Could my western Civ professor get in trouble for saying this?

[Schadenfroh]

He was lecturing about the native americans. He said something along the lines of this, slowly became ramble towards the end.

"you might be wondering why the native americans never became as advanced as we were. In part, this was due to the fact that north of mexico, the tribes in the present day US spoke well over 300 differant languages. There were no nations, they were just villages and local tribes. And while we were in europe, measuring the circumfrence of the earth in (insert some date about 2.5 thousand years ago), they were over here trying to figure out if mud was eatable and digging random holes in the ground for no reason. "

there was a native american girl sitting in front of my that seem to take large offense at this. i could see why, but i also thought it was funny in a twisted sorta way, could he get introuble for the above statement?

 

[Vortex22]

It might have been offensive if it was a coherent thought.

 

[her209]

Talk about putting a foot in your mouth.

 

[PunDogg]

i can;t believe he actually said that, if the student was offedned enough she could go to the dean and what not

Dogg

 

[Wallydraigle]

That sounds exactly like my olkd WC teacher from back in the day. And yes, you can get in trouble for saying anything, or for saying nothing in some circumstances.

 

[myusername]

The language observation is quite valid, but europeans weren't measuring the earth thousands of years ago. Not really sure where he was going with mud-eating and holes in the ground though. That didn't tie into something he said before or after those remarks?

 

[nycxandy]

Originally posted by: myusername
The language observation is quite valid, but europeans weren't measuring the earth thousands of years ago. Not really sure where he was going with mud-eating and holes in the ground though. That didn't tie into something he said before or after those remarks?

"Eratosthenes (276-194 BC) was a Greek scholar who was the first person to determine the circumference of the Earth. He compared the midsummer's noon shadow in deep wells in Syene (now Aswan on the Nile in Egypt) and Alexandria. He properly assumed that the Sun's rays are virtually parallel (since the Sun is so far away). Knowing the distance between the two locations, he calculated the circumference of the Earth to be 250,000 stadia. Exactly how long a stadia is is unknown, so his accuracy is uncertain, but he was very close. He also accurately measured the tilt of the Earth's axis and the distance to the sun and moon."

Looks like ~2500 years ago.

 

[Evadman]

I know it is not PC at all, but that made me laugh. I'm sure he will be repremanded anyway.

By the way, drugs are bad, mm'kay?

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: nycxandy
<blockquote>quote:
<hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>myusername</b></i>
The language observation is quite valid, but europeans weren't measuring the earth thousands of years ago. Not really sure where he was going with mud-eating and holes in the ground though. That didn't tie into something he said before or after those remarks?<hr></blockquote>

"Eratosthenes (276-194 BC) was a Greek scholar who was the first person to determine the circumference of the Earth. He compared the midsummer's noon shadow in deep wells in Syene (now Aswan on the Nile in Egypt) and Alexandria. He properly assumed that the Sun's rays are virtually parallel (since the Sun is so far away). Knowing the distance between the two locations, he calculated the circumference of the Earth to be 250,000 stadia. Exactly how long a stadia is is unknown, so his accuracy is uncertain, but he was very close. He also accurately measured the tilt of the Earth's axis and the distance to the sun and moon."

Looks like ~2500 years ago.

OMGWTFPWN3D!!!111onebbq

 

[dudeguy]

i think for some reason their states were smaller, possibly due to the harsh winter, and harsh desert in the south. where as in europe you had milder winters, it allowed a more cohesive society that was more interlinked over larger distances. which led to states, then when one state became over populated it invaded a neighbour, hence the drive to invest in higher tech weapons and an advanced civilisation.

for some reason the american indians never organised and didnt have that ability/ prompt to invest in technology and advancement.

 

[BillGates]

It made me laugh!

 

[Mill]

Zero problem with what he said, and he shouldn't get in trouble. It is essentially correct, and I've had many many professors that used such language and comedy when teaching. So much better than some jerkoff that just lectures.

 

[murphy55d]

I laughed too. People are too fscking sensitive.

 

[shiner]

I have a Masters in History, with my specialty being Native American History/Culture. What he said, while not put in the best way, was pretty much correct. Though there is more to it than just the language aspect. He was wrong about there not being nations though. While not being nations in a sense of what we consider a nation today, there were nations and had their own structure, laws, and governing bodies. Sure not all of the various tribes were setup as such, but the larger ones certainly were.

 

[myusername]

Originally posted by: nycxandy
<blockquote>quote:
<hr><i>Originally posted by: <b>myusername</b></i>
The language observation is quite valid, but europeans weren't measuring the earth thousands of years ago. Not really sure where he was going with mud-eating and holes in the ground though. That didn't tie into something he said before or after those remarks?<hr></blockquote>

"Eratosthenes (276-194 BC) was a Greek scholar who was the first person to determine the circumference of the Earth. He compared the midsummer's noon shadow in deep wells in Syene (now Aswan on the Nile in Egypt) and Alexandria. He properly assumed that the Sun's rays are virtually parallel (since the Sun is so far away). Knowing the distance between the two locations, he calculated the circumference of the Earth to be 250,000 stadia. Exactly how long a stadia is is unknown, so his accuracy is uncertain, but he was very close. He also accurately measured the tilt of the Earth's axis and the distance to the sun and moon."

Looks like ~2500 years ago.

I stand corrected, but it might be worth noting that since that time, the knowledge stagnated for almost 2000 years before anyone took up the task of refining it

 

[fredtam]

It is funny but it is wrong.

 

[myusername]

Originally posted by: shinerburke
I have a Masters in History, with my specialty being Native American History/Culture. What he said, while not put in the best way, was pretty much correct. Though there is more to it than just the language aspect.

Oh, I agree there is likely more, but the language could be considered a causitive factor (for many reasons) .. "digging random holes in the ground" and "trying to figure out if mud was [edible]" is not so much (IMO) a cause of lack of scientific inquiry, but an effect.

 

[Linflas]

God forbid anyone get offended. After all the Bill of Rights guarantees Freedom From Offense in Article.....

 

[myusername]

Everyone know it's because they had killer bud

I would think centralized commerce would lead to increased "leisure time" (defined not by time with truly nothing to do, so much as time not spent acquiring necessities) which might in turn lead to increased scientific inquiry. Or a virus.

 

[Wahsapa]

name? school? im kicking his ass :|

 

[TitanDiddly]

Most sociolgists are afraid to back the 'most stereotypes are based on truth' movement.

 

[Corporate Thug]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
He was lecturing about the native americans. He said something along the lines of this, slowly became ramble towards the end.

"you might be wondering why the native americans never became as advanced as we were. In part, this was due to the fact that north of mexico, the tribes in the present day US spoke well over 300 differant languages. There were no nations, they were just villages and local tribes. And while we were in europe, measuring the circumfrence of the earth in (insert some date about 2.5 thousand years ago), they were over here trying to figure out if mud was eatable and digging random holes in the ground for no reason. "

there was a native american girl sitting in front of my that seem to take large offense at this. i could see why, but could he get introuble for the above statement?

this is funny stuff!

 

[fredtam]

Ask him about the Cahokia.

 

[XZeroII]

Fine with me

 

[esun]

That wouldn't be a problem if it was a joke (which, if there really is a Native American in your class, it could have been), but if it definitely wasn't then I would say it is a problem. However, to get him in trouble for something like that is unlikely. It wasn't a very smart thing to say, either way.