I taught a course on the topic of liberty, a "Gen Ed capstone course," for senior-year students for many semesters at a local college. I will not teach the course again although students found it more than worth the effort to read books such as "On Liberty" by J.S. Mill. On the issue of free speech, students were exposed to the doings of…
I taught a course on the topic of liberty, a "Gen Ed capstone course," for senior-year students for many semesters at a local college. I will not teach the course again although students found it more than worth the effort to read books such as "On Liberty" by J.S. Mill. On the issue of free speech, students were exposed to the doings of the church alluded to in the essay. In the current truthophobic environment, a career can be ended by exposing students to a sign stating "God hates fags."
I found it cathartic to share with students how my own views on such issues as homosexuality had changed drastically because others, exercising their own freedom of speech, persuaded me that my position on issues did not stand up to scrutiny. I think it was Keynes who admitted something close to "when the facts change, I change my opinion."
The first assigned reading in the course was Frederick Douglass's "Narrative of a Slave," his first autobiography. It contains the word that begins with "n" that can no longer be uttered unless you have the right color skin. The college does have a course titled "Harry Potter" with something else in the title that currently escapes me. I think this essay and the issue it addresses would be an excellent topic but I admit being fearful of sending it to the professor for that course.
It is painful to choose to remain silent sometimes because the cost of being vocal can be career ending. Fortunately, J.K. Rowling made a fortune serving society and can withstand the financial consequences of exposing Truthophobia. I look forward to the series. Thanks for an excellent essay.
I taught a course on the topic of liberty, a "Gen Ed capstone course," for senior-year students for many semesters at a local college. I will not teach the course again although students found it more than worth the effort to read books such as "On Liberty" by J.S. Mill. On the issue of free speech, students were exposed to the doings of the church alluded to in the essay. In the current truthophobic environment, a career can be ended by exposing students to a sign stating "God hates fags."
I found it cathartic to share with students how my own views on such issues as homosexuality had changed drastically because others, exercising their own freedom of speech, persuaded me that my position on issues did not stand up to scrutiny. I think it was Keynes who admitted something close to "when the facts change, I change my opinion."
The first assigned reading in the course was Frederick Douglass's "Narrative of a Slave," his first autobiography. It contains the word that begins with "n" that can no longer be uttered unless you have the right color skin. The college does have a course titled "Harry Potter" with something else in the title that currently escapes me. I think this essay and the issue it addresses would be an excellent topic but I admit being fearful of sending it to the professor for that course.
It is painful to choose to remain silent sometimes because the cost of being vocal can be career ending. Fortunately, J.K. Rowling made a fortune serving society and can withstand the financial consequences of exposing Truthophobia. I look forward to the series. Thanks for an excellent essay.