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Thread: From Yahoo News-"UNC Faculty Decry Western Cultures Program"

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    Default From Yahoo News-"UNC Faculty Decry Western Cultures Program"

    I don't know what to make of this, as I am not familiar with the John William Pope Foundation. But as one professor is quoted as saying in the article, "'Are we for sale, and if so, what for, and if not, what are the guidelines?' she asked," wouldn't you then have to refuse donations from both liberal and conservative organizations in order to "not be for sale"? The link is at

    Newsarticle



    PhaedrusZ


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    Featured Member Destiny's Avatar
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    Default Re: From Yahoo News-"UNC Faculty Decry Western Cultures Program"

    I remember many years ago there was a Texas billionaire that donated several millions of dollars to one of the ivy league schools to start a similar Western Civilization program. When after several years the school still had not even gotten started on the program due to faculty protests, he demanded his money back.
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    Default Re: From Yahoo News-"UNC Faculty Decry Western Cultures Program"

    Okay I've heard of a program like this. It is mainly starting from the fertile cresecent to american current culture. Can you see where the problem lies in this? In my point of view it's another type of history major missing academic objectivity.

    I may have many faults, but being wrong ain't one of them.

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    Default Re: From Yahoo News-"UNC Faculty Decry Western Cultures Program"

    Destiny... the college was Yale and the donor was Lee Bass...the donation would have been
    for $20 Million. I think Perry Bass uped the ante to $500 million, but I never heard Yale's
    response...

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    Default Re: From Yahoo News-"UNC Faculty Decry Western Cultures Program"

    Quote Originally Posted by myssi
    Destiny... the college was Yale and the donor was Lee Bass...the donation would have been
    for $20 Million. I think Perry Bass uped the ante to $500 million, but I never heard Yale's response...
    You're right. The last I heard Yale had said they would give the money back, but I don't think I ever heard if Yale actually gave the money back or not. I know they never did start up a Western Civ. program though. It's kind of amazing that a school would rather pass up a multi-million dollar donation than risk being labeled politically incorrect.

    As far as Muyaha's comments, no, I don't see the problem. Our country, our society is based on western ideas. These programs are merely teaching the history and influences that shape our thinking and our culture. Now the PC police deride such classes as being "Euro-centric" and claim that they are offensive to people of color and all that. No, take for example the founders of our country. They were influenced greatly by western ideas, from france going all the way back to ancient Greece. They were not influenced by Confucious or Buddha. That's not to say that Confucious or Buddha were not people of great influence, it's just acknowledging that they did not play a great role in the thoughts and ideas our country was founded on. Western Civilizations studies are only a part of a comprehensive study of world history. However, considering the ideas and influences that shape our culture today, I would say that Western Civ. studies are the most important part of a well rounded world history education.
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    Default Re: From Yahoo News-"UNC Faculty Decry Western Cultures Program"

    ^ Exactly.

    Those so disgusted with the rise and preeminence of Western Civilization, and so enraptured with the intellectually and morally bankrupt notions of cultural equivalency need to pick up Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel, and Collapse: How Societies Choose To Succeed or Fail.

    History is not PC when viewed as it actually happened.
    Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

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