Academia in the United States needs to be torn down and built back up from the scrap heap that results.
Nowhere is this more obvious than the latest incarnation of Stanford University’s list of words they’d like to eliminate from the public discourse on campus.
The document, published by the top-notch university in May but revised on Monday and reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, is titled the “Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative.”
The goal of the initiative, according to the memo, is to “eliminate many forms of harmful language, including racist, violent, and biased language” on the university’s website and in its internal documents and code.
One of the words that stands out to any rational person is – American.
“Call yourself an ‘American’? Please don’t,” the WSJ writes. “Better to say ‘U.S. citizen,’ per the bias hunters, lest you slight the rest of the Americas.”
WSJ editorial: Call yourself an “American”? Please don’t. It’s on Stanford’s new index of forbidden words.https://t.co/SfU6mXoQsj
— Elliot Kaufman (@ElliotKaufman6) December 19, 2022
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Stanford Guide to Acceptable Words Says ‘American’ is Offensive
The Stanford guide to acceptable words doesn’t find the word ‘American’ offensive simply based on the fact that there are other Americas (North, South, Central).
No, it’s the fact that people from the United States saying the term suggests they think they’re better than everybody else. Which, as this is the greatest country on Earth … anyway.
Stanford adds “context” to the term ‘American’:
This term often refers to people from the United States only, thereby insinuating that the US is the most important country in the Americas.
Rather than teaching students that the word ‘American’ is offensive, Stanford should consider teaching them why, in fact, the United States of America is the most important country in the WORLD.
You guys, this list of words that Stanford doesn’t want us to use anymore is truly insane. https://t.co/mUMGgSSUAr pic.twitter.com/A7DtfpjIUv
— Justine Moore (@venturetwins) December 18, 2022
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Twitter Explodes in Response
As you might imagine, there were some rather strong responses to Stanford’s guide to acceptable words listing ‘American’ as offensive.
Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, who was blacklisted from Twitter for his views during the pandemic, and who happens to be a professor at Stanford, was defiant.
“I remember how proud I was when I became a naturalized American citizen,” he tweeted. “I’m still proud to be an American, and I don’t care that @Stanford disapproves of my using the term.”
I remember how proud I was when I became a naturalized American citizen. I’m still proud to be an American, and I don’t care that @Stanford disapproves of my using the term. https://t.co/NKwzjOlV3v
— Jay Bhattacharya (@DrJBhattacharya) December 20, 2022
Twitter chief – for now – Elon Musk also chimed in.
“Stanford disapproves of saying you’re proud to be an American?” the free speech advocate responded. “Whoa.”
Stanford disapproves of saying you’re proud to be an American? Whoa.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 20, 2022
Blaze contributor T.J. Moe broke it down in basic terms.
“If you are not proud to be an American, then leave. This isn’t the country for you,” Moe writes. “Those who are running Stanford would do well to find a new home.”
Though, to be fair, Stanford is in California, which at this point can only be said to be “American” due to its accidental geography.
It is truly this simple: if you are not proud to be an American, then leave. This isn’t the country for you. Those who are running Stanford would do well to find a new home. Their spoiled, historically illiterate, evil attitudes are not welcome here. https://t.co/JeISGX2VV5
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) December 20, 2022
Others pointed to the official reasons that Stanford’s opposition to the word ‘American’ is educationally bereft.
The United States of America is the only country in either North or South America that uses the word America in its official title. We are, therefore, Americans.
— Ron From NM (@Ron_From_NM) December 20, 2022
Serious question: how many countries in the Americas have the word “America” in the name of their country? What else are we supposed to call ourselves?
— TheRealJoeFL65 (@TheRealJoeFL65) December 20, 2022
Still, others simply pointed to the absolute “lunacy” involved in publishing such a list.
This is so mental I’m embarrassed for them.
Pure lunacy.
— Teresa NC (@_pcantagonista) December 20, 2022
The Stanford guide to unacceptable words also frowns on the term “immigrant” which is heretofore known as “person who has immigrated.”
“Master” is also unacceptable in its many forms since, according to Stanford, “historically, masters enslaved people.”
Tiger Woods, who played collegiate golf at Stanford, must be beside himself trying to figure out what his alma mater finds acceptable – He can no longer celebrate the fact that he was the first African-American to ever win the Masters tournament.
Truly insane.
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Whoops, the word ‘insane’ is also on the list. Fortunately, as an American, I don’t give a rip what Stanford has to say.
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