It’s Raping My Eyes
Students at the University of California, Irvine have denounced exposure to the American flag as potentially inflicting “hate speech” on passers-by. Indeed, the mere sight of it could make young intellectuals burst into tears and feel terribly unsafe. The potential emotional terrors of the national flag are articulated at length, and with great expenditure of gas, in a bill calling for the removal and banning of said items in the name of inclusivity:
Flags not only serve as symbols of patriotism or weapons for nationalism, but also construct cultural mythologies and narratives that in turn charge nationalistic sentiments… Flags construct paradigms of conformity and sets [sic] homogenised standards for others to obtain which in this country typically are idolised as freedom, equality, and democracy… Freedom of speech, in a space that aims to be as inclusive as possible[,] can be interpreted as hate speech… No flag, of any nation, may be hanged [sic] on the walls of the Associate Student main lobby space.
Despite their no doubt acute acute political consciousness, and references to constructed paradigms and “deep knowledge,” it appears the students in question have yet to master proofreading. Or basic grammar.
@ dicentra. It took me a few years to adjust to FaceBook and to realise that it’s not a forum to freely discuss ideas. Being a long-time usenet veteran, and having studied at the feet of some of the mightiest flame warriors, I gradually learnt over time that the cut’n’thrust style of unmoderated newsgroups is not the way to conduct oneself in FaceBook.
People who post any kind of political or “social grievance” view on their FB feed are not looking for any kind of counter-view or a robust discussion about their initial post. They are only seeking approval from their online friends and a means to display their superior moral worthiness (I know this is all self-evident for the denizens of this website).
The only way I can survive FB and make it a pleasant experience is to hide just about everything of a political nature. “I don’t want to see this.” “Hide all from The Guardian/GetUp/Senator Scott Ludlum? etc etc etc”. “HELL YEAH!!!”
It is a constant source of dismay to me that so many of my friends and peers who are my age (early 50s) are so intractably of the left, like they once chose a football team to barrack for when they were younger and then just abrogated their responsibility to ever critically think about anything anymore. It’s quite a lonely position to be in here, and I really do have to keep my powder dry as much as I can.
Sorry, rant over.
“In a letter uncovered by Campus Reform Tuesday afternoon, over 60 professors have endorsed the attempt to ban the American flag from an “inclusive” space on the campus of UC Irvine (UCI).”
http://campusreform.org/?ID=6349
over 60 professors have endorsed the attempt to ban the American flag
But of course.
But, but, but… if you ban flags, what have you left to burn in protest?
Der yoof really ought to think this through before squeaking.