modestmelody

I completely degree with the idea that you'd be characterized as an idiot if you didn't agree with this Columbus stuff. Most of the people I knew were slightly in favor saying it wasn't a bad idea at best, and totally indifferent most often. I've had to debate affirmative action constantly at Brown. In fact, almost all the stuff you're saying doesn't reflect my own experience at all, but it does seem like we're constantly spending our time seeing different aspects of Brown.

The truth is, most of the faculty didn't care about this issue either-- they had trouble getting it to pass for so long not because of strong opposition, but because enough faculty members weren't showing up to the faculty meeting to make a quorum to vote on the issue. The way it was passed was a few very active students went door to door to convince professors to go and vote their way. It wasn't giving in, it was going through and convincing the minimum number of people it was worht showing up and voting for.

There was almost a year of discussion and multiple faculty meetings and UCS meetings where this issue was debated as well as a campus wide forum held. There was only no active debate if you chose not to show up and debate it.

AmbitiousMind07

Negru, just because you don't agree with it doesn't make those who do idiots. I find it interesting how you cricize far leftists for making outlandish generalizations about the right and yet you are making the same generalizations about the left...besides, I don't think this whole Columbus thing represents the entire Brown community as a whole, like you're making it seem.

arapollo

Meh I didn't really care about the changing, I told some reporter that outside of the sci li. Besides I met Christopher Columbus '09. He works at Goldman Sachs now. Then I started drinkin' muh PBR.

negru

Radicalizing Introductory College Classes

A Rational View on Politics: Radicalizing Introductory College Classes

Which supports my views that it's not only some few freaky students who stir up spirits and dumb down campuses, but many of the professors. Don't worry, this doesn't only happen at Brown, but still when I told my friends at Columbia (who were complaining about these issues before) about some of our classes, they were still pretty outraged.

A poster around here was criticizing college professors who know nothing about the real world, just read some books, and then pretend to have a deep understanding of reality, when in fact they have none. And what's worse, they then proceed to share their so called "knowledge" to students. Students which, having zero real exposure to the outside world due to the over protectionist and closed society, are extremely gullible. As someone coming from a world that is discussed and debated in such classes, I completely agree with that poster. When it comes to politics and economy of course. What's more, I do not find the professors' views simply skewed, uninformed or plain dumb, but tragic.

People here do not understand that some leftist views, as ideal and whatever they might sound, are as offensive and ridiculous to people who actually experienced them, as praising hitler to jews. Only worse.

Not one million of the books they read, or tv shows they watch, or papers they write, have the slightest relevance when compared to reality.

Debate? No my friends, you do not debate with this kind of closed minded, patronizing people. Or their silly little pawns. You just get up and leave the class. Needless to say, you also don't join said silly little pawns for a debate over lunch at the ratty. You spend your time more wisely and effectively, such as by watching mindless zombie porn.

I don't think this kind of people are mature enough for debate. All they need is a good old fashioned spanking back to reality.

stressed!!!

This is outrageous. I believe students should be spending their time on other things besides changing the name of Columbus Day. Most people don't even know when Columbus Day is, much less care about it. I believe this was a huge waste of time, and an obnoxious attempt to be politically correct.

wolfmanjack

that was a thread bump that wasn't really necessary. ugh.

sententia

^well... I just read through the thread and now I have to comment...

"'you're guilty of all indians who died! you are guilty of polluting our earth! of being richer than people in africa! of being this particular color! and religion! feel very very bad about yourself! But it's ok! Just give us some cash, and everything will be set right. Then you can go back to whatever you were doing, and not care anymore. Until we ask your cash and support again!'"

Negru, nobody is trying to force guilt down your throat. The name of the holiday honors a person responsible for innumerable tragedies; unless you feel that your identity as a white american is somehow interlaced with the triumphs of Columbus, retiring his name is neither guilt-imposing nor manipulative.

I don't hold Columbus accountable for the ethical flaws inherent in his culture. Many historical figures are tainted by the immoral values of their time -- they don't command my respect or my scorn. In the same way, Columbus' treatment of the natives sheds light on some of the shortcomings of western civilization. Apart from the physical destruction of most indigenous peoples, Columbus Day represents the introduction (and domination) of western values to the rest of the world, something that in my opinion is far from deserving celebration.