« Where’s The Rage? | Home | Conservatism wins big on Election Day 2002 »

Liberal Arts and “Education” at the University of Hartford

By Matt Margolis | November 8, 2002

On October 22, there was a “teach-in” held at my alma mater, the University of Hartford, about the war in Iraq. Professor Warren Goldstein of the history department put on this event, where himself and two other speakers spoke about the potential war in Iraq.

In an article in the October 17, 2002 Issue of The Informer, the University of Hartford’s student paper, Goldstein had was quoted saying that his event was an opportunity for people with serious doubts to meet with like-minded people - which is fine. But, he also said it was meant “to provide useful information to people who might be on the fence about the subject and to educate people who don’t know much about the situation.” This is where I have some major concerns.

If the event was meant to educate people who are unsure about war with Iraq or don’t know enough about the situation to have a position on the subject, why were only speakers coming from one side of the issue? Goldstein is entitled to his opinion on the potential war with Iraq, but he is doing a great disservice by only offering one side of the issue to people who are seeking knowledge about this very important topic of today.

An institution of higher education, such as the University of Hartford, has the obligation to teach its students all subjects, including social sciences, from an unbiased point of view. Professor Goldstein’s event offered no balance, thus creating an unfair environment for people to learn about the situation with Iraq. You can’t get a good education by only getting one side of the story.

Professor Goldstein’s “teach-in” was allegedly meant to educate students, faculty and staff at the University of Hartford� but how can you educate people without presenting both sides of the issue? Goldstein only wanted to present the side of the issue that was equivalent to his.

In the article, Professor Goldstein had explicitly warned that his event was “not an open forum to debate whether or not war is a good idea.” What kind of an educational event doesn’t allow for questioning the material presented and differing opinions? By not allowing opposition Professor Goldstein was not educating the attendees of his event, but rather he was indoctrinating them.

Those who “don’t know much about the situation” should have been given the opportunity to hear differing points of view, so that they may come to their own conclusions - this was clearly not Goldstein’s motive.

Professor Goldstein should have just been honest about what his event really meant to do� His intent was not to educate, but rather to push those people who are “on the fence about the subject” onto his side. As a professor, it was more appropriate for him to allow the attendees to choose what side of the fence to be on, but they weren’t given that chance, they weren’t allowed to choose.

I was obviously unable to attend Professor Goldstein’s event, but the article in the October 24th issue of the Informer, spoke volumes of the bias that permeated this so-called “teach-in”.

Doug Eichar, of the sociology department of the University of Hartford, discussed absurd conspiracy theories such as a “wag the dog” theory. How does that make any sense? It doesn’t. He also accused President Bush of trying to engage in a special interest war to distract the American people from domestic problems� What Mr. Eichar doesn’t realize is that Saddam Hussein is a domestic problem, at least he will be if we don’t do something about him.

Professor Goldstein then spoke about his own opinions about the war, and questioned the motives behind it. Apparently, he’s forgotten about the War on Terrorism we’ve been fighting since last year.

Then there was Marcia Morris from the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). The AFSC is a leftist, anti-American activist group founded by socialists in 1917, that has called the USA a terrorist nation. Did I mention the AFSC also has an FBI file 3,498 pages long? Morris not only encouraged vocal activism, but also encouraged tax resistance. She claimed she won’t pay taxes to pay for the war in Iraq. Should I call the IRS, Ms. Morris? I’ll be glad too.

Doug Eichar, William Goldstein, and Marcia Morris all have forgotten September 11th 2001. None of them see the big picture. None of them know the history - and the potential for history to repeat itself.

We now know the President Bill Clinton turned down the Sudanese government when they offered to give him Osama bin Laden back in 1996. Let’s not forget Bill Clinton’s irresponsible inaction after the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, the attacks on the U.S. Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, and the attack on the U.S.S. Cole in 2000. With all of these Al-Qaeda connected acts of war (yes, they are acts of war), Bill Clinton still felt it wasn’t good policy to take Osama bin Laden. His inactions cost the lives of over 3000 people in the World Trade Center attacks of September 11, 2001.

Now here we have Saddam Hussein, who has the potential to cause even more death and destruction with his growing nuclear and chemical weapons arsenal. Does Saddam have to strike against the United States before Eichar, Goldstein, and Morris will approve of military action against him? Are we supposed to wait until history repeats itself? Who wants to take that chance?

Goldstein also said “Over the next few weeks and months, if the American people talk loudly enough we may be able to stop a potentially disastrous war.” What would be more disastrous, a ruthless dictator being killed, or a nuclear strike against the United States courtesy of Saddam Hussein? Years and years of diplomacy has gotten nowhere with Saddam, don’t you know that Professor? I know the history� Why doesn’t he? After all, he is the history professor.

Clinton’s inability to defend our country and retaliate against Osama bin Laden and Al-Qaeda back in 1993, 1998, and 2000, ultimately brought down the Twin Towers a year ago. We need to stop Saddam before another 9-11 happens.

It is time to stop treating the symptoms of terrorism, and actually cure the disease. Saddam Hussein must be stopped, he only spreads the infection of terrorism, and if we wait too long, the infection is going to reach Professor Goldstein’s backyard, as well as all of ours.

If history is any guide, I see a world much safer from my side of the fence, I can only see more innocent lives being lost from the side Eichar, Goldstein, and Morris are on.

I never took a history class when I was a student at the University of Hartford. Today, I am glad for that. Professor Goldstein may be a good professor, but the classroom is no place for personal politics. His event was biased. He needs to stop indoctrinating and start educating.