Letters to the Editor

Author: [no author name found]

Political correctness is incorrect

To the Editor:

I just wanted to congratulate Daniel Roberts on writing his column (In My Humble Opinion, Nov. 9, 2006) on political correctness because it was the first one in a long time that made me slam the breakfast table and pump my fist in the middle of Ross dining hall last Thursday morning.

I am not saying this because I'm for being PC or non-PC. I just feel that it was high time someone talked about this at a place like Middlebury College, where everyone seems to believe they are living in a perfect little liberal world where everyone likes their neighbor, and where there aren't any built-up tensions that need to be released.

It's funny because two weekends ago I was in Burlington with some friends ­- three other Indians and one Canadian - and I brought this topic up because I wanted to make a joke about another friend, but immediately stopped because I realized I was one of three non-white people on almost the entire street. And it's not just about being racist/sexist/any other -ist. What I feel and what I got out of Roberts' article was that people are taking things way too seriously nowadays.

Everything said is an insult to someone's heritage. Something I find really funny is that when two international students are speaking in their native language and there is someone who does not speak that language nearby, that is also considered politically incorrect!

That aside, big ups to Roberts for talking about something everyone tries to shut up about.

Sincerely,
Ria Shroff '09
Mombai, India


Rehnquist professorship good idea

To the Editor:

I was saddened by the reaction of some Middlebury College faculty members to the establishment of a chair to honor Chief Justice William Rehnquist. I encourage them to step back and ask themselves a very fundamental question: Is Middlebury College an academic institution that fosters open and honest inquiry or one that wishes to project a "politically correct" image? I believe the former leads to greatness, the latter to mediocrity.

I did not agree with most of the Chief Justice's decisions, but I respected and admired his devotion to the Constitution. Perhaps more important, I admired his strong and unbending allegiance to the separation of powers. If anyone doubts his devotion to the separation of powers I suggest you remember his unwillingness to step aside voluntarily to allow the President to appoint a new Chief Justice. Chief Justice Rehnquist was a powerful intellect, and a serious student and writer of history. Indeed, these are the attributes that qualify his memory on an academic campus. He will be remembered as a significant judicial presence in American history.

William Rehnquist was a kind, respectful gentleman. He was a devoted grandfather who was known to leave work to care for a grandchild when his daughter needed help. Perhaps the best measure of the affection and admiration was the staff reaction to his illness and death. Every day the grape vine checked on this progress and at the end there was a sincere expression of sadness and sense of loss.

Sincerely,
Hugh L. Spitzer '58
Bethesda, Md.