Postmodern progressivism has turned once-distinguished institutions like Princeton into copies of Mr. Orwell's Oceania, just with better architecture. It's a choice irony that for all the Left's appeals to Orwell's work, it is the Left that has most faithfully replicated the mental atmosphere of controlled insanity that he so chillingly described in "Nineteen Eighty-four."
Several years ago (I can't find it now) Rod Dreher wrote about a foreign exchange student he knew who was studying at Harvard (I think). He asked the student what he enjoyed most and what surprised him most about studying in America (I've learned much about my own society asking this question to many foreign visitors myself). The student's answer was "the fragility of the students". I wish I could find the link to the original article on TAC; if anyone has it, post it, because it's good.
Elites should be strong, noble, patriotic, and broadly educated, with the goal of producing rulers (and make no mistake, we have a ruling class and always have) that care broadly for their nation's citizens, even those unlike themselves. In earlier days, this was called Noblesse Oblige. Today we are educating our elites to be neurotic, self-absorbed, obsessed with trivialities, globalist, and narrowly educated in highly technical fields. And we're surprised at the resulting societal destruction?
What should scare everyone is the lag time. Today's generation of elites was educated 30 years ago. Can you imagine how unhinged those being educated today will be?
^^^^This x 1,000. I think this is your best post ever. I get so tired of the stereotypes applied to the working class by our purported elites. It's like they are just looking for excuses to hate and/or denigrate them. Having a privileged life is no license to dehumanize.
Agree 100%. One of my Ivy educated professors at NIU told me, “ Give me a first generation student, working 2 jobs to pay tuition here at NIU, over any of the spoiled brats at ________.”
I didn't have a lot of money, so I went to a community college for two years and then transferred to Hofstra University--where I had a small scholarship--to finish my degree in Mathematics. I graduated without student debt because I worked while going to school and commuted from home (by public bus!) while living with my parents.
I am very proud of my college choice and am glad that there was zero bullshit on either of these campuses. I've had a very successful career.
Me too, attended community college as a high school dropout at 15 years of age. There was no judgment from the first day on campus to the last about 4 years later when I took my associates degree to Syracuse University (along with the perfunctory GED just to button that up). The vapid nature of the average kid at SU was unexpected. It is the sole reason why SU gets zero money from me today, and my old community college gets $1,000.00 a year.
I actually dropped out of SU because I had a full scholarship in a field that just didn't interest me. I have two Associate's Degrees - one in Liberal Arts and one in Science from a couple of community colleges and I own a successful business. The key - I had/have no college-related debt to service. What scholarship I was interested in that I missed out on I pursue in my free time by reading books.
SU has a pretty campus, though. I revisited it a few years ago just to walk around and enjoy the architecture. Lot's of new buildings since I attended.
While some might consider me marrying down, as I had a very successful career and was the 'breadwinner', my wife attended the same University I did, but got a BFA, and was an amazing artist and fabric design talent. She was the equal and opposite of me, but I always felt like I married up. She connects dots that I don't even know exist.
So, I'm not sure about this whole Men marry equal or down, and the opposite for women, and I would like to see what the metrics are that define up and down. Economic? Intelligence? Wisdom? I respect Jordan P, but am unconvinced.
I went to Michigan in the 70s, and attended night school (while working full time) at (Mad Anthony) Wayne State for my MBA. The experience couldn't have been more different. Michigan promoted consuming and regurgitating our professors opinions, while my classmates at Wayne State, also working moms and dads, didn't have the tolerance for professors who were spouting bullshit. We wanted to be home after a long day at work, and in many cases, the students were as capable of teaching the classes as the faculty.
The faculty weren't on pedestals at WSU, even though they were every bit as knowledgeable and talented as Michigan's.
