Inclusiveness: It Depends On Who Or What Is Involved And Who Is Defining It
[guest post by Dana]
Inclusiveness, from universities to the president, it’s all the rage these days. Any object, any person, even any law that might offend, hurt the feelings of, or make our nation a seemingly less inclusive place must be removed, denied, altered. Of course, one man’s inclusiveness is another man’s exclusiveness.
In the name of cultural inclusiveness, some vapid puffs at the University of California at Irvine voted to ban the American flag:
UC Irvine’s student council has voted to ban the U.S. flag, and any other nation’s flag, from the lobby of their offices to make the common area “as inclusive as possible.”
According to one student who attended the council meeting, the debate was about the freedom of speech versus inclusivity.
Some students who did not support the resolution were concerned with appearing non-patriotic as well as pointing out the irony that the world’s most iconic and enduring symbol of freedom could only be banned because of the blood shed to protect the freedoms and rights it represents.
Clearly having devoured a big heaping plate of bash-and-blame America, the collective misguidedness of these students culminated in a tediously pedestrian resolution listing 25 reasons why the American flag should be excluded from their lobby lest the mere sight of it prevent anyone from feeling included:
After citing freedom of speech as a “valued right that ASUCI supports,” the resolution states that “freedom of speech, in a space that aims to be as inclusive as possible can be interpreted as hate speech.”
The resolution concludes with the following: “Let it be resolved that ASUCI make every effort to make the Associated Students main lobby space as inclusive as possible. Let it further be resolved that no flag, of any nation, may be hanged on the walls of the Associate Student main lobby space.”
At UCLA, the student council was set to confirm student Rachel Beyda to the council’s Judicial Board, until, in a move of withering non-inclusiveness – or what is commonly referred to as anti-semitism – a member of the student government demanded Beyda answer this question:
“Given that you are a Jewish student and very active in the Jewish community, how do you see yourself being able to maintain an unbiased view?”
Although the president attempted to stifle the “inappropriate” question, he was outnumbered as other council members demanded Beyda answer.
For the next 40 minutes, after Ms. Beyda was dispatched from the room, the council tangled in a debate about whether her faith and affiliation with Jewish organizations, including her sorority and Hillel, a popular student group, meant she would be biased in dealing with sensitive governance questions that come before the board, which is the campus equivalent of the Supreme Court.
The discussion, recorded in written minutes and captured on video, seemed to echo the kind of questions, prejudices and tropes — particularly about divided loyalties — that have plagued Jews across the globe for centuries, students and Jewish leaders said.
Inclusiveness!
The council, in a meeting that took place on Feb. 10, voted first to reject Ms. Beyda’s nomination, with four members against her. Then, at the prodding of a faculty adviser there who pointed out that belonging to Jewish organizations was not a conflict of interest, the students revisited the question and unanimously put her on the board.
(Because apparently revisiting the anti-semitic and exclusionary question – without identifying it as being anti-semitic – could somehow change the bigoted heart and mind that formulated and articulated the question in the first place…)
And just yesterday, the president himself invoked an inclusive America when discussing the 50th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday” and the march in Selma. Using the opportunity to shamefully pander to future Democratic voters and their parents, he suggested that deporting illegal immigrant children would “violate the spirit” of the civil rights movement:
The notion that some kid that was brought here when he was two or three years old might somehow be deported at the age of 20 or 25, even though they’ve grown up as American, that’s not who we are.
That’s not true to the spirit of what the march on Selma was about.
When you think about the principle that was upheld that day and in subsequent days at the Edmund Pettus Bridge, it was the promise of an inclusive America, it was the promise of an America where everybody was equal under the law.
Today we are inclusive. Except when we aren’t.
–Dana
Hello.
Dana (86e864) — 3/7/2015 @ 8:54 amHow do these people even get admitted to those schools?
They must be them legacy admissions.
Michael Ejercito (d9a893) — 3/7/2015 @ 9:08 amThe $20 bill has a US flag on the back (atop the White House). The fed gov’t should proactively cease aid to UCI in order not to be the source of any such offensive images.
jim2 (de0374) — 3/7/2015 @ 9:08 amDana – Some people are just too open-minded to be ope-minded about the possibility of thinking about or exposure to alternative points of view. I believe there is a long German word which translates into English roughly as either morally superior or intolerant.
