THE LOOK OF FEAR

This picture was taken in 1969 for Time magazine.  That was when Time actually printed the news.  Nowadays there are few that do.  It's not even subtle anymore.  It's all presented with a slant.  I think we used to call that yellow journalism.  Canary yellow.

It's one of the many things I fear for the next gen.  Discernment.  Or lack thereof.

I think all of my high school teachers displayed a genuine fairness in how they viewed or at least shared current events and history.  At least they weren't blatant in their political beliefs or persuasions.  Bents, maybe.

But when I got to university (ok, the university) it all changed.  Maybe it was Viet Nam.  But suddenly, overt liberalism was expressed openly.  For those who disagreed openly, grades were lowered. 

One example, that's not totally political, came from a Conservation class I had.  The instructor preached about his subject.  "Because of tertiary treatment plants, every glass of water you drink has already been through three people."  "Don't wash, don't ever wash your car at a car wash, because that soap goes into our water supply.  In fact, don't waste our natural resource by ever washing your car.  Who cares if it's dirty?"  Finally, a test question:  "what is the single most important class offered at SIU?"  Any answer other than Conservation 312 was checked wrong.

That's just on the cusp of what my missive is about today.  Many more direct examples I could have given (remember, SIU closed its ROTC and would not allow the military to recruit on campus during my years there). But if a student were foolish enough to mention the domino theory or support of the Johnson or Nixon admin, then he was going to pay the price gradewise.

Are things better today?  That's my fear--they're not.  I haven't even brought evangelical Christians into account.  But I can imagine any student in science expressing doubt about the origin of the species, the great Darwinian Theory, and  being ostracized by prof and fellow students alike.

Harvard was founded in 1636 for the purpose of educating men for the ministry.  Other Ivy League schools followed.  God was at the center in His rightful place. Somehow, oh I know how, the eggheads wanted to be their own god and when that notion collided with God's perfect plan for their lives, individualism won out.  Now most colleges and universities are havens for the liberal, intolerant minds to spew vitriol and only their perspectives.  A little harsh, TQ?  I wish.  I'm afraid (see picture again) it's just observation.

So what's the answer?  I kinda have one, which is highly unusual as faithful reader(s) know.  Do what I did.  Answer Conservation 312. Don't verbalize your beliefs.  Jump through the hoops. Play the game. Don't be swayed by their beliefs. And don't get caught at a car wash.