Monday, November 29, 2010

Today’s Response
Middle Tennessee State University

“Each of us carries within himself a collection of instant insults.”—Haim Ginott

If you’re concerned about the increasing lack of civility in public discourse, you’re not alone, but you’re not likely to see any improvement. So says Dr. Robb McDaniel, political science. “At least in the near term, civility in politics is likely to decay and continue to decay for a long time, and there is very little that any of us can do about it,” says McDaniel. “The reason is simple: the recent decay of civility is not educational or accidental. It is structural and intentional, and the forces that drive it are intensifying rather than weakening. Since politics is driven by interests rather than by abstract philosophical commitments, the incentives toward polarization and demonization will, for the foreseeable future, remain much stronger than are those toward moderation and accommodation. Indeed even the best-intentioned attempt to restore civility may be counterproductive because, paradoxically, such an effort would play into the hands of the forces of incivility.”

Contact McDaniel at 615-904-8245.
rmcdanie@mtsu.edu

“Religion, to me, is a bureaucracy between man and God that I don’t need.”—Bill Maher

Comedian Bill Maher not only peppers his monologues and his HBO series with jokes about religion. He made a movie titled “Religilous” (a combination of “religious” and “ridiculous”). Dr. Phil Oliver, philosophy, writes, “I’m not a fan. He’s bellicose, self-righteous, uncharitable and mean-spirited. The fact that I agree with him on many points only accentuates those character deficiencies.” As for people like Richard Dawkins, the evolutionary biologist who is adamant in his belief that religion is delusional and dangerous, Oliver says, “I think he’s wrong to insist on an either/or between science and religion, but I also think a lot of his vaunted, reviled ‘arrogance’ boils down to a compelling passion for ‘popular understanding’ … and an impatience with those who won’t acknowledge the birth of evolutionary ‘cool.’”

Contact Oliver at 615-898-2050.
poliver@mtsu.edu

“Sex on television can’t hurt unless you fall off.”—Author Unknown

In the 1950s and early 1960s, when television was still relatively new on the scene, its promoters told the public that this invention would help rub out illiteracy and spread democracy through the promotion of so-called “pro-social messages.” So what happened? Dr. Larry Burriss, journalism, says, “We found out that in our pluralistic society having television promote this or that point of view just wasn’t as simple as we thought it was going to be. Entertainment television, we discovered, is a complex social instrument, and its effects are quite unpredictable. … Television consumers should become more actively involved in determining the kind of content they desire. And, although we may disagree with particulars, the ethical use of television must be based on the notions of protecting our freedom, equality, dignity and physical and psychological well-being.”

Contact Burriss at 615-898-2983.
lburriss@mtsu.edu

TR EXTRA

EXPLORE THE WAR--After two excursions to the South Pacific to expose students to some of the critical sites of World War II, an MTSU historian prepares to embark on a tour of some of the pivotal sites of the European Theater of Operations for his “Warfare and Public Memory in Western Europe” class (HIST 3070). Dr. Derek Frisby, associate professor of history, will escort students across the continent May 19-June 3, 2011, in tracing the war’s “Great Crusade.” The 16-day tour will include an examination of Normandy; Bastogne; Dachau; Operation Market Garden, a campaign fought in Germany and the Netherlands; and the “Eagle’s Nest,” Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler’s retreat in the mountains above Berchtesgarden. Students also will follow the route of the 101st Airborne Division’s “Band of Brothers.” Tours of Omaha and Utah beaches, Arnhem and the “Battle of the Bulge” site are on the itinerary, as well as the Bayeaux Tapestry, Paris, Verdun and Waterloo. For more information, contact Frisby at 615-904-8097 or dfrisby@mtsu.edu. Financial aid is available. Apply as soon as possible. Contact the Office of Education Abroad and Student Exchange (MT Abroad) at 615-898-5179 or mtabroad@mtsu.edu.

THE BETTER CHEDDAR--The MTSU Dairy Science Club is now accepting orders for cheese gift boxes. This quality Wisconsin cheese is delivered within two days of placing an order. Although MTSU has a dairy herd that produces the milk served in campus cafeterias, the university does not make its own cheese. The funds raised from cheese sales support Dairy Science Club activities such as the Beginning and Master Beekeeping classes at MTSU, clinics and team travel. The deadline for placing orders is Tuesday, Nov. 30. Orders will be available to pick up from the MTSU Milk Processing Plant in the Stark Agriculture Building the first week of December. Cheese offerings are online at http://www.mtsu.edu/abas/cheesesale.pdf. Contact Kym Stricklin at 615-898-2523 or kstrick@mtsu.edu.

DON’T LET YOUR FELLOWSHIP SAIL WITHOUT YOU.--Qualified high-school seniors interested in applying for the Buchanan Fellowships at MTSU must meet a Wednesday, Dec. 1, deadline in order to be considered. The fellowship pays full tuition (up to 16 hours a semester) and most fees for four years of eligibility as well as an annual book allowance of $1,000 and other perks such as early registration and study-abroad opportunities. Students interested in securing applications for Buchanan Fellowships should go online to mtsu.edu/honors/scholarships.html. The fellowships are limited to 20 students per year. The fellowship is named in honor of Dr. James M. Buchanan (Class of 1940), a Nobel Prize-winning alumnus. Contact Dr. John Vile, dean of the University Honors College, at 615-898-2596 or jvile@mtsu.edu.

A RADICAL IDEA--A series of six Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) classes will be offered at no charge from 6-8 p.m. each Thursday through Dec. 2 at MTSU police headquarters, 1412 East Main St. in Murfreesboro. The class will be open to all female MTSU students, faculty and staff, as well as to the general public. A workbook/training manual will be provided to each student. Enrollment is limited. For more information or to enroll, contact MTSU RAD instructor Sgt. David Smith at 615-692-2424 or 615-494-7858.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS--It’s time again for “Operation Christmas Care,” the project that sends holiday cheer to wounded warriors. The service, which was started in 2006 by Lee Ann Newton, executive aide for the Tennessee Mathematics, Science and Technology Education Center, has sent more than 20,000 Christmas cards to hospitalized military personnel. “Unfortunately, our soldiers’ individual support systems often dwindle after the life-threatening danger has passed,” says Norton, “and yet their painful daily regiment toward recovery continues. E-mails are nice, and they’re appreciated, but a colorful card or letter with a heartfelt message of support and encouragement can beam from the walls of their hospital rooms until they leave.” Contact Newton at 615-904-8573 or lnewton@mtsu.edu.