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 3/7/2015 @ 9:19 ambecause “shut up”, they explained.
redc1c4 (34e91b) — 3/7/2015 @ 9:25 amThey don’t like our flag becuase they think it’s not “inlusive”? I say, so what? If more people took the same position and didn’t allow these nitwits to pull crap like this off, we’d be much better for it.
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/7/2015 @ 9:30 amWhat jim2 said. The dollar is, after all, a symbol that divides people both by nationality and economic standing. And green cannot possibly be everybody’s favorite color.
nk (dbc370) — 3/7/2015 @ 9:31 amLeftwing students “of color” cheerlead for diversity while spending their time exclusively with other leftwing students “of color”. Where’s the inclusive to be found in that?!?!
Colonel Haiku (2601c0) — 3/7/2015 @ 9:44 amI don’t know. I’m starting to wonder if we’re giving too much attention to these college campus idiots. If they did not get the attention they crave and receive the publicity they seek wouldn’t it be more like “when a tree falls in the forest does anybody hear”?
elissa (529a18) — 3/7/2015 @ 9:45 amAmerica is like racist and oppressive man.
jakee308 (49ccc6) — 3/7/2015 @ 9:56 amCall in those student loans…
Brent Glines (82509b) — 3/7/2015 @ 9:58 amelissa,
I would agree with you that less attention given would be good, however, we are talking about taxpayer supported universities here and that does not sit well with this taxpayer, nor others as well. We are not talking private institutions.
Additionally, as go the universities, so goes our culture and society. These young people are being brainwashed and suckered into a way of viewing the world that is antithetical to what we believe and hold dear. In looking around, I don’t see this as benefiting the nation as a whole. Everything from LBGT and reproductive rights, hatred of Israel, support of terrorist regions, to the dismissive denigration of conservatism and its ideals, and most importantly, the repeated efforts to deny the freedom of speech to select groups and then some, foments on these campuses.
Dana (86e864) — 3/7/2015 @ 10:07 am==These young people are being brainwashed and suckered into a way of viewing the world that is antithetical to what we believe and hold dear.==
My earlier comment was not meant to be a criticism of your post Dana and I am sorry if it came across that way. I do know a number of kids who are attending public universities at this time. Most (not all) but most are not like this and easily see through the bullsh*t. They try to go about their daily lives, attend their classes, responsibly have fun, and avoid the students and faculty and the departments that are toxic. I worry we don’t give all the normal good kids enough credit when we focus so much on the tantrum makers. That’s all.
elissa (529a18) — 3/7/2015 @ 10:20 amSpeaking of inclusiveness, the left and even some on the right are criticizing Republicans for not going to Selma today. Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is attending but it may have been a last minute decision. SC Senator Tim Scott is a cosponsor of the event. Is this an invitation event? If so, I wonder how many Republicans were invited.
DRJ (e80d46) — 3/7/2015 @ 10:22 amOh heck, elissa, I didn’t take your comment as a criticism at all. Please don’t think that.
I see your point, but will remind you that especially in California, So. Cal at that, the influence of Hwood and the Democrat party is all too pervasive on campuses.
Dana (86e864) — 3/7/2015 @ 10:26 amUCI has two significant groups. One is Asian students who are probably in engineering and computer science and could not care less about all this. The other is the Muslim Student Association that has a history of violence and disruption. It was egged on by this distinguished professor who is also into heavy metal Islam. A fine example of a state of California employee.
I suspect the Muslims were behind this latest ploy. We are lucky not to have a Palestinian flag raised over the campus.
Mike K (90dfdc) — 3/7/2015 @ 10:47 amIt’s just a relief they — at least so far — haven’t chosen to replace the US flag with a rainbow-colored one. But all opinions are equally valid and each one of us should learn to respect one another’s opinions—or something like that.
Kumbaya, and a shout out to Nidal Hassan while I’m at it.
Mark (c160ec) — 3/7/2015 @ 10:56 am“Additionally, as go the universities, so goes our culture and society.”
Dana – What do you have against people walking across campuses dressed up as giant sex organs, hosting S&M and bondage seminars, orgasm awareness weeks and masturbation workshops with our tax dollars?
H8r!
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 3/7/2015 @ 11:03 amAlso, elissa, if you were indeed making a criticism of my post, that would be fine, too, asme to as I have great respect for you and would seriously consider any criticism (whether or not I agree or disagree with it).
Dana (86e864) — 3/7/2015 @ 11:31 amhow many american flags does it take to get raped at a failmerican rapeveristy?
nine! or maybe seven.
two?
campus rape lol!
happyfeet (831175) — 3/7/2015 @ 11:34 am*trigger warning*
happyfeet (831175) — 3/7/2015 @ 11:34 amLet’s be inclusive in those accusations, daley: not just H8r, but prude, too!
