You're right, I read it that that was the criteria for "her" paper, I thought the whole class.Originally Posted by bucknutdet
Still doesn't change the fact that she dropped the ball on the assignments rules.
You're right, I read it that that was the criteria for "her" paper, I thought the whole class.
Still doesn't change the fact that she dropped the ball on the assignments rules.
Hear, hear.
This is all that needs to be said on the matter.
The problem is banning the word "God" in a community college English class. It's an absurd rule and probably wouldn't be applied evenly with the banning of words such as "Koran" or "Allah," should that situation have presented itself.
Just another pitiful example of the increasing attempt to secularize America in the same vein as banning Christmas carols in public squares or insisting on the phrase Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.
Finally, since this college proffesor is so vehement in his denial of God in a public forum such as a community college, perhaps he has similar problems with the phrase "In God We Trust" on his American currency. If so, I would be happy to take those bills off his hands so he won't have to see that silly G-word anymore.
I majored in political science, specialized in Middle Eastern Studies. We had two very prominant faculty members, one a Palestinian scholar and the other a former Nixon aide and well respected jewish professor. These guys defined the word "biased", but after having taken their classes I never once felt that my grade depended on my views. Why? Because I understood that they were intellectuals, who valued the strength of one's argument over the position taken. I never feared crossing their political bows because I knew they would judge me on my ability to make a point and not on whether I agreed with their world view. Each of them was very hard on their students, those who were in their camp and those who weren't. They demanded deep thinking and probing analysis rather than slogans and rhetoric. What you wrote didn't matter to them as much as the work you had put into it; they were trying to get us all ready for our careers.
I have read a few articles about liberal professors shoving their ideology down students' throats, failing them when they disagree and I always reflect upon my time in college when fellow students said the same thing about these two professors, one a right wing conservative and the other a former PLO advisor.
Next Reds manager, second shooter. --Confirmed on Redszone.
Nicely put. This is all that needs to be said on the matter.
No it isn't, because it fails to address three VERY IMPORTANT questions regarding this matter:Nicely put. This is all that needs to be said on the matter.
-Why the student failed to follow the concise instructions of the professor,
-Why, if she was convinced that she would be unable to write such a paper without using the word "God", she didn't attempt to work something out with her professor in advance, rather than blatantly disregarding his instructions, and
-Why, if she felt that she would be unable to comply with the contraints put in place by the professor, she didn't choose to write on a different topic.
They're not comparable at all. Here, a professor laid out very explicit instructions about one word-"God"-that could not be used in a paper discussing religion's role in government. She wasn't told that she couldn't invoke Christianity, religious beliefs, or even Jesus, for that matter.Just another pitiful example of the increasing attempt to secularize America in the same vein as banning Christmas carols in public squares or insisting on the phrase Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas.
If you would like a Biblical example, consider this student to be like Eve in the Garden of Eden. God says, eat from any tree you wish, except that one over there. And yet Eve decided to eat specifically from that tree anyway, and she paid a price for it--she didn't follow instructions. Such is the case here.
The word wasn't banned in the class, it just wasn't allowed to be included in this person's paper as a part of the assignment. If it unjustly singled her out when other students were allowed to write religious papers, with proper noun references to their deity, then she might have a case. But no one seems to be arguing that, including the attorneys for the plaintiff. They are arguing "free speech" and "freedom of religion" which neither seem to apply in the context of this case. Frivolous lawsuit if you ask me.
"Rounding 3rd and heading for home, good night everybody"
And we all make conclusions based on what we have read. Do we know anything about the professor? Is the professor some sort of anti-religion nut? Would this be national headlines story of the same story had been told, but a Muslim could not use certain words (you had better believe it) that pertain to his/her religion? We "postulate" on what we MIGHT think is right...
What is wrong with "God"? If she had used Lord, would it be okay? If so, what is the diff? I will agree that the girl was hardheaded. But is there more to the prof than what is being told? We don't know, but we can postulate on these things like those who postulate on the opposite side of this argument.
All that is irrelevant. It doesn't matter if the instructor went to church 7 days a week or was a devil worshiper. He said specifically that the student - and since his reason was that others in the class may be offended - others couldn't use it either if they had a similar topic. Bottom line is that the instructor said God couldn't be mentioned but the student did it anyway.
If the instructor said it was wrong then it was wong in that context. Just as schools can ban clothing that has certain words or phrases on it, this instructor could say that using the word "God" in a term paper dealing with religion was not acceptable to him.What is wrong with "God"? If she had used Lord, would it be okay? If so, what is the diff? I will agree that the girl was hardheaded. But is there more to the prof than what is being told? We don't know, but we can postulate on these things like those who postulate on the opposite side of this argument.
Yeah, it's silly and ridiculous but it makes you think.Half the people on this thread just aren't getting this...
And there's really nothing more that needs to be explained about this article.
SO what if he is? This story doesn't tell us whether he is or isn't. The professor's personal beliefs are a straw man in this argument--the crux of the issue is, were his demands unreasonable? And if so, why didn't she write on another topic?
I can very easily envision a scenario where a Muslim student wished to write about the role of Islam in governments in the Middle East, and the prof would say to do it without invoking the name of Allah.Would this be national headlines story of the same story had been told, but a Muslim could not use certain words (you had better believe it) that pertain to his/her religion? We "postulate" on what we MIGHT think is right...
Nothing, on the face value of it. But in the context of this particular paper, the prof didn't want the word "God" to be used.What is wrong with "God"?
My guess is, probably not. based upon the fact that the prof explicitly stated he didn't want "Capital-G God" to appear, he meant a discussion specifically on the Christian God. Since her topic was quite broad--the role of religion in government--it needed to be discussed in general terms.If she had used Lord, would it be okay? If so, what is the diff?
I would also purport to say that invoking Allah, Yahweh or other similar deities would have been frowned upon as well. I would ALSO purport to say that the student most likely inquired about writing the topic from a strictly Christian perspective, which is why the prof didn't want "God" included.
You can think what you will about the prof, but I would argue that whatever his personal feelings were, it is a moot point. Were his demands unreasonable? Could she not possibly write a paper about her chosen topic without invoking the word "God"? Could she not have done it without invoking the word "God" 41 times?I will agree that the girl was hardheaded. But is there more to the prof than what is being told? We don't know, but we can postulate on these things like those who postulate on the opposite side of this argument.
If this had been any other topic besides religion, we wouldn't even be discussing it. Only due to the fact that Christianity is involved is this perceived as an attack on free speech.
Yep. After my post above, I think I'm done, because I've repeated myself 6-7 times now...
It amazes me that there are so many Christians in America. What with all the persecution and everything.
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Hope this doesn't offend anyone, but it seems pretty simple to me.
The teacher gave her an assignment with very specific instructions.
She chose not to follow those instructions.
She fails.
Sounds to me like she's looking for attention to further her cause.
We'll go down in history as the first society that wouldn't save itself because it wasn't cost effective ~ Kurt Vonnegut
Not only that, but I think by using the word "God" 41 times she was specifically thumbing her nose at the instructions, in order to get attention.
"I came here to kick ass and chew bubble gum... and I'm all out of bubble gum."
- - Rowdy Roddy Piper
"It takes a big man to admit when he is wrong. I am not a big man"
- - Fletch
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