Careful what you say

Tim Shortell's colleagues elected him chair of the Brooklyn College sociology department.

Shortly thereafter...

Brooklyn [College] released a two-sentence statement saying that Professor Timothy Shortell declined the election as chair and that the colleges president will be consulting with the department and appropriate members of the administration regarding the future leadership of the department. [Inside Higher Ed, June 8.]

Shortell's controversial essay argues that blind religious faith undermines an individual's capacity for genuine moral agency. His central theme is the rather commonplace observation that people who use a code of "revealed truths" to guide their behavior are shirking the hard work of moral deliberation. The author calls these people "moral retards." Unfortunately, he conflates blind followers of religious dogma with thoughtful believers who reason independently within a religiously-informed framework. But make no mistake, the former really are moral retards. Blind followers of dogma may conduct themselves well if they seize on a sound set of rules, but "just following orders" isn't a moral position, even if you think you're just following orders from God.

He not only deserves the appointment, he should be running the entire college.

While the professor is quite right, blind followers of religious dogma are lazy, the bigger implication is the protections afforded by the first amendment, or lack thereof.

I periodically come across reports of people who are penalized by employers for behavior conducted on their own time. A sales manager at Coors is fired because he is seen drinking Budweiser at a bar on his own time. A professor looses an appointment because of an opinion he writes on an internet site.

Should you be allowed to be critical of your employer on your own time? Most would say no. There is a fine line there.

But being penalized for expressing an opinion that has nothing to do with your job or the company you work for should be illegal. Right?

Well, what if you marched in a KKK rally? Should your employer be allowed to fire you for that?

I believe this issue needs to be addressed, and very clear laws established regarding protections under the first amendment. We are human beings, and we have opinions that we are entitled to.

link: