February 22, 2005
Does it ever seem like there is simply too much news?Perhaps it is merely my propensity to occasionally switch it up between CNN in the morning, Fox News in the afternoon and The Journal Sentinel at night that I am feeling a bit overloaded, but really; what am I absorbing?
Harvard President Larry Summers and his audacious statements for why women might account for fewer positions in high end science and math jobs. Some women retorted with commentary that was just a little over the top - like a 'let's take a quick hike over Mount Everest' kind of little. Some women actually stated that they were near fainting upon hearing his 'sexist speech' and one woman went so far as to say, "It's hard enough to figure out how to live your life and work as a woman and have a family and those kind of things without him putting another barrier in the way." WTF?!
It seriously doubt that it was Larry Summers himself who woke up early one bright, fall morning with a manical scheme to construct a glass ceiling which would forever limit the women of our country from excelling in math and science. I cannot imagine that his words can in any way restrict the determination of a woman who's sole desire is to achieve success in the math and science department. And I am rather hesitant to accuse this man of being a chauvinist jerk; intending women across the country to faint at his controversial opinions. No, that cannot be the case.
More properly argued is the fact that women are more inclined to carry a proficiency in arts and literature as opposed to math and science whereas men tend to be deficient in these areas. How about the fact that women are just less likely to continue on, after High School, to take science, math, engineering and technology? Look at the gap of a male fourth grader and female fourth grader in mathematical aptitude tests - there isn't much of one. So if us women are going to go ahead and feel oppressed, I seriously doubt that firing the President of Harvard University is going to somehow solve that inequality.
I mean, sure, if the guy was arrogantly strutting around campus, patting the tushies of a few tight sophomore asses (regardless of sex, really), I'd say we have something here. But that's just not the case and the seriousness of the matter most certainly should not stem into questioning one's job when basic truths (or, for the more legal beagle types, evidence) are being laid out on the table. I don't know, call me silly, but I'm more likely to be offended by Eminem's song lyrics than I am of Mr. Summer's discourse. I suppose that's just me...
" My words are like a dagger with a jagged edge
That'll stab you in the head
whether you're a fag or lez
Or the homosex, hermaph or a trans-a-vest
Pants or dress - hate fags? The answer's 'yes'"
I've had professors who occasionally toss in the word 'shit' to their lectures. Hell, I've had professors who throw it around like licorice to 7-year-olds. I've had professors compare and contrast same sex relationships regarding Buster the cartoon Bunny and the evening drama of The O.C. on Federal and State levels of broadcasting (and that, my friends, was different). But I think you smell what I'm cooking.
The point is, I'm adult enough to recognize the fact that a guy who has earned the title 'Doctor' before his last name has the right to periodically digress from formal manners of speech and relate to his audience. It's refreshing. It's engaging. It's argumentative and it's thought provoking. It's just real. It's not wrong to question content, but it's not fair to reprimand opinion based on fact that is supported by reality. Look, the truth cannot be offensive. Perhaps the hypothesis is wrong, but how would we ever find out whether it is wrong if it is 'offensive' even to consider it?
So quit getting your panties in a bunch every time someone has something to say - whether you agree or not - or else that fundamental portion of our First Amendment right might just be diminished into a mere memory. At least, that's what I absorbed today...