Dana (86e864) — 3/7/2015 @ 11:35 amHeh, DRJ, great minds and all that… I’m working on a post about it now.
Dana (86e864) — 3/7/2015 @ 11:38 amMy bad, Dana. 🙁
daleyrocks (bf33e9) — 3/7/2015 @ 11:42 amAnd a Black Studies Program is inclusive?
Kevin M (25bbee) — 3/7/2015 @ 11:59 amit’s only inclusive if you bring enough cupcakes for everyone Mr. M
at these campus events it’s all in good funfetti til someone gets raped
happyfeet (831175) — 3/7/2015 @ 12:08 pmsee #21
happyfeet (831175) — 3/7/2015 @ 12:08 pmcupcakes are out because gluten.
redc1c4 (dab236) — 3/7/2015 @ 12:22 pmwho else hates going to the grocery store anymore
happyfeet (831175) — 3/7/2015 @ 12:32 pmNot me. The checkout girls are the most attention I get from women these days.
nk (dbc370) — 3/7/2015 @ 12:36 pmOnce again the Left is inverting the meaning of words: they declare that they are “Inclusive” and “Tolerant” and that they “Support Diversity” — and to prove it, they’re willing to ban any symbols, ideas, or speech they find disagreeable.
Stinkin’ little tyrant-wannabes should just go defect to ISIS and be done with it.
A_Nonny_Mouse (f6ddf2) — 3/7/2015 @ 12:52 pmthe union ones at jewel are
bless their hearts
happyfeet (831175) — 3/7/2015 @ 12:58 pmI see only one problem with their proposal: How are they going to burn the American (oops, Amerikkkan) flag if they can’t have flags?
David Pittelli (b77425) — 3/7/2015 @ 1:53 pmWe do seem to think alike, Dana. I also agree with this post. Even smart kids from conservative homes have a hard time resisting the insidious messages taught in colleges these days, whether it’s in private or state schools, in red and blue states.
DRJ (e80d46) — 3/7/2015 @ 1:58 pmIn the mid-late 70’s the student government at Madison was dominated by 60’s holdovers.
People got sick of it and voted for silliness and Toga parties:
http://www.surroundedbyreality.com/uw/other/presidents/pailshov.asp
It is disheartening to hear such stuff, but then again, there may be worse things for the general population. IDK
MD in Philly (f9371b) — 3/7/2015 @ 2:11 pmI do have to say, DRJ, that young people are naturally suspicious of people in power. They just need to be reminded of who is in power.
And learn some history.
I see some students who are good little bleaters of official narrative, yes. But there are many quieter students who don’t buy it.
The worst thing is the faux-world weariness that some kiddos take on. Because that pose (and pose it is, usually born of a lack of intellectual curiosity and desire to be hip and edgy) allows real power brokers to increase and consolidate their power. While the laugh at the poseur’s naivete.
Simon Jester (c8876d) — 3/7/2015 @ 3:38 pmActually I don’t think that’s true, for the simple fact that the left wing indoctrination doesn’t just start out of the blue in college. If the smart kids from conservative homes are themselves conservative (sometimes that isn’t always the case) and have remained conservative all the way through high school then they aren’t going to be undone when they go off to college.
I do know this. Conservative students are actually better served by a university education than liberal students. Because conservatives actually have their principles and their ideas challenged. They have to think about it. Liberal students don’t even know there is such a thing as a conservative viewpoint on most issues. They’ve never heard a conservative opinion. About the closest to hearing a conservative argument is when one of their liberal professors (i.e. an academic who can’t survive in the real world, either) derisively offers up a straw man that caricatures a conservative opinion. Then defeats the straw man.
This is the liberal product of such a liberal education:
http://www.thecrimson.com/column/the-red-line/article/2014/2/18/academic-freedom-justice/
Everything the “university community” opposes can be summed up in four words. Ideas I don’t like.
Fortunately for people like Sandra Korn, who apparently majored in joint history of science and studies of women, gender and sexuality, as long as she avoids the tiny zone where the school administration tolerates free speech, she’ll never hear an idea she doesn’t like.
Fortunately for the rest of us, she’s a hot house flower who can’t survive outside her bubble.
