Behold the Next Generation of "Reporters"

Robert Jensen embodies everything that is evil and self-destructive about the tenure system on U.S. college campuses:

One indication of moral progress in the United States would be the replacement of Thanksgiving Day and its self-indulgent family feasting with a National Day of Atonement accompanied by a self-reflective collective fasting. [...]

But in the United States, this reluctance to acknowledge our original sin -- the genocide of indigenous people -- is of special importance today. It's now routine -- even among conservative commentators -- to describe the United States as an empire, so long as everyone understands we are an inherently benevolent one. Because all our history contradicts that claim, history must be twisted and tortured to serve the purposes of the powerful. [Emphasis mine]

"All our history" contradicts the United States as a benevolent power.  Indeed.  This is so self-delusional and incendiary that such excrescence doesn't even merit a response.

But what's most dangerous about Robert Jensen is not that he is teaching some far-left subject steeped in identity politics and victimhood, such as "gender studies"; he is teaching journalism.  (On second thought, I am probably being redundant.)  [HT: Malkin]

Comments

[Jerry]

Jensen is certainly guilty of simplification by using the phrase "all of our history," but self-delusional this is not. Nothing in his piece is factually wrong. America has a lot to be proud of, but it also has a lot to be ashamed of. If you think there is a period of American History that contradicts this claim of "not a benevolent empire," I'd like to here it.

[Malcontent]

"Simplification"? It is a calumny.

Dude, if you're really asking for a lecture on American greatness, then you seriously need to go back to high school civics.

Slavery, the treatment of Native Americans, and the imprisonment of Japanese-Americans during World War II are dark blots on our history, and deservedly so. But if you are incapable of seeing "benevolence" in the world's largest foreign aid donor, in the country that delivered the world from Naziism and fascism, the country that has done more than any other to spread peace, democracy, liberty and human rights around the planet, well, then you're simply beyond lectures.

[Jerry]

Thanks for the reply...I think. I thought bloggers liked comments. Your "If you don't accept my arguments, then you're stupid"-response lacks a certain...tact. If you're trying to turn people away from your blog, then you've succeeded.

Your examples of benevolent occasions are fine enough, but I asked for a period of benevolence for a reason. While the US currently gives away much of its wealth, it engages in other economic relations with nations that perpetuate the necessity of foreign aid. While the US was fighting the facists and totalitarians it was engaged in its own forms of oppression. America has never been all benevolent. No country run by man could be. That's my point.

[Robbie]

America isn't a perfect nation, not by any means. We have our good points and our bad points.

The question is, are we more good than bad? I'd say, these days, we do far more good than evil.

However, when we say that, someone always goes "We killed the Native Americans!" So did everyone else in history. The Native Americans killed the Native Americans. This continent wasn't exactly a pretty place when we arrived. The Spanish interrupted the Aztecs in the middle of one of their full-fledged genocides.

History is not kind to any nation or people. However, what is relevant is where America is today. Why is it all these historical events are dragged out in order to criticize the country as it exists right now?

If someone's going to do the customary America bashing based on our current existence, using current examples would be kinda nice.

[John]

While Jensen's idea of a "National Day of Atonement" is an exuse for self-flagellation, so popular with leftists, George Washington's Thanksgiving Day proclamation actually does recognize that America is not beyond reproach. From the original GW:

And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions

He realized that American ideals will not always match up with reality. That doesn't mean we should scrap the ideals.

[Malcontent]

Jerry, I do think you're confusing "benevolence" with "perfection." We are most certainly abundant with the former, and never will possess the latter. And if you're looking for a "period" of benevolence, it would be: 1787-present.

I'm sorry if my opinions alienate you, but if you're looking for me to join the "America can do no right" crowd," then you will indeed be eternally disappointed here. And I think it is possible to appreciate the contributions of other countries as well, and all the good they represent, without apologizing for my own nation.

[Jerry]

I'm glad you don't accept the "America can do no right" position. I wasn't asking you to, nor is that my position. If I was asking for anything, it was "tact." But I guess being malcontent, a certain consideration would be counter to your schtick.