Sounds like a stupid class taught by a stupid professor.

Also, please don't blame all liberals/atheists for the actions of one. I don't blame you for bombing abortion clinics.

I am not anti-abortion, so you are making a big assumption there. I am not pro-abortion either.

I am againt using abortion as a means of birth control.

Also abge, this person is the head of the Democratic party in that area, so it is safe to assume he is well respected by other 'liberals', no?

And he has not been suspended.

Even if you are an atheist, being overtly offensive to a very large group of people like that, and expecting to get away with it, well, that is tolerance I expect.

Alright, I don't blame you for the crusades, then. IDK, I think my point was clear.

I think you've completely missed my point.

I agree it was out of line for him to do what he did. What I don't understand is how you turned this from a story about one person being a dick into a characterization of an entire demographic.

Your point was clear, in that you tryto blame me for something that happened 100s of years ago, when I obviously was not around, where I am blaming liberals for not putting this man down (terminated) for something that happened today, thus telling him "its okay that you did that, nothing will happen to you".

If I come up to you, and spit in your face, and you dont do anything to me for it, what is to stop me from doing it again and again? nothing.

The man needs to have SOMETHING happen to him for this, or I want him to give the same class, but we will substitute Jesus for Mohammed, that sounds like a good lesson plan.

Abge, I think you missed my point. Why will this man not be terminated?

If some Conservative Professor (that may be an oxy-moron) said "Put MLKs face on this piece of paper, and stomp on it" 3 things would have happened.
1) MSM would be on it faster than flies on shit, 24 hours a day
2) He would be terminated even FASTER
3) and Jessie and Al would be down there even FASTER

Know what the difference is here Abge? I would be okay with it.

Do we know he won't be? If he isn't, I suspect it has more to do with tenure, than his political views.

I have much more of a problem with the dean than the professor. The professor designed the exercise to elicit emotional feedback. Sounds like he got what he wanted - why does a kid get suspended for engaging in exactly the kind of behavior the professor was trying to generate?

Abge, I doubt very much he will be. He wont even issue an apology, and I think this story is about a week old now.

Flemgem, interesting question, that the STUDENT got suspended for this...lol

@Flem

Agreed. That seems particularly odd.

What can we say, Stressed. It appears that this professor is an idiot. I don't personally have a problem with the request to stomp Jesus, but I feel on a professional level that it's an obvious ethical violation to ask somebody to desecrate any symbol with religious connotations, ESPECIALLY if they ascribe to that faith.

I would have liked to have known the professor's side of this story. That the student was apparently suspended "for no reason" makes me wonder what we're not hearing. Don't get me wrong, I'm 90% convinced prof was in the wrong, I'm just not ready to crucify him until I have all the details.

Another articles states the following was the point of the exercise:

http://www.charismanews.com/us/38813-university-suspends-student-for-refusing-to-stomp-
on-jesus-name

“Have the students write the name JESUS in big letters on a piece of paper,” a synopsis for the lesson reads. “Ask the students to stand up and put the paper on the floor in front of them with the name facing up. Ask the students to think about it for a moment. After a brief period of silence instruct them to step on the paper. Most will hesitate. Ask why they can't step on the paper. Discuss the importance of symbols in culture.”


So I don't understand why the student's refusal was anything but expected under this criteria. I guess my conclusion is that it's not unethical to ask students to stomp Jesus, if it foments good discussion. It IS unethical to expect them to DO it. I'm wondering where the disconnect occurred. I'm wondering whether or not the above intent was made clear to the student after the fact, and he was too outraged to accept it.

I read that also YJ, and I again ask the question....would a "Stomp Mohammed" exercise be tolerated or would it be all over the news, along with soem death trheats, and such?

To answer your question directly: yes, of course there would be outcry. As much? I don't know. Most students in this liberal arts college are going to be very hesitant to stomp Mohommed, more so than to stomp Jesus (I know I would), because there is that element of racism that they don't want to be a part of. I think the professor likely chose Jesus instead of Mohommed for 2 reasons:

1) The exercise is to get students to think about the power of symbols, so using a symbol more "close to home" will be more effective.

2) Stomping Mohommed has implications of xenophobia and racism that doesn't apply to nearly such a degree when dealing which Christianity in the states, since the majority of Americans come from a Christian background. I'm not saying the factor is ENTIRELY removed, but it is greatly mitigated.



Now, to get more specific, my true answer is "I don't care, and neither should you."

If you believe that the professor's intent truly was to foment discussion, then I think that the danger comes when a student who is a believer becomes offended, and persists in his indignation even after the intent of the experiment has been made clear. I find it quite possible that merely asking a "fundie," to stomp Jesus could be enough that no amount of explanation after the fact will alleviate their sense of moral outrage.

If, alternatively, you believe that the professor's intent was to be degrading and hostile towards a specific faith with no motive beyond that, then you should be discussing that in its own regard, and not raising comparison statements and what-if's re: other religions. Bigotry is wrong, period, and there is little doubt in my mind that if this was the intent, the professor will be duly punished.


Which to believe? I don't believe either one, yet. Don't have enough information to be certain.

The original story is from Fox News. Try again.

All Democrats are idiots! Goddamn guys, get with it. Seriously, who doesn't know that!

Seriously, telling me that that guy is like all liberal-minded people is downright absurd. It's not like all conservatives think like Rush Limbaugh, you know. Get a grip.