewpoints possible.
Freedom of speech represents to me the ability to say what you believe on any and every situation presented. It is a right to be able to express yourself to others without being persecuted for the act. The ability to say one’s one inner emotions also comes to mind in the idea of freedom of speech. In contrast, I also believe freedom of speech to be something that has a clear line drawn and a border that will not let others in unless they know they know they are entering at their own risk. Responsibility can be seen as the same of “entering without your own risk.”
The contrast to the freedom of expression is the line of where and how far expression can go. Freedom of expression is something that can be done until you are placing harm another group based on reasoning that is not adequate based on gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, etc. With this border, I see freedom of speech as no longer those three simple words. All I can see and think is restriction. Restriction is what comes to mind because freedom does have a cost, it is not free.

Oxnard Education Bill

2008-03-07T22:05:00.001-08:00

In regards to the diversity education bill I came across this bill as well. Let me know what you think.

'Intellectual diversity' bill nixed

Legislation was aimed at public universities

RICHMOND - Legislation to promote “intellectual diversity” in Virginia’s four-year public universities was “gently laid on the table,” or softly dispatched Tuesday evening in a House of Delegates subcommittee.

The higher education subcommittee also killed on an 8-0 vote a bill that would have limited state universities to admitting no more than 25 percent of their students from out of state.

That measure, sponsored by Del. Timothy D. Hugo, R-Centreville, had an estimated fiscal impact of $53 million a year in lost out-of-state tuition, including at least $18 million at the University of Virginia, which takes 32 percent of its students from outside Virginia.

The “intellectual diversity” bill prompted an hour-long debate. University professors denounced House Bill 1643, sponsored by Del. R. Steven Landes, R-Weyers Cave, as a conservative attack on academic freedom. Conservative college students defended the bill as a bid to counter liberal professors who promote only their political points of view.

Landes said his bill was revised and merely “a shadow of its former self” that sought to have universities report on their policies once every two years about “maintaining a balance of viewpoints being heard on both sides.”

“Hopefully, our universities are trying to maintain and to bring in people who have different viewpoints,” Landes said before a House higher education subcommittee recommended against moving his bill forward by a 5-3 vote.

While Landes called his measure a simple request for the reporting of each university’s policies to promote intellectual diversity and the free flow of ideas, opponents said the use of the term coined by conservatives made it a political initiative aimed at liberal faculty.

“It is used primarily for political purposes,” said Bob Whitehead, executive director of the Virginia Education Association. “I do not believe that there is any necessity to institute a new concept. … Protect academic freedom and please delete ‘intellectual diversity.’”

Conservative students and other supporters said the bill would promote the free flow of ideas at universities where conservative students feel their ideas and principles are not given equal time or weight.

Jarrett R. Ray, chairman of the College Republican Federation of Virginia, said his experience as a James Madison University student included a class in which a writing professor gave him lower marks for writing several papers from a conservative point of view.

“I am an avowed conservative,” Ray said. When he wrote another paper with a conscious effort to make it “bipartisan” and “more liberal,” the same professor gave him an A, he said. Ray said the professor did not have his contract renewed after telling an ROTC student that the American military was “killing babies in Iraq.”

Anne D. Neal, president of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, said her group had polled students at top universities and found nearly half reported one-sided discussions as well as having professors who frequently interject their own political comments even when they have nothing to do with the subject being taught.

But college professors called “intellectual diversity” a loaded and largely undefined term wielded by conservative political groups to limit academic freedom.

“That will be something of a Trojan horse for introducing other kinds of intrusive recommendations, requirements that institutions begin to measure balance in classrooms and hiring and the like,” said Brian Turner, president of the Virginia Conference of the American Association of University Professors.

“Academic freedom is a core principle of higher education,” said Turner, a political science professor at Randolph-Macon College. “It is the common law of higher education” and the freedoms are held individually.

“Intellectual diversity is a new phrase invented by actors, most of whom are outside of higher education,” Turner said. “It refers to political and ideological viewpoints presumably held by faculty or promoted in classrooms or presented by outside speakers on campus or put forward in course syllabi. Diversity would be measured at the level of the university, not the individual.”

Landes has the option of trying to revive his measure in the full House Education Committee today.

