dagblog - Comments for "Creeping Fascism Watch: Universities are "Re-education Camps""

Thank you, thank you, thank

Ted — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:13:12 +0000

In reply to Creeping Fascism Watch: Universities are "Re-education Camps"

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I was horrified (yet not surprised) at Beck's invocation of the "reeducation camp" meme in reference to universities and colleges. As a college teacher, I was bemused at what Beck seems to think faculty spend their time and energy on. But as you say, that's not the point. Ironically, Beck is acting precisely like Mao and Kim Jeong Il: the first rule in the despot playbook is to attack (rhetorically, and ultimately existentially) the intellecuals.

My open letter to Beck on exactly this issue:

http://paxrhetorica.blogspot.com/2010/09/open-letter-to-glenn-beck-on-why-he.html

Yes, The Paranoid Style is

Doctor Cleveland — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 20:41:58 +0000

In reply to I was just recently

Yes, The Paranoid Style is also superb, and relevant, although I think I've only read the essay-length version. I should probably put more Hofstadter on my list, behind Genghis.

He's selfish that way. What a

Orlando — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 03:17:32 +0000

In reply to You mean you don't want to

He's selfish that way. What a jackass!

You mean you don't want to

DF — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:21:18 +0000

In reply to Yes sir. I think that the

You mean you don't want to take all of your hard work, condense it into a blog comment and spoil your upcoming book?

Yes sir. I think that the

Michael Wolraich — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 22:54:47 +0000

In reply to I was just recently

Yes sir. I think that the trends Hofstadter observed have become more defined and widespread today. But I'll let you wait for the book because it's a iittle difficult to explain in a comment.

I was just recently

DF — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:31:00 +0000

In reply to Richard Hofstadter's

I was just recently re-reading his Paranoid Style in American Politics, which is likewise relevant. If I'm not mistaken, it's been something of a touchstone for Genghis during the composition of his book, but I'm sure he could better illuminate how he views Hofstadter's work with respect for his own.

Richard Hofstadter's

Doctor Cleveland — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:07:02 +0000

In reply to Demonizing intellectuals is

Richard Hofstadter's Anti-Intellectualism in American Life feels as relevant today as it did when it was published (just after McCarthy's downfall).

Demonizing intellectuals is

Michael Wolraich — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:54:05 +0000

In reply to Creeping Fascism Watch: Universities are "Re-education Camps"

Demonizing intellectuals is right out of the playbook of the Khmer Rouge or the move to ramp up the Wehrmacht and demonize the Jews.

Not to mention Mao and Kim Jong Il.

But there's no need to look so far abroad. The U.S. has its own tradition of anti-illelectualism to fall back on, and Beck's charges of academic sedition owe much to Joe McCarthy.