Opportunity for learning? or big fiasco?

NOTE HERE:  Since the original writing of this article, it became clear that this did NOT happen as was initially reported by SEVERAL authoritative news sources.  Some of the RANT still applies, even if the exact circumstances are different...

First of all, this should BY NO MEANS be seen as an endorsement for any candidate (read that Trump.)  It is, instead, using an incident concerning his campaign to illustrate a point.

Start, please, by noting the turmoil at Emory University when students had the audacity to advocate voting for Trump when that's not the established and agreed-upon position.  There's a couple of links here (one Facebook, one a Google search) if you have not heard about the incident.

https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=emory%20university%20chalk

http://bit.ly/1RujreI

Maybe looking at a couple of terms, with Buhler's commentary on them, might be a good place to start.

     Democracy:  Each individual has a vote, and may choose to vote for whomever he or she chooses, without fear of reprisal.

     Freedom of Speech:  Within ethical and legal limits, a person may hold and express his or her opinion on the discussion at hand.  This is a guarantee and is fundamental to our way of life.

     Higher education:  This is where individuals go to learn a profession.  It should NOT be a means for indoctrination by faculty or benefactors of said institution.

Back to the incident.  A student, or maybe students, wrote "vote for Trump" in chalk on some sidewalks and other school property.  Is that, technically, vandalism?  Probably.  OK.  Just make the students remove it, take a demerit, and it all goes away.  But here's where it gets interesting.

Students (how many??)  started protesting because it was interpreted as "racist."  Some were going to counselors because they "in pain" and "feared for their lives."  Some "expected" shootings as a result. I'm sure some just took the opportunity to join the protest - whether or not they felt strongly about the issue.

This SHOULD HAVE been an opportunity for learning.  It SHOULD HAVE been a Civics lesson in the democratic process.  (I expect Emory University has a Civics department - most universities do!) It SHOULD HAVE been used as an example of how opposing views can co-exist in a country that was founded on that very principle.  There were SO MANY positive outcomes that could have come out of this.  Sadly that's not the case.

Instead, it appears, that the University played into all this, and even fed it, rather than calling it what it was - a political rally, supported, or at least allowed, by the University.  The students, on both sides of this issue, are PAYING for an education.  They education are GETTING is that you may no longer hold an opinion or express yourself unless that opinion is lock-step in line with the establishment.  Democracy has been reduced to a society being ruled by the loudest person talking.

This is a sad state of affairs...