Lefty Academics

[mammall]

Fascinating, Mini. These are not names I'm familiar with. I will look into them. Maybe you're really onto something. Maybe our political scene is locked in stasis because our equilibrium point is too far to the right?

[goaliedad]

I think I am starting to understand where mini and I are diverging on opinion, though. I am talking conservative in the sense of social control (more than economics) and academic freedom (from government control more than institutional control).

And to some extent I will agree that a lot of American academia has a very narrow perspective. But that is not because of a central controlling authority (although some would argue at university administrations through their hiring and tenure review practices do this). At least this culture through its elected government doesn't directly try to control (by rule - money is another issue) the nature of research. Can't be said of much of the world.

And while mini has found plenty of people of interesting perspective in his travels, those data points don't necessarily indicate that the system they work in is more liberal (in the personal liberties arena) than ours. Nor does it imply the overriding university culture (tenor of the student population, etc.) is more liberal than ours. The fact that we have the least restrictive expression controls here will frustrate the fringe elements who seem to live to poke at authority (and thereby building their reputations). It is far easier in other cultures to cause a stir and attract the attention of the authorities.

Yeah, there may be more marxists (if you call that the far left) in other parts of the world, but I think that is more because it is the forbidden fruit (considered akin to revolutionary thought). Marxist thought here is generally ignored these days here in academia - at least in comparison to decades past.

Point here is that there are lots of definitions of liberal and conservative. I think we are starting work around differences of definition.

[jessiehl]

Sometimes when you are in the minority it is easy to feel intimidated by the majority, and cling even more tightly to what you have always believed.

Yes, it is. I understand this, believe me. I've been threatened with violence over my political beliefs (though oddly, this was not in my childhood homestates of Kentucky and Georgia, but in true-blue Massachusetts...I have to wonder how the guy responsible interacts with, say, his neighbors). I was bullied for my (lack of) religion as a kid. I had a classmate in high school who was threatened with a shotgun for canvassing for the liberal congressional candidate.

Even beyond the more extreme incidents, I know what it's like to feel that nearly everyone around you must be living in a different universe where normal logic and reason don't apply. The fact that you and I would probably think that about each other doesn't mean I don't empathize. I imagine it must be even harder if you grew up being surrounded by people who agreed with you...culture shock on top of everything else.

I really like my school overall, and have been able to make friends (I just don't speak up about what I really think).

Maybe you should try starting very respectful, nonconfrontational, political discussions with the friends to whom you are closest. It is unfortunate that you feel you have to be closeted (and I can empathize with that, too). Among other things, it might do your friends good to put a human face on their political opponents (and I think it will probably do you good to have this chance to do so), and they may be moved to speak up if others are truly acting inappropriately toward you.

As for the profs...I am of two minds here, because we are getting your filtered version of things. On one hand, I have met (and had) teachers on both ends of the political spectrum who were as demagogic as what you describe. On the other hand, I have seen people misjudge teachers who had known political beliefs as demagogues when the teachers weren't.

I remember that I had a very liberal history teacher in high school, who *desperately* wanted people to argue with him. This guy really wanted young people to get involved in politics - despite being a flaming liberal, he sponsored the Young Republicans when nobody else would (the conservative teachers were too busy), because he said that it was good that they cared about what happened in politics and were getting involved. But nobody would argue with him in class - the liberal students agreed, and the conservative students thought that he was a demagogue who would mark them down. So he said more and more outrageous things, trying to force the class to react, to call him on it. Instead, and the conservative students decided that he was a frightening leftist who was persecuting them, and complained.

Try to figure out whether your profs are really as problematic as you think, or whether there's something else going on.

[JHS]

Duerre:

Three last things from me.

First, don't make yourself miserable. If you can't feel secure and excited in an environment where most people don't share your beliefs, then find an environment that suits you better. I hope it doesn't come to that, because it seems like you like a lot of things about your college, and because that kind of attitude may shut you off from some great opportunities in your life. But you know yourself best, and if you really can't handle it, don't feel like you have to.

