Harvard trolls Yale and provides them with a handy Fascism chart. http://hlrecord.org/2015/11/fascism-at-yale/ The Harvard Law Record Fascism at Yale Posted by Bill Barlow on November 10, 2015 in Opinion Usually, we at Harvard are more than happy to see Yale students make fools of themselves on camera. The video that emerged this week of Yale students screaming down one of their professors might make for a good laugh, if its implications were not quite so serious. It’s a scene we’ve seen played out far too often at college campuses in recent years, and it deserves to be called by what it is: a nascent form of fascism. In case you haven’t heard, Yale has recently endured a firestorm of protest after a lecturer that presides over one of the undergraduate colleges questioned whether concerns about the offensiveness of Halloween costumes had gone too far in impinging on free speech. In response, hundreds of protesters gathered on the quad, calling for Nicholas and Erika Christakis to be removed from their roles. Nicholas voluntarily came to discuss the matter with them, and soon, a crowd of students enveloped him. The video is chilling. One student is heard saying, “Walk away. He doesn’t deserve to be listened to.” When Nicholas started to explain himself, a student yells, “Be quiet!” and then proceeds to lecture him. When Nicholas calmly and politely says “I disagree,” the protestor explodes, screaming, “Why the **** did you accept the position?! Who the **** hired you?! You should step down!” Then, finally, “You’re disgusting!” The problem here isn’t that people disagree with what Nicholas said. The problem is that they are calling for reprisals against Nicholas and Erika simply for saying it. This recent movement of university students to use administrative procedures to punish speech with which they disagree should be called by its rightful name: proto-fascism. Several days later, students disrupted an event held by the William F. Buckley, Jr. program that was designed to highlight the importance of free speech. According to reports by the Yale Daily News, several attendees were spat on as they left. Once again, the problem isn’t that you disagree with what the event said (though, if you disagree with an event about the importance of free speech, that might be a cause for concern itself), but that you are using a tactic—spitting—that constitutes battery, and should never be used against someone for expressing beliefs that you disagree with. I understand that it can sometimes be difficult for college students today to tell the difference between fascist methods and non-fascist methods of advancing their beliefs and agendas. Luckily, I spent my senior thesis studying the rise of fascism in Europe, and am happy to give a few, easy tips about whether the activity you are engaged in adopts fascist tactics or not. To make it even easier, I’ve put it in table form: Tactic Fascist or Not Fascist? Explanation Blocking people you disagree with on Facebook Not Fascist Maybe a bad idea, but you’re not actively transgressing on another person’s right to speech. Calling for people to be fired for expressing their beliefs Fascist You are (1) calling for reprisals (2) for people expressing what they believe. Organizing a protest against an editorial you disagree with Not Fascist You are condemning a belief you disagree with, but not trying to punish the speaker for saying it. Calling to defund a newspaper for publishing an editorial you disagree with Fascist You are (1) calling for reprisals (2) for people expressing themselves. Putting up fliers demeaning people that disagree with you Not Fascist Using an ad hominem attack is silly and hurtful, but does not use positions of authority to punish free speech. Spitting on people attending a meeting you disagree with Fascist You are (1) committing a crime against someone (2) because they exercised their free speech. Calling for a University to change its seal Not Fascist You are not punishing anyone for their beliefs. Not fascist in the slightest! Tearing down fliers that you disagree with Fascist You are (1) committing a crime against someone’s property (2) because they exercised their free speech. Condemning people for wearing offensive Halloween costumes on Facebook Not Fascist You are expressing indignation at someone else’s choices, but not calling for them to be punished because of their expression. Calling for students to be expelled for wearing offensive Halloween costumes Fascist You are (1) calling for reprisals (2) for people expressing themselves (even if in a hurtful, offensive way). Of course, this isn’t an exhaustive list, but it’s a good starting point. Ask yourself the question: Am I calling for people to be officially sanctioned because of what they believe, or am I committing a crime against someone because of what they believe? If the answer is yes, you are probably engaging in fascist tactics. Given the public outcry, it seems that the majority of people, including the majority of progressive liberals, believe that Yale students calling for the resignation of those professors have gone too far in punishing free speech. The problem is that no one is willing to stand up to them. If we are going to begin anywhere, we are going to begin by calling them by their rightful name. They are fascists. They are fascists. They are fascists. Bill Barlow is a 3L at Harvard Law School.
The difference being that virtually nobody actually cares about the Starbucks cup, lies by leftists proclaiming otherwise, notwithstanding.
#1 Who said black college students they should grow a pair? Last I saw there were a lot of different college students protesting. #2 Do you think that professor should have lost his job for requiring students attend class? Do you think it is reasonable that he made them not feel safe? #3 Do you agree with a "media free zone"? #4 Do you agree with a "segregated zone" separating minority protesters so they feel "safe"? #5 Do you feel that the football team should just decide not to practice or play games with no consequences? #6 Are you aware that they are not even sure how many of these "racists" events occurred? How many occurred by students? #7 Do you consider a **** stain swastika that may not have ever existed to be "racist"? #8 I would tell anyone protesting or upset about a Starbucks cup to stop buying coffee from there if it pisses them off. This is America, you don't have the right to not be offended. Grow a pair... whether it is BS at Yale/Mizzou or it is over a Starbucks cup. I don't like "baby killer" bumper stickers from the pro-life crowd, I don't like Churches paying off duty police officers to stop traffic so their congregation can exit without waiting for the flow of traffic. There are lots of things we don't like or find offensive....... offensive and threatening are not the same thing.
The professor didn't even require students to attend class. He said they could take the test later if they felt unsafe, but he'd be there
I thought the purpose of college was to trigger student's higher brain functions and to trigger the youngsters into being better prepared to be responsible, thoughtful adults in our society. So, in a very important sense, the core purpose of a university IS to trigger the students.
Not when you consider power structures and the very real white supremacy still alive at well at these universities built by slaves
Triggering them to think better and to be more responsible adults while attending college is wrong? Oh, I see. You are pulling my leg.
Is Mr. Clutch and Mojo Man the same poster having a discussion with themselves? WTF That professor basically said that the black students on campus were being cowards. As for the Yale incident, I don't see the majority of liberals calling for the resignation of the professor - I see the majority as seeing that student as being out of line. But strawman away!
