"Personal Responsibilty"

I like to get the Philosopher's POV over at Mad Melancholic Feminista. Today she posted on "Why My Students Are Likely to Vote Republican" which is a timely topic.

While I consider myself to be a idealist - I must not be as idealistic as her Republican students - because they seem to think that everyone actually has an equal opportunity. And equal educations. And the money to get started. And no mental health issues, or emotional issues, or other health issues. Or responsibilities that would keep people from fulfilling their goals.

For those who do recognize these obstacles - they don't see the people with obstacles as part of their society. And they pretty much can't relate to any of it. Or so it seems.

I agree that it's important to think that you can - to have a positive attitude. But I wonder how much of that can-do attitude translates into a lack of sympathy and empathy for others. Or the disconnect from the idea that a society as a whole is responsible for the how everyone in that society lives - to one degree or another. (ie. more taxes or less - and for whom, what regulations, what laws, minimum wages, what social programs, what education - funded in what way, etc.)
___

I found another (assistant) professor's blog today - of Physics and Astronomy. I had noticed a link to his post A tale of egregious scientific male misbehavior linked to from Cosmic Variance - Things You Should Read On the Internet .

I thought it was pretty interesting. And the comments seemed to indicate that there are a lot of people in denial - who are unable to recognize their actions for what they are (as if the "South Park" or "Man's Show" mentality is reasonable). Basically unapologetically sexist. No room for any "politically correct" ideas.

I thought I was being pretty nice - but I got deleted. I expect the professor is not interested in having the feminist contingent show up. But you can see for yourself whether you think that the behavior of Herb, the scientist, was "egregious" or not. There seemed to be some disagreement about that.

I think that it's each person's responsibility to treat others with respect. It's a bind when it's your boss or something that's the asshole - but that's no excuse to look the other way. It sounds like a lot of people need a new way of looking at the world - ie - where women are people. Yet where would they learn that - not from the media (nor from pornography, obviously) - that's for sure. If the people around them do not speak up - who will? (This is a good article that Knop linked to: Diminished By Discrimination We Scarcely See).

Maybe someone will learn something from a blog.
______