When it comes to an absence of critical thought, using vulgar language is a clear giveaway.
Earlier this week, University of Iowa (UI) professor Ellen Lewin responded, “F— You, Republicans!” What elicited such a response? UI College Republicans were promoting a “Conservative Coming Out Week.”
Is the phrasing “coming out” restricted? Apparently, Lewin thought so and even deemed it offensive to the gay movement.
The UI College Republicans email said, “Conservatives in Iowa City it is now time to come out of the closet!” According to the Chicago Tribune article about this issue, “It also listed many events including a blood drive, flag football games against College Democrats, a showing of a movie about George W. Bush, and a ‘wear red’ day.”
I applaud UI President Sally Mason for condemning intolerant political speech. Mason wrote, “Intolerant and disrespectful discord is not acceptable behavior.”
Lewin’s own apology seems rather weak, however. She wrote, “I admit the language was inappropriate, and apologize for any affront to anyone’s delicate sensibilities.”
Is Lewin unaware that there are gay conservatives? It appears so. I wrote about this topic months ago for Politics Daily in a piece called, ” Gay Conservatives, So What Else is New?”
Does coverage of such a story by the Chicago Tribune indicate that our nation is demanding more critical thinking?
Critical Thinking in the Real World 
Here’s an interview with University of Iowa Professors Timothy Hagle and Kembrew McLeod, Matt Sowada, the conservative co-host of the political talk radio show American Reason on KRUI, and Rod Sullivan from the Johnson County Board of Supervisors about Professor Ellen Lewin’s “F— You, Republicans!” email response to the University of Iowa College Republicans campus-wide invite for people to participate in “Conservative Coming Out Week.”
http://patv.tv/blog/2011/04/27/talking-with-yale-cohn-discussing-professor-ellen-lewins-f-you-email-response-to-the-university-of-iowa-college-republicans/