tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531617304191579626.post7884642891228025281..comments2023-09-23T06:23:22.682-06:00Comments on Advocates for Agriculture: In Defense of FarmersTroy Hadrickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17729642328778709521noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3531617304191579626.post-63165913518383389722009-09-21T12:25:03.742-06:002009-09-21T12:25:03.742-06:00I have to say that I disagree with the idea that M...I have to say that I disagree with the idea that Michael Pollan's lecture as part of the UW's Go Big Read program is an implicit endorsement of his ideas. The very point of Go Big Read is to encourage students to engage in ideas, not to agree with them. Discussion and debate are encouraged.<br /><br />It seems that every time someone gives a lecture on campus, it is treated as the university supporting the ideas of the person giving the lecture, rather than that the person is offering their ideas, and just that. A major point of higher education is to develop critical thinking skills. Trust that this will happen. <br /><br />Also, there is a panel on Friday that will offer a chance for debate and includes people offering a variety of viewpoints. Michael Pollan himself encourages a debate that includes multiple points of view. (See the Isthmus interview). Several articles have been written about the selection of this book for the Go Big Read program and the chancellor reiterates her hope that a lively engagement with ideas is the intended outcome. Not agreement. Engagement.<br /><br />By all means, everyone is encouraged to attend the lecture, regardless of agreement/disagreement with the ideas that Pollan puts forth. But please don't frame this event as being an endorsement of Pollan's viewpoint. It's simply a chance for an author to speak on the campus that selected his book, which was chosen specifically *because* it inspires debate and critical thinking.<br /><br />Be there! Engage! Respectfully disagree! But you don't have to "defend" farmers to the university. The university community gets it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com