My dad got his Master’s at Wayne while working full time in the 70s - in Latin! He enjoyed it so much more than than his undergraduate experience at Wesleyan (got a BA in Classics). My sister and I were not allowed to apply to Wesleyan, lol. I ended up at U of M, so I know what you mean about the campus culture (I was there late 80s-early 90s.) my husband got his law degree at Wayne while working full time and we have a daughter getting her BA there now. She loves it. Given all the nonsense going on at U of M in the last couple of decades, I would not encourage anyone to go there despite the in-state tuition.
I have no idea of how the online programs work compared to the old night school format, but being in a classroom with other working stiffs supporting families was a very unique experience. None of us wanted to be there and the profs knew that the bullshit that they could pass off to 18-22 year olds wasn't going to fly. Also, I learned as much from my classmates who were describing real life experiences they had regarding whatever the subject matter was then the instructors.
WSU is a great university and doesn't get nearly the respect it should my 60 credits there were worth multiples of the 120 I endured at Michigan......but playing in A2, otoh, was certainly worth it.
I totally agree. It’s a major research institution. I see my daughter getting really good research/writing experience working with a psychologist which will help with grad school applications. I doubt she would be able to do what’s she’s doing as an undergraduate at U of M.
She is able to work full time while taking online classes but will have to drop to part time work in the fall when classes are back in person.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m sure it validates a lot of people.
I went to U of M Nursing School which was filled with wonderful instructors. My brother went to Wayne State law school and my niece just completed medical school there. It's a great college!
The orthopedic surgeon who performed my shoulder replacement earned his MD at Wayne State. He was good enough to earn a fellowship in upper extremity surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.
As a Michigan grad (DDS '76), thanks for pointing this (obvious to us) fact out, Jon. And thanks for doing it in such a kind and non-pejorative manner. (I couldn't!) Kudos.
I chose Michigan for undergrad (over University of Detroit) because I had hopes of getting into the Dental school. A factory accident in '76 would have made dentistry impossible for me, so I shifted over to business. In retrospect, I don't really think I would have made a good dentist, so maybe it was Karma.
Too funny (not the factory accident;_dodged a few myself working my way through undergrad and dent school). I went to U of D undergrad and was talked into UMSOD by an older frat brother. As a former board examiner and JCNDE commissioner, I've learned--empirically--that ome of the best dentists are those who exhibit self-assessment qualities. As I joke with my colleagues who are orthodontists, all you need is a good index finger: point to a qualified dental auxillary and recite the words "Do this. Do that." and you are good-to-go! 😁
Kind of like radiologists and rad techs. BTW, it was the loss of an index finger (and a few others) that caused my program change. I had just completed my second year of pre dent, which were two years of hell. I guess it didn't help that I never missed a Bob Segar, Iggy, Nugent, or any of the other amazing bar bands that played A2 at the time.
Oh, shit! I stepped into that one! So sorry. I narrowly escaped the same working on the line at GM and as a iron worker later. (I had the dirtiest fingernails at UMSOD.)
The MC5 performed at the old football field at U-D (Joni Mitchell reference: "they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.") along with Iggy Pop my freshmen year. Blew me away. (Or was it the readily available weed from SDS weed "purveyors"?)
One like it. After a lead-up band left, MC5 set up and it's first line was just that. Surprised the hell out of us. After that, it was sheer lunacy. "KICK OUT THE JAMS, MOTHER**CKERS!!!!!" at eleven on the volume knob after five-ten minutes of silence from the stage was jarring, to put it mildly. Great band.
Very insightful. Let’s also add “elite” to words that should no longer apply to vapid arrogant pseudo intellectuals
Postmodern progressivism has turned once-distinguished institutions like Princeton into copies of Mr. Orwell's Oceania, just with better architecture. It's a choice irony that for all the Left's appeals to Orwell's work, it is the Left that has most faithfully replicated the mental atmosphere of controlled insanity that he so chillingly described in "Nineteen Eighty-four."
Close to a century of reputation building to have it ruined by the “Black Justice League” and other racist crap movements.