Dover Trials

2008-02-29T23:02:00.000-08:00

Looking at the Dover Trials, I have to wonder, is there really something wrong with bringing in another viewpoint that might be religiously bounded? I have to ask myself at times, this is suppose to be a place where we want every idea to be displayed and for no voice to be squandered but when you really think about it, those are religious or have a spiritual base, we automatically hush them! That is in no way fair, not every person that is religious is a bible thumper who is trying to have their beliefs placed on you to accept. They are simply voiceing theirs! I wish we could get off of stereotypes of how religious people are. We all hold this stereotype in different people and their beliefs. I should not be shushed because my beliefs are different! Let me know what you think... PEACE!!!

Religion and Evolution

2008-02-22T22:06:00.000-08:00

As we go over the different readings from the scopes trial I can't help but question and look closely at the issue of reserving religion. For many, it could be seen as a form of control that parents used over children to make them be kept "in line." Although, there was also the question of having an open mind and being religious. I love the concept but the reality is of it, it can't be possible (at least to me).
For those that follow their religion closely evolution is something that cannot be accepted. If one was able to accept it, then they mine as well throw out any values they held tied to their religion. It takes away their core belief in God and creating Man and Woman. Religion is not something that is made to adapt to the ideals that society has placed currently. The values and core of the Christian and possibly other beliefs is not one that will subside quickly to society for one simple reason. The reason is that the rules of Christianity are not supposed to be comprehensible or follow man because they were not built up by man!
So everyone let me know, do you think that religion and evolution can be equally matched? Hit me up!!!

Sedition Recognition

2008-02-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

As we go over the topic of the Sedition Act there is the question I have for the class in how this act was portrayed. We go over the differences in the Republican and Federalist foundation and a part of me cant help but compare to the how we are today when 9/11 happened. When the day came and afterwards any and everyone that did not thinking bombing back in return, was a good idea was seen as a threat to being unamerican.
I was one of those people that did not see any good with bombing back in return. All I could see from the moment this day came was a new moment of shifted racism, radicialism, and censorship. At this point in time, I still think that I am right. I have seen now the group of people to watch are no longer the african americans or latinos, now it was those that were mid-eastern. The heat turned onto them and many felt and saw no problem with what was happening. The only thing I could think it how can me and others that used to have the focus on them just shamlessly turn the other cheek and not try to stand up for them? Many may see it as a scratch my back and I scratch your situation. I can't agree with this.

As well, radicalism came out with people becoming too overwhelmingly proud of the United States. I do love the country I come from but not at the risk of putting someone or somewhere else down for the U.S. to succeed. Once that is done, we have become no better than them.

Censorship was an inevitable factor soon to be displayed. We suddenly saw ourselves becoming less hesitate to speak out against the government for fear of looking suspicious. Does this ever even ring a bell close to the Sedition Act in not speaking out? WAKE UP AND SEE THAT MANY THINGS CHANGE, THEY JUST HIBERNATE FOR A WHILE!!!

Perception VS. Reality

2008-02-09T02:32:00.000-08:00

In our discussion seminar in class, we discussed the different issues of free speech. I couldn't help but be torn on the issue of hate and violent speech. Where do you draw the line? As well, I have one question to pose... I feel that we are a society that focuses so much on feelings and reactions and never take a moment to actually listen to and take in what was simply said. We attach feelings to so much that we hesitate to speak our minds because we don't want to hurt other people. Does anyone feel like we have become a too emotionally tied country to where we have forgotten to focus on the words that were being said and their meaning without bringing in emotions??? Let me know peeps!!!

Free... is there such as thing?

2008-02-01T21:39:00.000-08:00

“Your very own personal thoughts may be yours but that doesn’t mean they are right, and, that is perfectly okay.” In the United States of America, many people understand that everyone is entitled to their own opinions. Many may believe this is because we come from a land where freedom shall be given and when it is taken away oppression began. Others may believe it is simply so we can have true collaboration into seeing all the different viewpoints possible.
Well, as I began this course for the true meaning of freedom of speech, I can't help but immediately think first, NOTHING IS FREE! Of course, many can say it is, although when you think about it just simply saying thank you means you did something to receive whatever was given to you.
Freedom of speech is something I prize to the utmost degree because it means I can say how I feel about something and never have to feel like I need to apologize because I know I am entitled to my opinions as much as the next person. Although, my problem is thinking that certain opinions should not be validated when there is a pursuit of harm and hatred behind the message. Hopefully I can learn to accept the true meaning and see the price as well.

I'm ready for my close-up...

2008-01-30T18:44:00.000-08:00

We'll I am new to this blogger system, but ready and willing to voice my opinion. Hopefuly, you're ready to hear it!!!