Gospel Reflections for December 6 2015
College Students and a “Micro-aggressions” solution
More countries are mobilizing now to fight the threat of Radical Islamic terrorism. We can be thankful for that. Similar coalitions have courageously fought evil forces before like Nazism and Soviet Communism and won. That we still must fight similar evils today is disappointing. As always, clear and accurate knowledge of this world wide threat is important.
However, there is a different battle going on in many colleges and universities today. Students complain that some academic subjects include discussion about evil historical events, or that happen today, and simply do not want to hear it. They complain that even the slightest negative comment, even an inadvertent one, is so destabilizing as to make study or campus life impossible. These are the so called “micro-aggressions” they fear so much. They even demand advance warnings about a troubling topic in class, or outright censorship of it, and even demand a cozy “safe place” room to retreat to in order to nurture their hurt feelings.
I can understand. When I was the pastor of a large elementary school, occasionally we had young students who got injured on the playground. We would immediately call their parents who would come and take their child home or doctor’s office. That seemed to work well. Perhaps it can work in colleges as well.
I can imagine the trauma that some college students feel when they suddenly find themselves far away from their parents. No wonder the smallest negative story from history can devastate them. Perhaps the solution is to again quickly call their parents to come and calm their fears, just as we did in elementary school. The world is frightening to these highly sheltered students and so they a retreat from it. Perhaps the elementary school system of parental support is just what they need.
Of course, I am being ironic in recommending this ridiculous idea. What a difference from these students is the mission of John the Baptist in today’s Gospel. John fearlessly goes out to this evil world to make it ready for Jesus. He courageously faces the evil Roman Empire and its corrupt local leaders with no thought for his personal safety. He encounters steep mountains and deep valleys and works to make them level for the Lord. (Some of today’s students want the mountains and valleys leveled for themselves!)
John reveals that our faith is based on compassion and courage. Jesus had compassion for our suffering and then courageously came to earth for our salvation. He certainly never thought of earth as “a safe place!” We must show that same courage and compassion too. The world is filled again with serious “macro-aggressions” in the Middle East and in our own cities. It will take the courageous and compassionate action of ourselves, and students, to step up and face them.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Excellent! Well said Fr. Dave.
You are welcome!
We didn’t know that college students were reacting this way and find it interesting. We probably would all like to escape these troubling events but you are right to call forth our Christian strength and courage. This recent event in San Bernardino was very unnerving. We must remember to be courageous in the face of trouble. Thank you for this reflection. Blessings, Joyce and David Bock
I am actually glad you were unaware of the college scene. It is so very troubling and disheartening to see how pervasive it is, and across all kinds of academic institutions, from Ivy League to community college. Fortunately, there are student and faculty groups that are beginning to reclaim academic freedom at some places. I hope that movement spreads.
When I entered U. C. Berkeley (a hundred years ago?), I had to complete a correspondence course in Mechanical Drawing as a requirement for entry into the College of Engineering. My mother decided that it would be a good thing for me to move to a hotel in Berkeley and complete the course there during the summer before entering the University.
I was OK until one day I walked out onto the sidewalk and realized that I didn’t know a single soul where I was, and I didn’t have anyone to talk to. This made me exceedingly sad. When school started I found someone from my home town, and I was able to finally talk to someone.
So I experienced the break-away from home into a place of some independence. I believe that all young people need this. Nowadays young people have Facebook on an i-device to take the place of their parents and friends when they are away from home (or at home for that matter). It is like they never leave home. But it directs them into a world of dependence on the Internet, which can be as detrimental as it can be helpful.
I think that parents should be aware of this, and encourage their college age children to mostly put away the i-device and to look closely at their new environment at college or university. There must be that painful plunge into independence if they are to successfully survive in the world. Blessings to all of them.
Well said! I agree completely. The important task for young people at this time is disengagement and independence. Although college students often believe they have disengaged from family, and perhaps what their family valued, like religion, they substitute those powerful institutions with the college, expecting the same nurturing care and safe environment. Hardly a preparation for real life!
I am glad you were able to connect with someone from your hometown, not as a substitute for home life, but as a transition from it to your new life.
There is a culture shift in our society, a pattern of how people handle conflicts.
We are no longer tolerant of peoples’ differences of opinion, and react in aggression, if not in
violent ways.
College students in particular are the most whining, sensitive and easily offended group in the
history of the world.
We need another John the Baptist crying out in the wilderness, “Prepare the way of the Lord”
In the midst of all this confusion and uncertainty we have the comforting words of Jesus
“Let not your hearts be troubled, or afraid You have faith in God, have faith also in Me” John 14
Yes, we certainly need another John the Baptist now!
I absolutely agree. When I was in college, one of the hot debate issues was creationism versus evolution. I apprehensively approached the subject with somewhat guarded resolve. I wanted to understand how evolution worked and in the process, I grew to love and admire my professors. I am glad I did not shelter myself, which would have only prevented myself from being educated. I even found that I could reconcile both creationism with its dualism, evolution. I understand these students are most likely homesick and this is probably their first step toward total autonomy. However, going to college prepares them for adulthood and these students need to face the adversity and discomfort they may find in class in order to overcome it and grow into confident and educated adults.
Well said! I am glad that you were in a college where you could explore subjects with great professors. I wish more students today had your experience.
What will happen to these fragile spirits once they are exposed to contention and disparity in the work place? Isn’t fortitude the ultimate objective of a productive education? The best outcome of education and experience is the talent to evaluate, strategize, manage and resolve challenges.
Maybe it’s a harsh lesson to state the obvious,, but history teaches that avoiding or fleeing existential conflict is not productive. What possible accommodation is there to Nazism, Stalinism, Maoism, and other contemporary evils stalking humanity? Surrender?
Do history professors in these institutions ever teach examples to demonstrate that pacific sincerity and error are not incompatible.
On a more practical level, what’s going to be the reaction of a graduate who’s been insulated from micro-aggression when they encounter (gasp) competition in the workplace?
What in the world are parents paying for? What is their return on investment? Four years of time, probably a quarter of a million dollars for tuition (or more), then how can these hapless graduates help their employers make money in a competitive global economy.
More seriously, as you eloquently mention, what happens when imagined micro-aggressions evolve into real macro-aggression. Compassion, courage and character seem to me to be the answers of the Gospels.
Thanks for your message. You state the problem very well, and from years of experience in the real world of global business competition. It is interesting to note that Jesus precisely sent His disciples out into the world to change it, not retreat from it. The Gospels also wonderfully present Jesus as having full faith and confidence in these former fisherman, precisely because He knew they would have the Holy Spirit with the every step of the way to provide that courage, compassion, and character for success.
Father Dave, Love your words, Courage Compassion!!!We have to make a difference for Jesus for good in the world!!,!!! We have to instill in our young people, Faith, love, values and to live these precious ideals with courage compassion and conviction!! We have to stand up to erroneous teaching in our colleges, in our work place and in life and be courageous in our beliefs!!!!! !I had beautiful parents who gave me a precious Faith and love of our God, our Jesus and our Mary!!! My catholic education and my Marymount College experience instilled in me a love of our Faith that helps me to face life and hopefully make a difference for good with the beautiful help of God’s grace!!! If more young people in colleges were given good values courses, ethics, courses, a love and respect for every human person whatever their religion or ethnicity, a knowledge that each person is loved in God’s eyes and that to make the world a beautiful place we must respectively act in love and be courageous enough to stop aggression!!! Prayer and action are a precious answer!!! We must pray for a beautiful America founded on God and that people attain faith and live in love and evil be defeated!!!
Love, Franca and Dick
Well said!