Are universities in America pushing anti-American propaganda? Yes or No?

[98cwitr]

Finished reading Shapiro's "Brainwashed" (you can search Amazon to get a better context) and while written in 2004, it did explain and support the idea that many universities are pushing propaganda rather than pure education. I'm sure this topic is as varied and unique as each campus, but you have websites dedicated to "exposing" colleges as propaganda machines while folks cry that these stories are themselves propaganda. I'm on the fence and fully believe it depends on what field you go into.

 

[wing2000]

It might help discussion if you cite a specific example of "Anti-American propaganda" from Shapiro's book.

 

[comana]

I am a parent of two recent college grads. (Within the last 3 years) I do not agree that anti-American propaganda is widespread in higher education. Sure, professors with extremist ideas can be found, but they don't represent all of higher education.

I will say that my kids are much more civic minded than I was at their age. I think this is a good thing.

 

[Tiberius Lee]

Criticizing American policy and point out fault so future generation can correct them is not anti-Americans.

 

[ralliann]

Criticizing American policy and point out fault so future generation can correct them is not anti-Americans.

That depends on what they are criticizing. As well as what the correction is.

 

[Paulos23]

I would say no. Universities are meant to explore ideas and expose students to new ideas.

If that is propaganda, then our whole education system is propaganda.

 

[-57]

It might help discussion if you cite a specific example of "Anti-American propaganda" from Shapiro's book.

Isn't he often censored from speaking on many campuses? As well as many conservative views?

 

[Tiberius Lee]

That depends on what they are criticizing. As well as what the correction is.

Just because I don’t agree with the criticism or the correction doesn’t make them Anti-American.

 

[Albion]

I do not agree that anti-American propaganda is widespread in higher education. Sure, professors with extremist ideas can be found, but they don't represent all of higher education.

In that case, the appropriate answer to the poll's question would be "yes."

 

[comana]

In that case, the appropriate answer to the poll's question would be "yes."

Incorrect. Some professors do not equal all of higher education.

 

[Albion]

Some professors do not equal all of higher education.

We know that, but that wasn't the question asked by the poll.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Finished reading Shapiro's "Brainwashed" (you can search Amazon to get a better context) and while written in 2004, it did explain and support the idea that many universities are pushing propaganda rather than pure education. I'm sure this topic is as varied and unique as each campus, but you have websites dedicated to "exposing" colleges as propaganda machines while folks cry that these stories are themselves propaganda. I'm on the fence and fully believe it depends on what field you go into.

I assume you mean Ben Shapiro, this sounds like the sort of drivel he writes. (Was he 19 in 2004 or some such thing?) Learning about things that make you feel uncomfortable isn't propaganda. As someone who spend the decade before and after that on US university campuses, the answer is no.

 

[comana]

We know that, but that wasn't the question asked by the poll.

Well, I don't believe that universities are pushing anti-American propaganda so the answer is no.

 

[Hans Blaster]

We know that, but that wasn't the question asked by the poll.

That is correct. The question was about "universities" pushing "propaganda". Extreme views aren't by definition propaganda, regardless of the direction they lean. Propaganda is about manipulation, particularly covert manipulation of viewpoints. Individual faculty are not "the university". "The university" would be the official policy of the regents, or the administration, or the faculty senate, depending on who sets policy. Unless it the policy of the universities policy makers to deliberately distort the opinions (of the students presumably) then the answer to the question must be "no".

 

[FireDragon76]

Shapiro is just peddling in another "red scare". The Right has been doing this for decades.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Shapiro is just peddling in another "red scare". The Right has been doing this for decades.

Commies again? That stuff should have gone out of style with the USSR collapsed.

 

[Halbhh]

"Propaganda" is intentional deception. (even if the deception is only to very selectively present real facts (partial information that is misleading by itself) with suggestions of interpretations, to create a false impression)

Propaganda is lying in some manner. It is not for instance a policy or idea you or I disagree with but that the person saying the idea/viewpoint believes is correct.

If some individual (it's a big nation) is somewhere saying what they know is false, intending to mislead, then that could be actual propaganda, of course.

Is there a lot of that? From my experience, admittedly way back in the 80s, definitely not. The few professors (very few actually) that had wrong viewpoints were quite sincere and themselves really thought they were correct views. ;-) (After I challenged one viewpoint, I happened to see the prof later in the library actually looking at books, and since he withdrew from the course, I couldn't help but think he had been sincere, but perhaps began to be less confident in those views.)

---------------

For example, it's propaganda for talk show hosts to suggest that generally protesters are violent or lawbreakers and full of people that do looting, vandalism, etc., by selectively emphasizing the actual real looting and vandalism, and suggesting, falsely, that most all protesters are of that same motive/action/character of trying to 'end America' or such.

To paint the real wrong of the few onto the innocent many.

Such lying prevents any person doing it from having a chance to enter heaven, unless they repent.

 

[Sparagmos]

Finished reading Shapiro's "Brainwashed" (you can search Amazon to get a better context) and while written in 2004, it did explain and support the idea that many universities are pushing propaganda rather than pure education. I'm sure this topic is as varied and unique as each campus, but you have websites dedicated to "exposing" colleges as propaganda machines while folks cry that these stories are themselves propaganda. I'm on the fence and fully believe it depends on what field you go into.

What exactly is “anti-American propoganda? Usually when countries are demonized the intent and effect is to demonize the people of that country. But how do Americans demonize themselves, and to what end? People don’t seek to destroy their own country, at the most extreme they may seek to overthrow the government but that is not a destruction of the country, just a change in government.

 

[Sparagmos]

Isn't he often censored from speaking on many campuses? As well as many conservative views?

There is no right to speak on campuses and be hosted by a campus. Thus there is not censorship when a campus chooses not to host a speaker.

 

[-57]

There is no right to speak on campuses and be hosted by a campus. Thus there is not censorship when a campus chooses not to host a speaker.

A group has the right to hire a speaker. The socialist think they have the right to pull fire alarms..set fires...and bliock buildings.