A teachable moment for us all

Though the comments about homosexuality attributed to Professor Eric Rasmusen on his Web log are abhorrent to me, and nearly everyone I know who supports genuine diversity, the University's decision to allow him to continue to publish his remarks while a review is underway is consistent with what it means to live in a democratic society.\nIn a large, diverse community of learners, each of us must be allowed to speak, and each of us must in turn take responsibility for our own words and actions. Professor Rasmusen surely will now be greatly challenged to show that he is fair in his treatment of the gay/lesbian students in his classes, for example; that burden is the natural consequence of his statements.\nIf any IU employee, in the execution of their job and responsibilities, exhibit bias based on race, sex, religion or any other distinguishing characteristic, he or she should be subject to appropriate university disciplinary procedures.\nStill, while those of us who disagree with him are called to challenge publicly the things that he has said, as has Doug Bauder and a number of other writers to this newspaper, it's important that we not let events like this one distract us for too long from the task that lies ahead. The controversy over the Rasmusen Web log is a teachable moment for all of us -- granted outside the classroom, but no less important because of that. \nLet us realize again that we have a long way to go toward a campus of universal respect and tolerance, but let us not forget that we have made significant progress in the last several years, and that every day we face our prejudices and differences, rather than pretending they are not there, is a day we move closer to our ultimate goal.\nIt is somewhat ironic that this controversy surfaced simultaneously with the visit of the Dalai Lama, who called specifically this weekend for more dialogue. Dialogue, he said, is the centerpiece of how we can address that on which we disagree. When dialogue stops, fear, resentment and violence can rise to take its place. These are hard truths the Dalai Lama has witnessed in his homeland, as well as in his travels around the world.\nThe idea of freedom of expression is an easy one to state, but harder to live: we must support the right of those we oppose the most to say what they wish. But we must also speak out for the causes of universal and equal human rights. In the end, truth will win the day.\nLike the Benton Mural controversy, the Horowitz ad and similar other events, the Rasmusen Web log represents a teachable moment. It is up to each of us to seize that opportunity.