Several years ago (I can't find it now) Rod Dreher wrote about a foreign exchange student he knew who was studying at Harvard (I think). He asked the student what he enjoyed most and what surprised him most about studying in America (I've learned much about my own society asking this question to many foreign visitors myself). The student's answer was "the fragility of the students". I wish I could find the link to the original article on TAC; if anyone has it, post it, because it's good.
Elites should be strong, noble, patriotic, and broadly educated, with the goal of producing rulers (and make no mistake, we have a ruling class and always have) that care broadly for their nation's citizens, even those unlike themselves. In earlier days, this was called Noblesse Oblige. Today we are educating our elites to be neurotic, self-absorbed, obsessed with trivialities, globalist, and narrowly educated in highly technical fields. And we're surprised at the resulting societal destruction?
What should scare everyone is the lag time. Today's generation of elites was educated 30 years ago. Can you imagine how unhinged those being educated today will be?
We have failed to teach resilience. https://rorybatchilder.com/why-children-of-overprotective-parents-are-slated-to-fail-in-life/
^^^^This x 1,000. I think this is your best post ever. I get so tired of the stereotypes applied to the working class by our purported elites. It's like they are just looking for excuses to hate and/or denigrate them. Having a privileged life is no license to dehumanize.
Agree 100%. One of my Ivy educated professors at NIU told me, “ Give me a first generation student, working 2 jobs to pay tuition here at NIU, over any of the spoiled brats at ________.”
Amen.
Amen sister!
Eric Hoffer has some really good stuff...
I didn't have a lot of money, so I went to a community college for two years and then transferred to Hofstra University--where I had a small scholarship--to finish my degree in Mathematics. I graduated without student debt because I worked while going to school and commuted from home (by public bus!) while living with my parents.
I am very proud of my college choice and am glad that there was zero bullshit on either of these campuses. I've had a very successful career.
Me too, attended community college as a high school dropout at 15 years of age. There was no judgment from the first day on campus to the last about 4 years later when I took my associates degree to Syracuse University (along with the perfunctory GED just to button that up). The vapid nature of the average kid at SU was unexpected. It is the sole reason why SU gets zero money from me today, and my old community college gets $1,000.00 a year.
I actually dropped out of SU because I had a full scholarship in a field that just didn't interest me. I have two Associate's Degrees - one in Liberal Arts and one in Science from a couple of community colleges and I own a successful business. The key - I had/have no college-related debt to service. What scholarship I was interested in that I missed out on I pursue in my free time by reading books.
SU has a pretty campus, though. I revisited it a few years ago just to walk around and enjoy the architecture. Lot's of new buildings since I attended.
I agree that there is no objective basis for the prestige of Ivy League degees.
Working class people tend to have the grit needed to stand for what’s right.
The so called Elites are anything but.
Yeah, I'm with you on the smart and worthy thing. That was the part of this essay that really hit me wrong.
After a 16 year long marriage to a renowned physician and professor of Medicine, I found my smart and worthy man working at a fruit stand.
Congrats.
While some might consider me marrying down, as I had a very successful career and was the 'breadwinner', my wife attended the same University I did, but got a BFA, and was an amazing artist and fabric design talent. She was the equal and opposite of me, but I always felt like I married up. She connects dots that I don't even know exist.
So, I'm not sure about this whole Men marry equal or down, and the opposite for women, and I would like to see what the metrics are that define up and down. Economic? Intelligence? Wisdom? I respect Jordan P, but am unconvinced.
Anyway, fruit stand guys are pretty cool.
I like this better than your earlier post.
I went to Michigan in the 70s, and attended night school (while working full time) at (Mad Anthony) Wayne State for my MBA. The experience couldn't have been more different. Michigan promoted consuming and regurgitating our professors opinions, while my classmates at Wayne State, also working moms and dads, didn't have the tolerance for professors who were spouting bullshit. We wanted to be home after a long day at work, and in many cases, the students were as capable of teaching the classes as the faculty.
