Damn Fascists, No sense of humor

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

For those of you who think I am rude, inappropriate and trollish on the internet, I should warn you that I am just as bad if, not worse, in person.

I've had my own run-ins with campus thought police and following comes as no surprise...

http://thefire.org/article/13595.html>‘Firefly’ and Anti-Fascism Posters Get Professor Threatened with Criminal Charges on University of Wisconsin Campus

Long story short...

Professor puts a poster from a short-lived but popular Sci-Fi show on his door with a the text “If I ever kill you, you’ll be awake. You’ll be facing me. And you’ll be armed.” (a line from an episode) Some campus busy-body gets his/her panties in a twist and Campus Police removes the poster.

Professor Responds by putting up a new poster...


Hilarity ensues...

I've always found it kind of funny that the same people who'll blather all day about the virtues of diversity and acceptance also tend to be the first ones to drop the hammer on any person or idea that they don't like.

While I sympathise with Proffesor Miller, I think he should be glad that the University decided to be so heavy-handed. They've made themselves look like idiots and in doing so have helped the case of free thinkers everywhere who would see the Idea of "Political Correctness" consigned to the dust-bin of history.

Note: This post was written purely to justify posting the above macro.

Comments

[meus-ovatio.livejournal.com]

Yeah I know, it's like when my corporation has rules for decorations in cubicles and I'm all like, "Fascists!"

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

Petty tyranny is still tyranny. ;)

[dukexmachismo.livejournal.com]

God forbid that anyone who mentions violence or death on a university campus.

And considering the more or less fascist future Firefly is set in, I must add:


LOL IRONY.

[dukexmachismo.livejournal.com]

Please pretend that first sentence makes sense. thx.

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

You can't tell me what to do fascist!

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Actually fascism isn't an accurate description of Firefly. Jesse James in Space is.

You know what that means about the "good guys", eh?

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

I'd say that "Fascist" is a reasonable description of how the Alliance operates.

[kinvore.livejournal.com]

Note: This post was written purely to justify posting the above macro.
And totally worth it!

I'd hesitate to blame this sort of thing on either political side. In this day and age it seems Americans from all over the political spectrum go out of their way to be offended.

Added to that the fact that we are so leery these days of school shootings, I can't help but wonder if the school has any rules against posting anything even remotely violent. If so, while it may be silly in this instance, I think I can more-or-less understand the actions of the authori-tahs.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

For the first poster I might agree with you. But the second?

A poster saterizing thuggish behavior on the part of the authorities results in thuggish behavior on the part of said authorities.

[agk-ru.livejournal.com]

Exactly!

[strivingtoohard.livejournal.com]

I agree totally. PC is ruining our country.

[404.livejournal.com]

What are your thoughts on Macs?

[the-rukh.livejournal.com]

I can totally see how schools not wanting teachers pushing their political views in a learning environment is just like murdering political opponents and putting people in death camps.

[blue-mangos.livejournal.com]

pffft, it's totally the same thing.

[3fgburner.livejournal.com]

Um, did you ever SEE "Firefly"?

Animal Farm University

[harry-beast.livejournal.com]

Some might argue that freely discussion ideas is very appropriate in a learning environment and that suppressing free speech, stifling debate and heavy handed control of the media takes away society's ability to moderate and challenge the rise of extremist, authoritarian factions and regimes. I guess they had better keep their big mouths shut.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

Some would argue that stifling ideas in an enviroment that is supposed to be about the free exchange of Ideas is counter-productive.

Likewise seeing as the professor in question is a teaches drama and scociology expressing such Ideas could be considered part of the job.

There is also the question of whether petty tyranny is still tyranny, and finally whether or not the posters constituted an imminent threat of violence that warranted the University taking legal action.

[surferelf.livejournal.com]

I've always found it kind of funny that the same people who'll blather all day about the virtues of diversity and acceptance also tend to be the first ones to drop the hammer on any person or idea that they don't like.

It doesn't say anywhere in the article that the folks who took the posters down are champions of political correctness.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

The University dean's official staement.

http://thefire.org/article/13621.html

There have been recent news reports about an incident in which two posters hung by a UW-Stout professor outside his office were removed by campus police. There are some important points to consider in the wake of these incidents:

UW-Stout administrators believe strongly in the right of all students, faculty and staff to express themselves freely about issues on campus and off. This freedom is fundamental on a public university campus.

However, we also have the responsibility to promote a campus environment that is free from threats of any kind—both direct and implied. It was our belief, after consultation with UW System legal counsel, that the posters in question constituted an implied threat of violence. That is why they were removed.

This was not an act of censorship. This was an act of sensitivity to and care for our shared community, and was intended to maintain a campus climate in which everyone can feel welcome, safe and secure.

[mrbogey.livejournal.com]

Meanwhile in New Orleans...

http://www.wdsu.com/news/29332771/detail.html?source=no

Many residents said the poster is distasteful and disrespectful to the president and to African-Americans.

...

Ms Guidry said: 'We have to determine that there is a zoning law that prohibits perhaps the size of the sign, perhaps the way that it's erected, that it is leaning over onto public property.

'Whatever we can use, we will, but of course, we do have to balance that with First Amendment rights.'

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2043516/Controversy-erupts-billboard-shows-baby-Barack-Obama-crying-wearing-diaper.html#ixzz1ZY51WXr6

Meanwhile up river...

http://www.wbrz.com/files/Galvez_Middle_Survey.pdf

PRAIRIEVILLE- Seventh grade students at Galvez Middle School got a lesson in extreme politics they and their parents may not have expected.

Their social studies teacher prefaced a lesson on political parties with a survey that asked: Are you a Republican or Democrat.

[underlankers.livejournal.com]

Bureaucrats overreact. News at 11.

[op-tech-glitch.livejournal.com]

Firefly fans unnerve the fuck out of me.

I remain moderately surprised to this day that at least a few of 'em didn't resort to forcing people into theaters at gunpoint when Serenity underperformed at the box office. (I was first in line on opening day too, so I know it sure as hell wasn't my fault.)

[enders-shadow.livejournal.com]

You know what your sin is?

[jerseycajun.livejournal.com]

I aim to misbehave.

[sandwichwarrior.livejournal.com]

I find it interesting that you would pick that particular quote because to me 'The Operative' embodies much of what is admirable about Progressive ideology and also why it should be kept at arms length.