Second, ask yourself why anyone should respect you for doing what you say you do -- disagreeing without ever expressing your disagreement, lying about what you think, complaining about the people around you anonymously? I get the feeling you don't even respect yourself for doing that. So start acting like someone worthy of respect. Politely, non-belligerently, say what you think. When you disagree, say you disagree, and why. Follow the normal rules of discussion, and look for common ground with people who disagree with you. You may well discover that you actually agree on a lot, and that the differences are like two tips of a huge iceberg that's all connected underwater. But people will respect you for doing that, and you will respect yourself.

And remember, if you feel scared and silenced, maybe other people do, too. If you speak out, it will make it easier for them, too, and then maybe you'll find that your views are more common there than you thnk.

Finally, recognize that you are not the first college freshman in history to feel a little scared and lonely in a place that's culturally very different from where he grew up. You CAN get the hang of it, and you CAN make a place for yourself there, where you can feel comfortable and true to yourself. Give it a shot before you give up.

[Duerre]

Thank you all so much! I'm really happy I decided to post here. It's heartening to hear that others have had similar experiences to mine and have learned to cope with it. I have a feeling that opening up my views would really restore my sense of self-respect, and it is encouraging me to research and really think about why I think what I do, which is important.

I think that what is key to debate is to make sure that everyone feels respected and knows that others are really listening to what they have to say. Since I would like to be treated this way, I need to listen carefully to other perspectives and not automatically rule them out because they are new to me. Maybe if I am carefull to do this, others will do the same.

There is definitely a silver lining to this whole experience. There are lots of Democrats and others with more liberal views, and now is as good a time as any to learn to live with them. And articulating what I think is a valuable skill to have.

[curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by duerre

I have a feeling that opening up my views would really restore my sense of self-respect, and it is encouraging me to research and really think about why I think what I do, which is important.

NOW you are really in college. Good job. Enjoy it.

[newmassdad]

Duerre,

Just remember that you do not NEED to justify any of your views. You are entitled to hold any view you want (although we can all imagine views so repugnant that they would be hard for others to accept!). Others may not agree with you, and it can be fascinating to find out why you disagree. But you must approach this from a point of view of understanding and respect for those who hold differing views, too.

Almost four years ago, I had a fascinating time learning what other people thought about the presidential candidates and why. It was interesting how, when first asked, most folks were quite defensive, because they expected a debate. When they found out I was silent on my view and just genuinely curious, it was fascinating to watch them open up. And I learned a great deal.

Try that with some of your foes. I doubt it will be threatening to your views, so it is not risky per se. But you may find, as I have, that I had much more in common with folks who I thought had radically different views than I ever imagined.

Good luck, have fun and learn.

[reidm]

There are some interesting points on this thread, but I am still trying to process an OP that claims "keeping my mouth shut is not a strong suit!" in post #1 and "I'm also shy" in post #19. Also one who titles a thread "Lefty Academics" and sounds like Barack Obama (post #80) a day later.

Though I do know that college students can have identity issues. . .

[Ernie H.]

Mutual respect is the key. I've met my fair share of wackos, on both sides. Never, though, have I had a political discussion that didn't end with a sense of enrichment.

[collegealum314]

"Assuming this is true, why do you think things have turned out this way? Why is it that the Ivy League and the top LACS are all left-leaning, but when conservatives create and run a college it often ends up resembling Bob Jones?

It's a free country out there. No law says that a great college must be politically and socially liberal (although some would argue that strict and intolerant conservative thought and scholarly free enquiry are mutually antithetical). Rather than bemoaning the abundance of liberal thought at the current high-end schools, conservatives should found and build their own high-end schools. But for some reason they keep coming up with Bible schools."




Your thesis seems to be that an intellectual school would naturally be liberal (especially the part I bolded.)

I read that before WWII Harvard and the other top ivies were conservative. Also, there was a mock presidential election at MIT in 2000, and McCain won it. So not every random group of intellectual people will spontaneous form a liberal majority.

Anyway, it doesn't sound like the OP would want to go to a place like Bob Jones either. Very few people would. What it sounds like is that the OP would like to go to a place where political science is studied and debated with a measure of intellectual rigor instead of having political agendas shoved down his or her throat. Now, no one knows for sure whether the OP is just uncomfortable with people with different views, but it sounds like the disappointment in the LAC stems from a lack of the Socratic method. If that is the case, then it's unfortunate.