The faculty weren't on pedestals at WSU, even though they were every bit as knowledgeable and talented as Michigan's.
My dad got his Master’s at Wayne while working full time in the 70s - in Latin! He enjoyed it so much more than than his undergraduate experience at Wesleyan (got a BA in Classics). My sister and I were not allowed to apply to Wesleyan, lol. I ended up at U of M, so I know what you mean about the campus culture (I was there late 80s-early 90s.) my husband got his law degree at Wayne while working full time and we have a daughter getting her BA there now. She loves it. Given all the nonsense going on at U of M in the last couple of decades, I would not encourage anyone to go there despite the in-state tuition.
I have no idea of how the online programs work compared to the old night school format, but being in a classroom with other working stiffs supporting families was a very unique experience. None of us wanted to be there and the profs knew that the bullshit that they could pass off to 18-22 year olds wasn't going to fly. Also, I learned as much from my classmates who were describing real life experiences they had regarding whatever the subject matter was then the instructors.
WSU is a great university and doesn't get nearly the respect it should my 60 credits there were worth multiples of the 120 I endured at Michigan......but playing in A2, otoh, was certainly worth it.
I totally agree. It’s a major research institution. I see my daughter getting really good research/writing experience working with a psychologist which will help with grad school applications. I doubt she would be able to do what’s she’s doing as an undergraduate at U of M.
She is able to work full time while taking online classes but will have to drop to part time work in the fall when classes are back in person.
Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m sure it validates a lot of people.
I went to U of M Nursing School which was filled with wonderful instructors. My brother went to Wayne State law school and my niece just completed medical school there. It's a great college!
The orthopedic surgeon who performed my shoulder replacement earned his MD at Wayne State. He was good enough to earn a fellowship in upper extremity surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.
I believe WSU has the largest graduating class of MDs of any university of the country, but I may be mistaken.
I worked at Oakwood and Munson for many years and knew many alum from the nursing, medical and public health schools. All fine programs.
As a Michigan grad (DDS '76), thanks for pointing this (obvious to us) fact out, Jon. And thanks for doing it in such a kind and non-pejorative manner. (I couldn't!) Kudos.
I chose Michigan for undergrad (over University of Detroit) because I had hopes of getting into the Dental school. A factory accident in '76 would have made dentistry impossible for me, so I shifted over to business. In retrospect, I don't really think I would have made a good dentist, so maybe it was Karma.
Too funny (not the factory accident;_dodged a few myself working my way through undergrad and dent school). I went to U of D undergrad and was talked into UMSOD by an older frat brother. As a former board examiner and JCNDE commissioner, I've learned--empirically--that ome of the best dentists are those who exhibit self-assessment qualities. As I joke with my colleagues who are orthodontists, all you need is a good index finger: point to a qualified dental auxillary and recite the words "Do this. Do that." and you are good-to-go! 😁
Kind of like radiologists and rad techs. BTW, it was the loss of an index finger (and a few others) that caused my program change. I had just completed my second year of pre dent, which were two years of hell. I guess it didn't help that I never missed a Bob Segar, Iggy, Nugent, or any of the other amazing bar bands that played A2 at the time.
Oh, shit! I stepped into that one! So sorry. I narrowly escaped the same working on the line at GM and as a iron worker later. (I had the dirtiest fingernails at UMSOD.)
The MC5 performed at the old football field at U-D (Joni Mitchell reference: "they paved paradise and put up a parking lot.") along with Iggy Pop my freshmen year. Blew me away. (Or was it the readily available weed from SDS weed "purveyors"?)
Please tell me you were at this one...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tx8GiTFK-I
One like it. After a lead-up band left, MC5 set up and it's first line was just that. Surprised the hell out of us. After that, it was sheer lunacy. "KICK OUT THE JAMS, MOTHER**CKERS!!!!!" at eleven on the volume knob after five-ten minutes of silence from the stage was jarring, to put it mildly. Great band.
Yes! The Ivies are really provincial.