[Vision2020] Today's (2/3/2004) UI Argonaut

[Tom Hansen]

Greetings Visionaires -

In case you didn't get your copy, the following article was copied and
pasted from today's UI Argonaut.

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Wilson's Letter Attempts to Squelch Discussion

Just when you may have thought the fire was dying, Doug Wilson poured on a
little lighter fluid.  Like most New Year's resolutions, his self-avowed
removal from the media spotlight did not make it through the month of
January.

In fact, the debate with local freelance writer Bill London last Tuesday
kindled an ever-evolving dialogue between the divided Moscow community.  The
radio debate, coupled with the spreading news of Wilson's letter to Gov.
Dirk Kempthorne condemning the university's role in this controversy, seems
to have brought the issue to the forefront once again.  And it comes just
days before Christ Church's Ninth Annual History Conference.  Talk about
great timing.  Or maybe it's just great PR.

In this very public debate involving Wilson, his writings on slavery and the
concerns of a community, someone seems to be pointing fingers and screaming,
"That's not fair."  Wilson's letter to Kempthorne appears to be a calculated
list of names from the elementary school tattletale, ghostwritten by the
school bully.  Implicated in Wilson's letter to Kempthorne are Raul Sanchez,
special assistant to the president for diversity and human rights, and three
UI history professors.

In his letter, Wilson expresses concern for the safety of those attending
his history conference, renounces criticisms from members of the UI
community and asks for an apology from the Office of Diversity and Human
Rights.  Furthermore, he beseeches the governor to stop UI from taking a
stance against Wilson's views on the university's dime.

Unfortunately for Wilson, the Moscow community at large consists of a
diverse range of members.  These members include, but are not limited to,
UI's professors, faculty, staff and students.  When issues arise within this
community, everyone has the right to comment.

And who better to discuss historical fallacies than history professors?  Who
better to question the claims of diversity than the Office of Diversity and
Human Rights?  Rather than balk at these interferences, Wilson should
applaud the university for upholding its commitment to academic pursuits and
discussions.

Granted, Wilson has the full right to hawk his howls of injustice to the
governor.  Perhaps he could even write to President Bush or Kofi Annan.  But
the expectation that one of these figures would sweep through the Moscow
community and provide swift justice for Wilson's claims is ludicrous.

Universities have been, and always should be, locations of diversity,
discussion and intelligent discourse.  The university is not an island.  We
are affected by the outside world and are free to examine the pressing
issues of today's world within our classrooms, papers and Web sites.

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Take care,

Tom Hansen
Not On The Palouse, Not Ever

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"When people sin, everybody has to pay."

- Pastor Douglas Wilson, Christ Church (June 7, 2002)

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