“And so I just kind of used the example, which I know it’s really controversial, but I know it was the best example I thought of at the time — a group of students nationwide, or even locally, decided ‘I want to walk out of school for 17 minutes’ and go in the quad area and protest abortion, would that be allowed by our administration?” she told reporters. “If you’re going to allow students to walk up and get out of class without penalty then you have to allow any group of students that wants to protest,” she said.
She is correct.
Benzel was then put on paid leave because of “several complaints from parents and students involving the teacher’s communications regarding today’s student-led civic engagement activities,”a Rocklin School District spokesperson said. What? I presume that means that any time any parent or student complains about anything a teacher says, this is considered sufficient justification for disciplinary action.
The school’s action chills free speech, and also demonstrates viewpoint bias and indoctrination. Benzel was on Fox News this morning; the question is why every news network wasn’t interviewing her. There are not two sides to this ethics issue, just one. She was trying to teach critical thinking to her students, and was punished for it, because this particular cause can’t survive critical thinking. (Benzel has already been reinstated.)
The student anti-gun protests are among the most embarrassing mass outbreaks of Stupid Fever this country has ever suffered through, greatly facilitated by social media.
5. Wonder Woman gets ambushed by super-powered, super-dumb political correctness. The actress who has been playing Wonder Woman, Gal Galdot, tweeted out a brief salute to Stephen Hawking:
“Rest in peace Dr. Hawking Now you’re free of any physical constraints.. Your brilliance and wisdom will be cherished forever.”
The social media bully squad was on her in a flash. “This tweet is very ableist. His physical constraints didn’t stop him from changing the world. People with disabilities don’t wish for death to be free of their challenges. We wish to be valued for what we CAN do, not pitied for we can’t,” responded one critic. Wrote another political correctness addict: “That sentiment affects me personally, it affects all people with disabilities because it impacts how we are perceived. The unemployment rate for people with disabilities is 70-80% and the idea that disabilities are scary things to be “freed” from is a big reason why.” From another: “Gal I am chronically ill. Can’t shower or even get myself out of bed. Lost 18 years thus far. But I ran a charity funding research for my illness # and advocate for Change. All from my bed. Is my life not important? Disablement is not shameful, bigotry is.”
The tweet was not ablelist, and we would begin reassembling civility, common sense and reason in our society if Gadot responded with a terse, “Oh, shut up. I’m not going to be reprimanded for a perfectly respectful tribute. Your attempt to make me grovel for an imagined offense is the real wrong here.”
Hawking wasn’t just disabled, he had a fatal, frightening, incurable disease. While he was incredibly productive in spite of his handicap, the mind boggles at what he could have accomplished had he been completely healthy. [CORRECTION:In the original post, I erroneously stated here that Hawking’s illness precluded having offspring. In fact, he had three children and three grandchildren….whom he presumably would have liked to have held at least once.] Hawking was confined to a wheelchair and relied on multiple life support devices, facing the prospect of imminent death for decades. He must have wished to be “free of physical restraints” many times. Nothing Gadot wrote suggested that there was anything to be ashamed of, or evinced bigotry, and the sentimental imagery of human beings moving on to a new existence without the impediments of their “mortal coil” is routinely applied to anyone who dies while sick or aged. It is not an insult to anyone, except to those who want to be insulted so they can posture as victims.
UPDATE: Hawking’s obituary is here.