Professors represent the most educated, regardless of field.

Submitted by Brandon Walker (United States), Jul 1, 2003 at 12:10

One facet of this discussion we must look at is that, regardless of a professor's field of primary study, professors tend to have much more education than even the most educated of professionals and politicians. Because they are instructing others, they must regularly research and acquire information, and regardless of the field, sciences or humanities, most academics are trained well in and regularly practice qualitative analysis of information. Just because an outspoken professor is a chemist doesn't mean that he is somehow completely unable to rationally analyze the data involved in coming to a decision on politics and world affairs. If this chemist reads a few articles about world affairs and applies logic and reason he may come to an answer almost as sound as any political theorist, perhaps even moreso.

We must remember that education seriously changes opinions. You will find that when you examine educational strata, ie those with a high school degree, those with a 2 year degree, those with a 4 year degree, etc... that political conservatism attracts more people with shorter educational tracks or those who's educational path is more professional. Those who are more academically oriented in their education tend to be more politically liberal. This is a very general statement and not at all absolute, but I think it reflects an important distinction. Those with more basic educations tend to believe more of what they read and hear. Those with more education and who work more closely with education tend to have more tools with which to cut through political hubris and more means to examine the facts and details of politics. The scientific method and sound logical reasoning are two great examples of tools that academics tend to know better than anyone else and when brought to bear on a lot of the propaganda we see now, many new details come to light.

I am not a professor, but I believe in academic pursuit of knowledge. I believe we can learn from our past and I believe in the first amendment. To criticize the administration and our current political policy is simply one of the many ways we exercise our political rights, our rights to free speech and our rights to be involved with the political process. Dissent is the most American of viewpoints. To shut up and not question the administration is more a communist or totalitarian practice, but we are a democratic republic and not bound by such idiocy.

Whether you agree with the administration or not, your right to dissent is protected. Nay, dissent is encouraged! How do we enact change if not to question the status quo?

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