starvinbohemian

My day took a random turn into Bizarre Land when it was revealed to me that two of my current professors are apparently feuding with each other over religious tolerance, freedom of speech, and the "gay agenda." Oh, boy.

( The breakdown... )

This is a fairly awkward situation for me because I really like both Male and Female Professor. I'm excited to be taught by Male Professor, who is a published author, a great teacher, and an extremely interesting guy. I don't want him to be fired. I also understand his frustration with the anti-Christian sentiment typical of universities. He has a point when he says that tolerance goes both ways. He's also particularly sensitive about his religion because he believes it saved his life from drug and alcohol abuse. I even agree that the picture on Female Professor's door was inappropriate. There's no reason for pornography to be on her door, and it was mean-spirited to bait a co-worker she knows is of a differing religion, especially on a particularly special religious holiday.

HOWEVER, he had no right to touch Female Professor's personal property or to infringe on her free speech. He was whining that he's in no way intimidating, but Male Professor has bulging biceps, a history with cocaine, and I can easily see how he would be intimidating when angry and shouting. Female Professor didn't get where she is today by letting men bully her or tell her to be quiet. Especially not men who have a problem with her "gay agenda." As someone entirely supportive of that agenda and as someone who thinks Female Professor is entirely awesome, I definitely see her position. But I still think it would be both an overreaction to get Male Professor fired and an example of how tolerance really doesn't go both ways. It's hardly fair to constantly bait someone and then get all offended when they have the audacity to actually get upset.

In essence, it was an uncomfortable day for me. ^^;