Kevin,

Political correctness is indeed a "slippery term" but when we observe
some in academia "readjusting" common sense and fact for preconceived
benefit to their agendas that tend to follow along certain lines then we
must call it what it seems to be. And it does not cut across ALL
academic conversations, but we also must not ignore it when we are faced
with it. We all recall Prof. Joseph Ellis's attempts to sway his
student's outlook of himself and history of the Vietnam War and other
personal lies. I am sure we may not have sympathy for those who use
their profession and large groups of students for their private agendas.
Even though there is a captive audience such people must be "flushed
out" when revealed.   

Herb--

"Political correctness" is a slippery term.  

For example, in some circles it is taken for granted that Unites States
constitutionalism is directly predicated upon evangelical Christian
values.  

In the early decades of the 20th century, professors in various Virginia
colleges were fired for teaching that, contrary to the UDC and other
Confederate heritage groups, slaves disliked being enslaved.

In some academic circles today, you will get shouted down if you suggest
that Islam is not, by its intrinsic nature, hostile to "Western Values."
Question the idea of a fundamental "clash of civilizations" and you are
(impolitely) ignored.

Political Correctness is a bad thing.  But you would be simply incorrect
to think that it applies uniformly across all academic conversations.
Academics, just like everyone else, are prone to divide themselves along
political lines.

There is as much "group think" and proclivity to knee jerk moral
judgments among right wing academics as there is among left.  Its ugly
whenever it happens.  But human nature being what it is, it is something
in which persons from all political persuasions are quite capable of
indulging. In my opinion, the academic face needs cleaning in matters of
those teaching the TJ/Sally controversy without fact and full knowledge
of the study.

Herb Barger  


>I don't believe it is such a hard task to identify that which attempts
>to revise history to one's own agenda and throw in political
correctness
>for good measure and we have it pretty well "nailed down."  The term is
>quiet frequently used in identifying persons who traffic in this
>trade.........look around......see or read of any?  
>
>Herb
>
>I think that, save when used as a term of art in discourse between
>professional historiographers and historians, the term "revisionist" is
>pejorative.  That is to say, it is used to disparage the work of
>scholars with whom one happens to disagree.
>
>My comment here is quite subjective.  This is just an impression, and
>hence not a comment I wish to advance with any special claim to
>authority.
>
>All best,
>Kevin
>Kevin R. Hardwick, Ph.D.
>Department of History
>James Madison University

______________________________________
To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at
http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html