Diversity

From: "Gerald M. Phillips, Ph.D." 
Date: 10 Oct 1994 12:59:05 -0500
To: Multiple recipients of list AMEND1-L 

A previous post declared...
>
>
>          public institutions, it would seem, have an obligation to
>          permit and promote diverse ideas.  whether or not
>          individual situations like these meet someone's
>          definition of censorship (and whether or not that actually
>          would be prohibited by 1st amendment because it involves
>          state action), it would be good to begin asking how we can
>          encourage diversity, rather than simply pointing fingers of
>          blame at those exercising judgment to exclude certain views.
>
>          - brigette rouson

The above is very important because of intriguing question-begging.  The
"obligation" to promote diversity is a political opinion.  As a matter of
fact, there is a responsible body of opinion that supports the notion of
"encouraging the melting pot."  Academics often take too much for granted
when they assume the beliefs of "we happy few" are universal or hold a
special morality.  The issue is NOT encouraging diversity but not 
DISCOURAGING
it.  It strikes me that it is sufficient to sustain sufficient academic
freedom so that professors can strike their particular poses as they choose,
if, AND ONLY IF, they can also justify the academic relevance of their
posturing.

It seems that actually those who verbally oppose censorship are most likely
to attempt to silence opposition through imposition of some transcendental
moral code.

Speech codes, diversity enterprises, affirmative action, etc. are all viable
political choices but they are not constitutionally required nor mandated
by any higher power I ever heard of.  In fact, the Bible notes early on,
"Thou shalt have no other gods before ME," which seems to be a moral
fiat against diversity.

I wouldn't mind have a Temple of Moloch and a good Walpurgisnacht festival
to attend on our campus, but I think I would find it an abridgement of
my freedom to compel me to include their teachings in my course.  And
incidentally, as a Tzigane, I wonder how many courses you can find in
Tzigane culture.  Chicken stealing and roofing scams are not exactly the
substance on which a liberal education is built. :-)   (I can say that as
a member of the group.  If you say it, I will call you a racist. :-)

Never waste a right parenthesis.
GMP


From: "Gerald M. Phillips, Ph.D." 
Date: 10 Oct 1994 18:24:33 -0500
To: Multiple recipients of list AMEND1-L 
In-Reply-To:  srouso AT ASC.UPENN.EDU -- Mon, 10 Oct 1994 18:08:25 EDT
>
>          my earlier message did not, contrary to interpretation,
>          propose any "obligation" (certainly not a legal one) to
>          promote diversity.  it would be, rather, a very wise move
>          for a society that claims it as a source of strength.
>          - brigette rouson

Some Americans and many Canadians do not proclaim diversity as a source of
strength. As a matter of fact, we recognize diversity as a major cause of
civil war. There are no forces so divisive in society than religion and
nationalism, save, perhaps, race.  Given sufficient diversity, you will
have the Balkans, an area in which a number of people who look very much
alike have all bought t-shirts with different tribal labels on them and
live their lives very much like the line play in a typical Florida football
game.

I think this is an important issue for academics to consider.  But an
overweening consideration is whether we will permit imposition of diversity
upon us as a totalitarian device by academics of a particular political
persuasion.  I think there is an abstract concept called "Western 
Civilization"
and it has produced a literature upon which this country was founded. There
is an unbroken tradition of respect for individuals and their ideas which is
currently being subverted by those who demand that I abandon those ideas
because some of the places and times in which those ideas were hatched might
have also contained social blemishes.

I would reply that all of human history has contained the blemishes, and is
deeply scarred, but the great ideas of Western Civilization have facilitated
our Bill of Rights and our Common Law, two traditions which diversity would
necessarily subvert.

As a member of UCRA, I am dedicated to opposing the demand for diversity in
all its forms while respecting all idea legitimately introduced into the
marketplace.


GMP3@PSUVM.PSU.EDU   GMP3@PSUVM.BITNET
Gerald M. Phillips (Professor Emeritus), Speech Communication
Trade and Applied Books Editor, Hampton Press
Editor, IPCT: An Electronic Journal for the 21st Century
ISSN 1064-4326
Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802
Manuscripts are being accepted for the 1994 issues.