Steve57 (71fc09) — 3/7/2015 @ 3:58 pmAnd the FCC just put it’s giant thumb on internet.. the last bastion of freedom. And so slides the U.S. Freedom, the only solution that works.
Ian (b31131) — 3/7/2015 @ 5:39 pmUpdate on Irvine…the senior members of the SGA and the administration told the Legislstive Council to go to bed without their supper
kishnevi (91d5c6) — 3/7/2015 @ 6:56 pmhttp://www.asuci.uci.edu/flag/
Per kishnevi’s link. The statement below is from the UCI Administration
elissa (a3c10a) — 3/7/2015 @ 7:06 pmhttps://kyleorton1991.wordpress.com/2015/03/07/further-evidence-of-mohammed-emwazis-radical-ties-and-cages-meltdown/
narciso (ee1f88) — 3/7/2015 @ 8:11 pmSounds like the far left hasn’t changed much since 1965, when I was in college and was covering such nonsense in our Student Senate. As an excuse, they’re just as young as they were then. Well, maybe that’s more of a reason than an excuse; I would have thought their grandparents would have learned, but then, when did a college student ever listen to either parents or grandparents?
htom (4ca1fa) — 3/7/2015 @ 8:48 pmQureshi was thoroughly exposed in that BBC appearance. I recommend following the link to the video (which I had come across via another website). When the presenter attempted to pin Qureshi down for his past expressed support for, among other things, CAGE director Qureshi attempted to weasel out (that’s exactly the word the presenter used, weasel) by saying he isn’t a theologian.
Yet at another point when the panel was discussing Qureshi’s support for sharia law in Britain Qureshi attempted to sidetrack discussion by saying in his opinion true sharia law isn’t being practiced anywhere in the world (see, in SA, Iran, Pakistan, they’re getting it all wrong).
I would have been all over that weasel. “You just said you’re not a theologian, Qureshi. Who the hell are you to offer an opinion on that? Theologians like Saudia scholars and Iranian Ayatollahs say they’re practicing sharia law. The sheiks at Al Azhar university have issued fatwas approving of these practices as compliant with sharia law. And you’re not a scholar, so you say when you need to dodge a question or 10, but when the debate is going against you then you say all these scholars are wrong? You lying sack of s***!”
Steve57 (71fc09) — 3/7/2015 @ 9:14 pmre #30: sorry to hear that. have you considered going to your closest airport and getting a chair massage?
re elissa’s overall point: i tend to agree – why pick up this story of some silly sub-sub-group that has no say in the matter?
seeRpea (b6bbec) — 3/8/2015 @ 10:03 ampretty sure airport chair massages are rape culture
happyfeet (831175) — 3/8/2015 @ 2:53 pmthose words you are using:
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/03/08/bank-records-reveal-saudi-elites-gave-millions-to-boston-marathon-bombers-mosque/
narciso (ee1f88) — 3/8/2015 @ 3:10 pmIn the 60’s, the media would describe a protest march by a few hundred students out of over 20,000 as run by “student leaders.” Similar resolutions would be passed by student groups dominated by people with little else to do, as most students studied or otherwise ignored them. I bet the same is true here, and I would love to see profiles of the students that passed this absurd and offensive resolution. I want to be sure I never hire one of them.
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (5e0a82) — 3/9/2015 @ 9:08 amre #47: aww, come on. Don’t forget David Horowitz used to be one of them 🙂
seeRpea (b6bbec) — 3/9/2015 @ 9:25 amWould you support evicting the students responsible for the flag ban from student housing and/or expelling them from school? FWIW I wouldn’t support these actions, but I’m curious if anyone here thinks it would be appropriate to do these things.
DRJ (e80d46) — 3/10/2015 @ 7:50 am49. I agree with you, DRJ. Perhaps a course on the BoR..but note the resolution itself was not specifically antiUS. No Mexican, Palestinian, Costa Rican, etc. flags allowed.
kishnevi (9c4b9c) — 3/10/2015 @ 8:00 amIt would be unfair, kishnevi. Of course, other than Eugene Volokh, Instapundit, and Popehat, no one seems to care that OU is doing this very thing — plus threatening criminal prosecutions — against the freshmen SAE students who were off-campus on a chartered bus during their racist song. I bet they would apologize for their mistakes it appears that’s not an option.
I doubt David Boren will levy a similar punishment for the OU senior football captain who may well have been on campus for his racist rant. Instead, after apologizing for his profanity but not his content, the senior is being lauded as a leader.
DRJ (e80d46) — 3/10/2015 @ 11:47 am