I have no idea how the AHA membership breaks down on this issue but I will say that refusing to adopt a position specifically because you fear the wrath of a political party is not “staying apolitical,” it is making an explicitly political calculation and basing your organization’s position on that. - ThreadSky

tedmccormick.bsky.social • 62 days ago

I have no idea how the AHA membership breaks down on this issue but I will say that refusing to adopt a position specifically because you fear the wrath of a political party is not “staying apolitical,” it is making an explicitly political calculation and basing your organization’s position on that.

Reposted from Mary Rizzo

#aha25 business meeting - Jim Grossman says that the organization needs to stay apolitical in order to have "legitimacy." Surely unrelated to the upcoming view on a resolution against scholasticide in Gaza. *Eyeroll*

Comments

tedmccormick.bsky.social•62 days ago

A more plausibly “apolitical” position uniformly against the destruction of, say, universities and libraries might well lead one to endorse a “divisive” statement that a political consideration of likely retribution evidently forbids. These categories just seem hopelessly and intentionally muddled.

tedmccormick.bsky.social•62 days ago

That said, IME faculty are more conservative en masse than either they or their political enemies like to pretend.

tedmccormick.bsky.social•62 days ago

Ftr though https://bsky.app/profile/benwritesthings.bsky.social/post/3lezru76tec2c

tedmccormick.bsky.social•62 days ago

For further reference https://bsky.app/profile/damonyoung.com.au/post/3lezsgiunnc2l

tedmccormick.bsky.social•62 days ago

Arguments for and against in this thread https://bsky.app/profile/nkalamb.bsky.social/post/3lezpf3ug7k25

warrenterra.bsky.social•62 days ago

Those who do not learn from history preserve their legitimacy to teach it.

hamptonstevens.bsky.social•62 days ago

I don't get it. When did he say "fear the wrath of a political party"?

tedmccormick.bsky.social•62 days ago

Sorry, I realize that’s not clear — I was thinking about the “apolitical” label in relation to some of the arguments described/quoted in this thread. It also mirrors convos in my current university. https://bsky.app/profile/nkalamb.bsky.social/post/3lezpf3ug7k25

hamptonstevens.bsky.social•62 days ago

Well, I'm not quite sure how to respond. Generally, I do think it's important to acknowledge that Hamas and the IDF both have some responsibility. I don't see what's controversial about that, let alone worthy of jeers.

hamptonstevens.bsky.social•62 days ago

As far as remaining apolitical, that makes less sense to me. If you were talking about an arts organization, for example, I could see the need to stay outside of politics. But it makes a lot less sense when you're talking about historians.

tedmccormick.bsky.social•62 days ago

I just meant to link the whole thread; this is the particular claim about fearing retribution. https://bsky.app/profile/nkalamb.bsky.social/post/3lezqadtwd225

hamptonstevens.bsky.social•62 days ago

Ah. Yeah. Agree that's bad. Don't acquiesce in advance.

rinewithoutacat.bsky.social•62 days ago

Thank you for putting words to my brain just... glitching at that, and fwiw the vote is in and here (ofc not full membership, but those at the business meeting)

https://bsky.app/profile/benwritesthings.bsky.social/post/3lezru76tec2c

aparkes.bsky.social•62 days ago

honestly feels like you learn the political nature of “neutrality” on day one of history school. did these people with PhDs miss a lesson? forget? think it only applies when historicizing?

tedmccormick.bsky.social•62 days ago

I've heard *unions* referred to as "apolitical" multiple times in the last year by historians of the 19th and 20th centuries. I've seen things no historian should see

shannanclark.bsky.social•62 days ago

The business meeting was spicy. Grossman really outdid himself on the way out. Apparently after 15 years as executive director he has no idea that 80% of academic labor is contingent.

disabilitystor1.bsky.social•62 days ago

You'd think that historians would be able to understand this, but apparently Grossman does not

Posting Rules

Be respectful to others
No spam or self-promotion
Stay on topic
Follow Bluesky's terms of service

Comments

Posting Rules

Reply