Posted on 01/17/2005 9:42:25 PM PST by nickcarraway
Liberalism's definition of "equality" rests on a denial of reality. That is, a denial of real differences. Under liberal thought, "equality" means sameness, even amongst things that are obviously not the same. Why do liberals mark off as a no-go area the recognition of stark differences between men and women? Because to say the sexes are different is to threaten "equality." Anyone wishing to enter polite liberal society must not merely say that men and women possess the same dignity; they must say that men and women are exactly the same, in every respect, even if that means ignoring something as basic as the fact that men and women don't have the same chromosomes.
Woe to the public figure who doesn't close his eyes to reality. Lawrence Summers, president of Harvard University, is the latest casualty of the left's reality-denying definition of "equality." Poking his head far too close to the buzzsaw of academic liberalism, Summers has been excoriated for stating in a speech last week that "innate differences" exist between men and women.
This was too much reality for professors in the audience to handle. "I would've either blacked out or thrown up," said Nancy Hopkins, a biologist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, who stood up and left Summers' speech, reports the Boston Globe. "It is so upsetting that all these brilliant young women (at Harvard) are being led by a man who views them this way," she added.
Summers was dimly aware that stating the obvious is a provocation on liberal campuses. So he girded his audience for comments about "differences" between the sexes with the preface, "I'm going to provoke you." But his ginger approach to the subject was still "upsetting" to members of the audience. Not false, but upsetting. Notice that professors don't even bother to formulate their criticisms in cerebral language anymore; they just express emotional hurts.
So what does the uproar mean for Summers? Obviously he'll need to "adjust his attitude." In other words, close his eyes to reality so as not to upset his tenured faculty. And if he doesn't, then the man must be driven from campus. That's what academic liberalism comes down to. Denying reality, liberalism can't provide reasons for its positions; it can only cow people into accepting them. It can't show conservative dissenters the truth of its claims -- because they are so manifestly not true -- so it falls back on the force of political correctness. You won't accept our denial of real differences between men and women? Okay, we'll hector you until you do.
Ideology is often used as a synonym for philosophy. It is not. At least not for sound philosophy. Ideology is not philosophy but the absence of philosophy. Instead of reasoning about reality, ideologues push ideas that do not correspond to reality, bullying and demagoging those who will not succumb to their fictions. Feminist ideology is exhibit A of this pattern. To convince people that all differences between the sexes are due to "socialization" -- that is, a sexist culture -- it can't tolerate a Lawrence Summers saying as he did last week that his daughter, when barely out of the crib, immediately took two toy trucks and turned them into dolls. She called one truck "daddy truck" and the other "baby truck." Summers concluded from this experiment with his child that the "socialization" theory is a crock.
How do ideologues prevent common sense from spreading? By turning common sense into an "offense" -- a thought crime. Feminist ideologues understand this well. In due course, they will extract from Summers an apology for committing a crime against equality, and a promise not to acknowledge reality ever again.
The price of "equality" is severe, exacting equal mindlessness from both sexes as they turn off their minds and form surreal attitudes to keep destructive fictions afloat. As mothers have known from the beginning of time, male and female newborns -- who have never been in society a single day -- display differences. But this can't be acknowledged lest the "socialization" theory explode.
The higher you go in education the lower the quality of thought. Summers made the mistake of telling the truth. Doesn't he know that to be a great mind at Harvard you must never use your own?
George Neumayr Ping
Given that there were NO men who had this physical reaction to whet Summers said, does that indicate that there is some kind of innate difference between men and women?
["I would've either blacked out or thrown up," said Nancy Hopkins, a biologist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology]
Isn't this a stereotypical womanly squeamish reaction?
Shame on you, Nancy, for letting the sisterhood down.
The reason why some are so sensitive is that Biological Determinism has been used so often in the past to prevent and preclude individuals from pursuit of their aspirations.
It would be the same sensitivity to pointing out that men go to prison in higher proportion to women. This is a true statement, but it can be used inappropriately stereotype all males ... rather than to promote that each individual as unique potential.
"When Liberal Collide" - - hilarious stuff. To hell with all of them.
I'm still not sure what to make of all this. The differences between men and women in science may not be innate, but they are there. Why deny them and blame it on non-existent discrimination?
Here is Hugh Hewitt on this one:
Here is the story on Harvard President Larry Summers' assertion that innate differences between the sexes could help explain why fewer women succeed in science and math careers. Bottom line: It isn't playing well with the feminist left, and probably won't play well with every parent in America who had hoped that their daughter would have every opportunity that their son did.
In the era of instant commentary via the blogs, you can't make such statements and then go to ground as Summers has. Too bad he doesn't have a blog, as I recommended in my book. He'd have the ability to "revise and extend his remarks" before the MSM gets them into circulation tomorrow.
If the president of a Christian university made the statement that Summers made, or a Bush Cabinet secretary, how long would they last in their job? How long will Summers last?
Q: How many feminists does it take to screw a light bulb?
A: Hey, that's not funny!
More here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1322781/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1322344/posts
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1322600/posts
Hey! I saw this story on FOX! This article is not the complete story. He said something about the fact that women's brains are not such that they are able to function well in the scientific arena; therefore, there are not many women in the scientific community. (I am not quoting him well because I did not know that I would need to do so. However, he was reported to have added the caveat that he was supposed to challenge the audience.)
It's only okay to challenge libs with their own ideology. Everything else is off limits.
He had the right to speak his mind. The word "academe" from ancient Greece, meant a place where philosophers would gather to argue for days on end as to what the Truth was. In today's politically correct liberal campi, even the pretense of argument is not permitted. You must agree with the prevailing orthodoxy or be forever silenced. In truth, the most inhospitable places for free inquiry today are the universities.
Just another way of saying she would get the vapors.
Q: What do you say to a woman with two black eyes?
A: Nothing, you already told her twice.
Given that there were NO men who had this physical reaction to whet Summers said, does that indicate that there is some kind of innate difference between men and women?
Great point !!
A woman who swooned at the shock, shock I say.
She is fortunate not to have had a case of the vapors.
(sarcasm off.)
Thankx for the new Tagline!
Obviously, these females are behind the times. The "My Body, My Self" play has been shelved over the past 10 years -- I guess these females aren't aware of it.
Reminds me of FR, and internet posting sites in general, to some extent. IMO, this is the place for free and challenging thought, it certainly isn't the college campi.
lol!! I know it's a terribly sideways joke, but that might just get pulled...
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