DeVos booed speaking at historically black university

[Ridgerunner]

You think the whites on the bus thought Rosa Parks was being “perfectly well-mannered?” (Look up Claudette Colvin, who did the same as Parks before Parks and was charged with disorderly conduct, BTW.)

These students expressed themselves in a non-violent way. I’d characterize “rude and disrespectful” as encompassing a whole host of responses well beyond booing and turning one’s back.

Just because others treated them rudely, that doesn’t mean Parks and Colvin were.

And certainly there are many ways to be rude. Booing and turning one’s back on a guest of the school are among those ways. Being rude and disrespectful to a person of high office in this circumstance is also rude and disrespectful to those administrators of the school who invited DeVos.

 

[stinkcat_14]

+1

I’ve taught at four institutions as well and agree with everything you say here.

To be fair, I never said anything about the majority of students. For example, it is far from clear that a majority of students opposed Betsy Devos. When it comes to students acting insulted and offended it is usually a minority of students that are instigating things. I remember teaching at a school one time where students were so offended at some perceived slight that the administration canceled class for a day. They then held workshops and dialogues, but only a minority of students attended those. The majority of students just took the day off. The majority of students I have taught are mainly concerned with two things, booze and sex.

 

[jesucated]

To be fair, I never said anything about the majority of students. For example, it is far from clear that a majority of students opposed Betsy Devos. When it comes to students acting insulted and offended it is usually a minority of students that are instigating things. I remember teaching at a school one time where students were so offended at some perceived slight that the administration canceled class for a day. They then held workshops and dialogues, but only a minority of students attended those. The majority of students just took the day off. The majority of students I have taught are mainly concerned with two things, booze and sex.

So you never said anything derisive about a majority of students but you end by saying something derisive about a majority of students?

For someone in education you have an awfully negative view of students.

 

[Questioner2]

Just because others treated them rudely, that doesn’t mean Parks and Colvin were.

And certainly there are many ways to be rude. Booing and turning one’s back on a guest of the school are among those ways. Being rude and disrespectful to a person of high office in this circumstance is also rude and disrespectful to those administrators of the school who invited DeVos.

The rude and disrespectful ones were the very administrators who made this baffling invitation over the vehement protest of the alumni and students.

They deserve their discomfort.

I’m sure that all the actions of the civil rights activists of yore were considered disrespectful in the extreme by the targets of their protest.

Too bad.

 

[jesucated]

Just because others treated them rudely, that doesn’t mean Parks and Colvin were.

And certainly there are many ways to be rude. Booing and turning one’s back on a guest of the school are among those ways. Being rude and disrespectful to a person of high office in this circumstance is also rude and disrespectful to those administrators of the school who invited DeVos.

I could be wrong, but I think the point is that people often consider those protesting in ways they don’t support rude.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I could be wrong, but I think the point is that people often consider those protesting in ways they don’t support rude.

That’s subjective. Objectively, Rosa Parks was not rude. But turning your back on a speaker and booing is always rude. It was rude to Ms. DeVos and it was rude to the school administration. If the rude part of the student body disagree with Ms. DeVos’ politics enough to be nasty to her, that’s rude, but students can sometimes be rude.

But the rudeness this showed to the school administration is beyond any excuse.

 

[Ridgerunner]

For someone in education you have an awfully negative view of students.

He probably earned the right to have that view.

 

[stinkcat_14]

So you never said anything derisive about a majority of students but you end by saying something derisive about a majority of students?

For someone in education you have an awfully negative view of students.

I just figured that if you wanted me to say something about the majority of students, then I would give you something. I wouldn’t say I have a negative view of students, just a realistic view of students. Plus, I actually like students, its faculty and administrators that I can’t stand. Today’s college students are a product of our society and their families. Many are not brought up in a religious faith, even those who claim to be Catholic. They go to college where the prevailing philosophy is “if it feels good and there is consent, then do it”. And we somehow act shocked that booze and sex take a high place in students priorities.

 

[gracepoole]

I could be wrong, but I think the point is that people often consider those protesting in ways they don’t support rude.

Correct.

 

[gracepoole]

He probably earned the right to have that view.

Can’t help it – you’ve reminded me of this: youtube.com/watch?v=PjJzOpe9xEg

At the 1:49 mark.

 

[SuperLuigi]

I think the major takeaway is that the students lack any class. But that reflects on their poor upbringing and education, not anyone else.

At some point, people have to learn question stuff that’s been emotionally crammed down their throat.

Or our future is truly in peril…

 

[Regular_Atheist]

That’s subjective. Objectively, Rosa Parks was not rude. But turning your back on a speaker and booing is always rude. It was rude to Ms. DeVos and it was rude to the school administration. If the rude part of the student body disagree with Ms. DeVos’ politics enough to be nasty to her, that’s rude, but students can sometimes be rude.

But the rudeness this showed to the school administration is beyond any excuse.

I think it’s ridiculous to say that protests are illegitimate if they are rude. They should be rude and disruptive!

Rosa Parks was certainly rude. She snapped at people who were her “superiors” and defied people she wasn’t allowed to.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Can’t help it – you’ve reminded me of this: youtube.com/watch?v=PjJzOpe9xEg

At the 1:49 mark.

It doesn’t really fit, of course, but it does tell one how you regard those who do not agree with you.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think it’s ridiculous to say that protests are illegitimate if they are rude. They should be rude and disruptive!

Rosa Parks was certainly rude. She snapped at people who were her “superiors” and defied people she wasn’t allowed to.

One has a constitutional right to be rude. But disrupting a graduation ceremony and insulting a high government official expressly invited by your school because she doesn’t share your politics is just rude, ill-mannered and out of place.

 

[qui_est_ce]

Rosa Parks was certainly rude. She snapped at people who were her “superiors” and defied people she wasn’t allowed to.

Protesting unjust laws and those who enforce them is never rude.

Disrespecting people for expressing their views is rude.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I think the major takeaway is that the students lack any class. But that reflects on their poor upbringing and education, not anyone else.

I agree!

 

[7_Sorrows]

One has a constitutional right to be rude. But disrupting a graduation ceremony and insulting a high government official expressly invited by your school because she doesn’t share your politics is just rude, ill-mannered and out of place.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Wonder what some HR person, interviewing candidates for a particular job, would think if he/she recognized one of the “booers” and “back turners” as the person sitting before him/her.

I’m not sure what others would do, but my reaction would be “If you showed such disrespect then, why on earth should I believe you will show respect to anybody here?”

I would smile, shake the candidate’s hand and tell him/her that we would study the resume, and call if the decision is in his/her favor. I would then put that application on or near the bottom of the pile.

 

[gracepoole]

Wonder what some HR person, interviewing candidates for a particular job, would think if he/she recognized one of the “booers” and “back turners” as the person sitting before him/her.

I’m not sure what others would do, but my reaction would be “If you showed such disrespect then, why on earth should I believe you will show respect to anybody here?”

I would smile, shake the candidate’s hand and tell him/her that we would study the resume, and call if the decision is in his/her favor. I would then put that application on or near the bottom of the pile.

Thankfully, there are many willing to protest injustices even knowing that some employers like yourself will punish them for such actions.

 

[JimG]

I was just watching a portion of Mrs. De Vos’s commencement address on C-Span. It was a good thoughtful and even inspiring talk. She even took time to praise the specific accomplishments of some of the graduates, by name. Had some unknown speaker given the same talk, I suspect everyone would have appreciated it.