Johnson is a first-year Ph.D. student in the clinical psychology
program.
By Chris Johnson
The degree of intellectual conformity in university settings
regarding matters of culture and politics is truly ironic. The
’60s “progressives,” whom so many young students
now seek to emulate, had one important characteristic which is
embarrassingly absent from modern student discourse: the
insatiable desire to “question.”
A quick sampling of campus editorials exposes the same tired
battle cries of class warfare, racism and sexism. Within the last
week we’ve been entertained by such profound and provocative
thoughts as: Bush is declaring war on women; President Bush
colluded with his brother to “steal” the election in
Florida; Attorney General Ashcroft is a bigot; and those who oppose
abortion rights are extremists.
Although the authors of such opinions may not be as
inexperienced with complex thought as it appears, not all readers
are capable of recognizing the intent to incite controversy.
Unfortunately, many buy into these accusations without any
examination of probity. (For the benefit of our readers sitting on
the Florida Supreme Court bench, “probity” means
sincerity and integrity.)
To illustrate the intellectual lock-step I’m speaking
about, consider the unwarranted criticisms on President
Bush’s intelligence. It’s become quite trendy to
exaggerate and distort his capacities. It gives the pop-culture
consumer a way to appear informed about a topic without really
expending any mental resources to find out what is real and what is
political strategy.
Consider the mental gymnastics that go into forming such
simplistic opinions upon the such contrary facts. The following
examples illustrate the inconsistencies of earlier claims:
1) President Bush is considered an idiot. In fact, he graduated
from Harvard Business School, was a trained fighter jet pilot and a
two-term governor. I have yet to meet an idiot who has flown Mach
1.
2) Attorney General Ashcroft is considered a bigot. His wife is
actually a professor at Howard University (again, for the benefit
of our readers on the Florida Supreme Court, Howard University is
one of America’s historically African American colleges).
Ashcroft was a two-term governor, two-term state attorney
general and former senator. Additionally, he accomplished the
following while in office:
He signed into law the state’s Martin Luther King Jr.
holiday as Missouri governor; led the fight to save Lincoln
University, an institution that was founded by African American
soldiers; named eight African Americans to be state judges,
including the first minority on the Missouri court of appeals;
selected three African Americans into his cabinet as governor; and
as senator voted to confirm 26 of the 28 African American judges
nominated by Clinton.
3) Pro-life supporters are “extreme.” In the last
eight years, Congress has approved, with overwhelming support, two
separate bans on partial-birth abortions. (For the benefit of our
friends on the Florida Supreme Court, legislators are elected by
the popular vote and create laws based on the representative
interests of their respective constituencies). These elected
officials hardly represent the “fringe” of our
society.
Disagree with their politics, but minimal effort to deconstruct
such intellectually lazy characterizations will reveal why these
accusations have failed to gain traction. Instead of cute, glib
remarks attempting to feign an informed political opinion, what we
need is honest dialogue and real analysis of differing
ideologies.
Regardless of one’s impression of the outcome, half the
country voted for the conservative candidate. But the very
people who pride themselves on their expansive worldviews are
hard pressed to identify any personal acquaintances who
voted for the current president.
In spite of receiving half the country’s votes,
most students continue to believe that President Bush and his
cabinet represent the “far extremes” of our
national identity. These beliefs are indicative of the truly
insular lives most college students live. It’s time to
turn off MTV, folks, and challenge your beliefs with some rigorous
thought. That’s why we’re all here.