<p>poetgrl, what about the militant right-wing factions who are constantly threatening death to our president and the overthrow of our government, based on some warped idea of what the Constitution means? Why does it matter whether religion is involved? The number of documented right-wing hate groups has exploded over the time Obama has been in office. Shouldn’t we take them as seriously as groups that cloak their “values” in religion?</p>
<p>Well, I don’t really know what “militant right wing factions” you are speaking of. It doesn’t matter to me one way or the other if religion is involved. Jihad is Jihad, and I think most faithful muslims would not consider radical jihadists to be religious people any more than most Baptists would consider Westboro to be religious.</p>
<p>But, the fact remains that there is a Jihad against the west, and we are the west.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Like [Timothy</a> McVeigh - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](<a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timothy_McVeigh]Timothy”>Timothy McVeigh - Wikipedia) ?</p>
<p>(Side note: as a mostly-ignored recent event indicates, fertilizer is still dangerous.)</p>
<p>GMTplus7 says:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Women are treated horribly in some cultures. Are you saying that liberals think that is just fine? </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>So other cultures are not better or worse unless we personally disagree with them, and then they are worse? Do you notice that the first part of your sentence does not agree with the second part?</p>
<p>Just to be clear: I am pro immigration, pro giving citizenship to those already here who want it. I believe our only hope as a nation is in a vibrant and open immigration policy.</p>
<p>But, pretending that there is not a Jihad is just being as silly as not wanting background checks for guns.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>[Anti-government</a> extremist groups reach record levels, say experts - CNN.com](<a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/05/us/splc-extremist-groups-report]Anti-government”>http://www.cnn.com/2013/03/05/us/splc-extremist-groups-report)
<a href=“http://www.splcenter.org/home/2013/spring/the-year-in-hate-and-extremism[/url]”>http://www.splcenter.org/home/2013/spring/the-year-in-hate-and-extremism</a></p>
<p>This is a false argument and not interesting to me.</p>
<p>Yes there are factions in the US who are anti US government and the FBI has gone after many of them and should continue to do so.</p>
<p>But I don’t know what the heck that has to do with groups who are funded by Iran or other countries involved in the current ongoing Jihad. </p>
<p>From your link:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m not saying we don’t need to be aware of the extremists. I am exactly saying we need to be aware of the extremists.</p>
<p>Just to be clear, Timothy McVeigh said he was an agnostic/atheist, although he was raised as a Roman Catholic.</p>
<p>Breaking news that the Boston bombers were allegedly motivated by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The surviving suspect has also spoken of “religious fervor.” If we could take the wars out of the equation, would the anti-American sentiments be so strong? Would the bombings have still happened?</p>
<p>It makes no difference what motivated them. They killed and injured people. There is no motivation that is any defense for what they did or even any mitigating factor.</p>
<p>I’m against the foreign wars, as are almost all libertarians.</p>
<p>But, the path this thread is going is not about diversity of intellectual thought in the academy and I will bow out now.</p>
<p>carry on.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I know this was not directed at me, but I will say that what constitutes being “treated horribly” is a value judgment. There are some cultures who believe our American women are treated “horribly” because we promote/tolerate promiscuity, etc.</p>
<p>I don’t actually know what is taught in colleges about this sort of thing nowadays, but I would say that yes, the liberal multicultural position would be to not make a judgment about whether the way women are treated in other countries is good or bad.</p>
<p>I think the liberal feminist position on the matter would be different, however.</p>
<p>Yeah, it has gone “non-academically adrift.” I am happy to bow out too.</p>
<p>Just to clarify, McVeigh changed his religious positions many times. After his arrest, he claimed to believe in God. At one point years later, he said he was an atheist. At the end, he took his last rites as a Catholic. IMO, the only one who knew his beliefs was him and that’s that.</p>
<p>
I agree with the last sentence, but not with the first. Knowing what motivated them is crucial in understanding the potential for similar attacks.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t personally know any professors who equate libertarian and conservative but will trust you on this. After reading this thread, I have about decided that the professors I know are all outliers. I do agree that the university is essentially a conservative institution, an extremely conservative one. I think most professors I know would agree with this. It is rare for radicals to be part of the academy imho. I don’t know how many professors really consider universities liberal. It does all become relative. Bay sees it as very liberal. I couldn’t find a school liberal enough when shopping for my own kids. The schools she sees as oppressively liberal seem to me to have only an extremely thin liberal veneer. Their mission, other than fundraising, is to train the next generation of leaders. They aren’t looking to produce radicals who actually challenge the status quo. ymmv</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Motivation is not a defense or excuse for the suspect in this case.</p>
<p>But understanding the motivation can help prevent future attacks, perhaps by reducing the reasons why people become haters, or reducing the tendency of haters to become violent. (And understanding does not mean approval.)</p>
<p>Bay said:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I don’t think you understand liberals very well.</p>
<p>A quick comment addressing the biases and diversity of professors -<br>
By far the best and most memorable class I had as an undergraduate at a mid sized public university was a seminar co-taught by a top notch atheist chemist and a very well-regarded theologian. They modeled respect for differing opinions, while intellectually challenging each other (and us). As I recall, both professors graded writing assignments, with their own comments regarding content. It was fabulous, and I wish every college student could take a class like that.</p>
<p>*Women are treated horribly in some cultures. Are you saying that liberals think that is just fine? *</p>
<p>I think those who live in glass houses shouldnt throw stones.
[The</a> Rape of Petty Officer Blumer | Politics News | Rolling Stone](<a href=“http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/the-rape-of-petty-officer-blumer-20130214]The”>The Rape of Petty Officer Blumer)
</p>