Columbia University hires former Weather Undergound convict

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Richard

Studying her case to seek insight into her reasoning for her militancy is showing empathy or animosity?

Richard

I didn't say it was either. I'd just like to know what you call it.

Because this...

"You're implying we should not allow our adult children exposure to anything beyond that of which we personally approve, we should not allow them to determine for themselves what to accept or reject when confronted with someone like the professor you describe (if the description is accurate) or Professor Boudin, we should not allow them to learn how to defend a position or personally held belief when confronted with a strong counter-argument, we should not allow them to be taught by someone who we don’t personally approve of for fear they might get the “wrong” idea(s), we should not trust them to experience life in its many forms and grow to be productively free-thinking adults in a society such as ours which demands such of its citizenry, we should not allow them to attend an internationally recognized university because there may be a professor somewhere on the faculty who might encourage them to accept ideas we find disagreeable and don't trust them to choose courses from other professors, and so forth."

...sounds like you're empathising with her position.

[Richard]

Originally Posted by Dusty

I didn't say it was either. I'd just like to know what you call it.

Because this...

"You're implying we should not allow our adult children exposure to anything beyond that of which we personally approve, we should not allow them to determine for themselves what to accept or reject when confronted with someone like the professor you describe (if the description is accurate) or Professor Boudin, we should not allow them to learn how to defend a position or personally held belief when confronted with a strong counter-argument, we should not allow them to be taught by someone who we don’t personally approve of for fear they might get the “wrong” idea(s), we should not trust them to experience life in its many forms and grow to be productively free-thinking adults in a society such as ours which demands such of its citizenry, we should not allow them to attend an internationally recognized university because there may be a professor somewhere on the faculty who might encourage them to accept ideas we find disagreeable and don't trust them to choose courses from other professors, and so forth."

...sounds like you're empathising with her position.

Believing young adults should not be prohibited from encountering differing opinions, even radical ones, in the collegiate process of learning to reason for themselves is showing empathy to someone like Professor Boudin?

Here's a thought. Did you read her background?

Kathy Boudin was born on May 19, 1943, into a family with a Muslim mother and a 1/2 Jewish Father, with a long left-wing history, and she was raised in Greenwich Village, New York. Her great-uncle was Louis B. Boudin, a Marxist theorist. Her father, attorney Leonard Boudin, had represented such controversial clients as Judith Coplon, Fidel Castro, and Paul Robeson. A National Lawyers Guild attorney, Leonard Boudin was the law partner of Victor Rabinowitz, himself counsel to numerous left-wing organizations.

When it comes to her leaning towards militant activism, it sounds like she was 'home-schooled'.

Richard

[Dusty]

Originally Posted by Richard

Here's a thought. Did you read her background?

Richard

Yes, even though I don't put 100% trust in Wiki, I'm sure it's close.

So, are you condoning her position or not?

[Sigaba]

Originally Posted by Streck-Fu

Really, that is the view you formed from reading this? Maybe it takes one that is willing to skew their standards of ethics to consider this a completely above board move.

While the University is completely free to hire whomever they choose, I am able to judge that hire based on publicly available information.

Since this issue apparently has caused you some discomfort, I ask the following simple questions:

Have you communicated your displeasure to anyone at Columbia University? If, so, to whom, and what was the reply?

[mark46th]

Sounds like Obama's education closely parallels Boudin's...