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Dawkins Displeases Diversity Douchetrucks

Here at the University of Oregon we’ve long since become accustomed to the “diversity” gang’s dog and pony show: they find some reason to get offended, write a few letters to the Emerald denouncing whatever it is that’s got them in a huff, engage in a lot of nail-biting and childish, unconvincing theatrics in the ASUO, and basically bully whomever they disagree with by smearing them as racist, sexist, homophobic, or whatever.

Unfortunately, a different U of O — the University of Oklahoma — is learning first-hand how the whole “diversity” racket works. In an interesting twist, though, it’s not a group of professional victims and serial whiners in the student body that’s causing trouble… it’s the Oklahoma legislature. Upset by the University’s decision to invite militant atheist and polemicist Richard Dawkins to campus to commemmorate Charles Darwin, the legislature took it upon itself to draft HR1015 (RTF file).

The text of the resolution contains all of the usual pablum:

[T]he University of Oklahoma is a publicly funded institution which should be open to all ideas and should train students in all disciplines of study and research and to use independent thinking and free inquiry

[T]he University of Oklahoma, as a part of the Darwin 2009 Project, has invited as a public speaker on campus, Richard Dawkins of Oxford University, whose published opinions, as represented in his 2006 book “The God Delusion”, and public statements on the theory of evolution demonstrate an intolerance for cultural diversity and diversity of thinking and are views that are not shared and are not representative of the thinking of a majority of the citizens of Oklahoma…

[T]he Oklahoma House of Representative strongly opposes the invitation to speak on the campus of the University of Oklahoma to Richard Dawkins of Oxford University, whose published statements on the theory of evolution and opinion about those who do not believe in the theory are contrary and offensive to the views and opinions of most citizens of Oklahoma…

[T]he Oklahoma House of Representatives encourages the University of Oklahoma to engage in an open, dignified, and fair discussion

Any of this stuff sounding familiar? About the only thing that’s missing are the words “safe space”.

Now, personally I can’t stand Richard Dawkins. I think he’s as shrill and intolerant as any god bothering evangelical. Regardless of my opinion or anyone else’s, though, the man has every right to speak in a public venue at a public university. HR1015 does not prohibit him from doing so. It’s merely a pointless waste of taxpayer dollars that expresses the displeasure of a nosy and self-important legislature that’s sticking its nose where it doesn’t belong.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has thus given us yet another reason to distrust anyone in government, proving once again that nearly all of them are blithering, power-hungry idiots. Furthermore, it’s a strong reminder to look askance at anyone who is pimping the whole “diversity” scam. As should be abundantly clear by now, such individuals, regardless of whether they’re halfwit undergrads from the MCC or halfwit lawmakers in the Oklahoma legislature, are mostly interested in silencing speech they don’t agree with.

(via Slashdot)

  1. confused urbanism duk says:

    A douchetruck ran over my brain there for a moment. sorry

  2. nike urbanism duk says:

    I look forward to Dick preaching his first sustainability gospel at UO students. Afterwards, I will invite him for “oriental” food at the EMU.

  3. Rockne Andrew Roll says:

    This is almost as bad as the Oregon resolution opposing the Iraq war. Legislators are stupid, I’m so glad I’m not one.

    Also, douchetruck is a wonderful word. Thank you for introducing it to me.

  4. The silly resolution has only been submitted. The Oklahoma House of Representatives has not voted on it. As for OU, politically correct identity politics has been embedded there for a long time. Check my link.

    The OU president is former U.S. Senator David Boren, who is a first-class jerk, buffoon, corrupt sleazebag, and tyrant. With two years remaining on his third term, he resigned from the U. S. Senate in 1994, after manipulating the OU regents into making him president.

    In the year earlier he was being outed by gay activists and accused of sexually harassing his male staff members.

    He’s been cavorting like a jackass ever since he arrived at OU.

    Pseudo-left politically correct people around OU dare not talk about this. They are afraid of being called “homophobes.”

  5. Timothy says:

    Unlike god-bothering evangelicals, though, Dawkins is at least right about god and evolution.

  6. Vincent says:

    Adam:

    Yeah, I’m no fan of Geert Wilders (far from it, in fact), but the whole fiasco with him being prevented from entering the country was a national shame.

  7. Adam, London says:

    We are being subjected to similar levels of cultural “enrichment” here in England.

    Political Correctness has reached such heights that politicians and public figures don’t dare to discuss “sensitive” issues ( particularly with regards to Islam ) for fear of offending people. The result is that important issues are swept under the carpet, difficult discussions are avoided and anyone who dares to quesion the status-quo is automatically labelled as “racist!” “xenophobic” etc.

    Freedom of speech has been part of British culture for hundreds of years. Thus, the PC hacks who stifle intellectual debate and threaten dissenters with smears, are, in fact, destroyers of culture, rather than “enrichers” of it.

    We in the West, are heading not just for economic ruin, but also demographic divisions that will tear our “first world” nations apart – permanently. The bad times haven’t even begun.

  8. Betz says:

    Here’s where I get lost:

    “…a publicly funded institution which should be open to all ideas…”

    “…whose published statements on the theory of evolution and opinion about those who do not believe in the theory are contrary and offensive to the views and opinions of most citizens of Oklahoma

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