No kidding. You don't say.
If Harvard allowed each freshman to choose between the Puritan pledge and this new “tolerance” pledge, I wonder which one would be more popular.
A name appropriate to the University's positions.
R.I.P. Harvard, 2011.
You can get this kind of soft-headed policy at your local community college, and at a far lower tuition.
I am sure that it has all the usual suspects. Tolerance, diversity, sustainability, etc...
You forgot the quotes around “moral” in the title.
Statists find that pledges can dupe the honest conservative into going along with a small lie which will be subsequently used as a precedent for pledging to a bigger lie. The Statist also seeks an innocous pledge intially so that they can change the meaning of the pledge through a twisted interpretation and a re-definition of the language. The Statist is by nature deceptive, and anyone taking a pledge must examine the conduct, values and motives of the individual or group requiring the pledge.
Don’t they already have to sign a copy of the Communist Manifesto?
I wonder if any Muslim students will sign when they find that references to being “inclusive” means affirming homosexuality.
Of course the key question is who gets to define “inclusiveness” and “civility”. I doubt it is going to be interpreted in a way your basic conservative would accept.
No kidding. You don't say.
Would “inclusiveness” include a branch of the Tea Party?
Harvard University, leading the nation in political correctness, affirmative action and general stupidity.
Can we get one of the freshmen to upload a PDF copy of it?
When my eldest son was in the eigth grade, the ADL had a public school program that involved children signing a pledge to political correctness. Parents shot it down.
As 106 of the first 108 schools in America were founded on Christianity, Harvard's declared purpose was: "To train a literate clergy."
Harvard college was founded in "Christi Gloriam," as the founders believed: "All knowledge without Christ was vain."
In 1692, the motto of Harvard was: "Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae" (Truth for Christ and the Church).
The word Veritas on the college seal references divine truth, and was embedded on a shield, which can be found on Memorial Church, Widener Library, and numerous Harvard Yard dorms.
The shield has on top two books facing up and on the bottom a book facing down, symbolizing the limits of reason and the need for God's revelation.
Harvard's Rules & Precepts, September 26, 1642, stated:
"1. When any Scholar...is able to make and speak true Latine in Verse and Prose....And decline perfectly the paradigims of Nounes and Verbes in the Greek tongue...(he is allowed) admission into the college.
2. Let every Student be plainly instructed, and earnestly pressed to consider well, the maine end of his life and studies is, to know God and Jesus Christ which is eternall life, John 17:3 and therefore to lay Christ in the bottome, as the only foundation of all sound knowledge and Learning. And seeing the Lord only giveth wisedome, Let every one seriously set himself by prayer in secret to seeke it of him Prov. 2,3.
3. Every one shall so exercise himselfe in reading the Scriptures twice a day, that he shall be ready to give such an account of his proficiency therein, both in Theoreticall observations of Language and Logick, and in practicall and spirituall truths, as his Tutor shall require, according to his ability; seeing the entrance of the word giveth light, it giveth understanding to the simple, Psalm, 119:130.
4. That they eshewing all profanation of God's name, Attributes, Word, Ordinances, and times of Worship, do studie with good conscience carefully to retaine God, and the love of his truth in their mindes, else let them know, that (notwithstanding their Learning) God may give them up to strong delusions, and in the end to a reprobate minde, 2Thes. 2:11, 12. Rom. 1:28.
5. That they studiously redeeme the time; observe the generall houres...diligently attend the Lectures, without any disturbance by word or gesture....
6. None shall...frequent the company and society of such men as lead an unfit, and dissolute life. Nor shall any without his Tutors leave, or without the call of Parents or Guardians, goe abroad to other Townes.
7. Every Scholar shall be present in his Tutors chamber at the 7th houre in the morning, immediately after the sound of the Bell, at his opening the Scripture and prayer, so also at the 5th houre at night, and then give account of his owne private reading....But if any...shall absent himself from prayer or Lectures, he shall bee lyable to Admonition, if he offend above once a weeke.
8. If any Scholar shall be found to transgresse any of the Lawes of God, or the Schoole...he may bee admonished at the publick monethly Act."
In 1790, the requirements for Harvard stated:
"All persons of what degree forever residing at the College, and all undergraduates...shall constantly and seasonably attend the worship of God in the chapel, morning and evening...
All the scholars shall, at sunset in the evening preceding the Lord's Day, lay aside all their diversions and....it is enjoined upon every scholar carefully at apply himself to the duties of religion on said day."
On Election Day, May 31, 1775, Harvard President Samuel Langdon addressed the Massachusetts Provincial Congress:
"We have rebelled against God. We have lost the true spirit of Christianity, though we retain the outward profession and form of it. We have neglected and set light by the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and His holy commands and institutions.
The worship of many is but mere compliment to the Deity, while their hearts are far from Him. By many, the Gospel is corrupted into a superficial system of moral philosophy, little better than ancient Platonism....
My brethren, let us repent and implore the divine mercy. Let us amend our ways and our doings, reform everything that has been provoking the Most High, and thus endeavor to obtain the gracious interpositions of providence for our deliverance....
May the Lord hear us in this day of trouble....We will rejoice in His salvation, and in the name of our God, we will set up our banners!...
Wherefore is all this evil upon us? Is it not because we have forsaken the Lord? Can we say we are innocent of crimes against God? No, surely it becomes us to humble ourselves under His mighty hand, that He may exalt us in due time....
My brethren, let us repent and implore the divine mercy. Let us amend our ways and our doings, reform everything that has been provoking the Most High, and thus endeavor to obtain the gracious interpositions of Providence for our deliverance....
If God be for us, who can be against us? The enemy has reproached us for calling on His name and professing our trust in Him. They have made a mock of our solemn fasts and every appearance of serious Christianity in the land....
May our land be purged from all its sins! Then the Lord will be our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble, and we will have no reason to be afraid, though thousands of enemies set themselves against us round about. May the Lord hear us in this day of trouble....We will rejoice in His salvation, and in the name of our God, we will set up our banners."