I think there was one of these places at Sydney Uni when I was there. I think it was one of the places those studying non subjects used to hang out organising street marched.

The smell was a bit much. Probably from all those twits, sitting around piddling in each others pockets.

Lexi & others,

<<Most of us realise the terrible and pervasive
nature of prejudice - be it in Lithuania,
the UK, the US, Israel, or elsewhere>>

Still it was interesting that out of all the potential candidates you just happen to hit on <<the UK, the US, Israel>>. I mean , most of our modern progressive schools of thought would read much into that –if it suited them -- and of course it wouldn’t ‘cause all the above named are on their list of favourite villains.

Most on the conservative side are opposed to racism. However, where they split from those on the left is where it(the left) tries –through a thousand devious devices –to portray racism as a peculiarly Anglo-Celtic phenomenon.

Think I’m exaggerating?
Look up WHITENESS STUDIES/THEORY (only “whites” can be racist!)
It is now a core component of many English/Linguistic/Anthropological
degrees at Sydney university (AND, many , many other major unis).

Lexi, "the terrible and pervasive
nature of prejudice"

Are you including Australia in your list of countries so affected?

Remembering that,
- One in four Australians come from a non-English speaking background; and

- One in four of Australia's population were born outside of Australia;

it is stretching credulity to assert that Australians exhibit 'terrible and pervasive prejudice'.

Dear onthebeach,

All I can do is politely suggest that you
re-read my posts on this thread. I've
stated my views quite clearly.

Waleed Aly pointed out on the
news program, "The Project" recently -
we (including Australians) are
all guilty of some measure of bias -
the tendency, often unconscious, to
interpret facts according to one's own
values. In other words - people tend to see
the world from a viewpoint of subjectivity -
an interpetation based on personal values
and experiences.

Dear SPQR,

I can't comment on your statements regarding
What Sydney and other universities now teach.
I'm not a student any longer. But I would
certainly be surprised that they deliberately choose
to accuse only white-people of racism. Perhaps your
assumption is somewhat biased? Just as
your suggestion that the countries I mentioned
Lithuania, US, UK,
Israel, (and elsewhere) -
was an attempt on my part to denigrate in some
way Anglo-Celtic cultures. Which is totally
bizarre, considering that the make-up of the
current populations of
those countries is mixed.

Clem Gorman writes "intellectual cafes come back", but did they ever leave? Universities are turning into "learning commons" complete with cafes built in: http://blog.tomw.net.au/2012/06/designing-learning-commons-for-computer.html

With most of the structured learning moving online, about all that will be left at universities are some labs and the cafes.

Come to think of it, what am I doing sitting here typing this? I am off to table 23 at the Purple Pickle Cafe, Australian National University: http://blog.tomw.net.au/2011/02/designing-for-dialogue.html

;-)

tomw, Brilliant.
You put the whole thread back on track.
While the cafe is still there with different people.
We are the next step in evolution, keeping the thought alive.