Quotas on Common Sense

After saving the quota over merit system at the University of Michigan, Lee C. Bollinger went on to Columbia University to preserve its traditions. Unfortunately, he’s succeeding.

“The real world needs to embrace more of the intellectual character we try to practice here,” Bollinger said in his May 18, 2010 commencement address at Columbia. (Maybe he hasn’t noticed that it has, at least the elect and elite part of it.)

“There are three areas of concern:  The denial of expertise (most vividly and disturbingly represented in those who would reject the consensus of the scientific community about human-induced climate change).  The hardening of beliefs and intolerance (as witnessed in the unwillingness of many in public discourse to at least entertain the possibility that others may have better ideas, which inexorably leads to intimations of violence).  And, finally, the corrosive attitude now prevalent in public debate that the less-said-the-better, because expression of your viewpoint can only get you into trouble (sadly represented in our current inability to discuss and debate what the Constitution of the nation does and should mean, beyond simplicities such as we must follow the ‘original intent’ of the founders).”

Speaking of the real world, “The temperatures for the first six months of this year average a bit below the peak year of 1998, which corresponded with a strong El Niño,” according to the Science and Environmental Policy Project. Meanwhile, the clumsy attempt to exonerate the University of East Anglia’s scientists in the “hide the decline” Climategate scandal was so transparent that a Labour MP in the United Kingdom dubbed it “inadequate.”

Interestingly, Bollinger neglects to provide an example only in his second concern, which ironically is a valid one although perhaps not for the reason that he thinks it is. While critics scan the country seeking physical strife at TEA parties, they overlook the more obvious muscling in of outfits such as the Service Employees International Union and the New Black Panther Party in fomenting same, to put it mildly.

As for the “original intent” crowd, of which we are charter members, few of our number actually make it into positions of power and influence, particularly since Ronald Reagan retired to Pacific Palisades more than 20 years ago. Meantime, Bollinger can take heart, especially since the rest of us won’t.

New textbooks are so inaccurate that they are bound to produce another generation of global warming alarmists. “Professor John Hubisz of North Carolina State University led a review of a Prentice Hall 12-book science series,” the Textbook Trust of Woodland Hills, California reported. “It found maps with the Equator passing through the southern United States and singer Linda Ronstadt labeled as a silicon crystal.”

“His team identified 500 pages of errors.”

For the record, the equator passes through Latin America. That’s why one of the nations there named itself Ecuador.

Think about it. It will come to you.

Also, Linda Ronstadt is a singer with hits such as “It’s so easy to fall in love.”

Maybe, but apparently it’s harder to come up with an accurate textbook.

Malcolm A. Kline is the Executive Director of Accuracy in Academia.