... on politics and values...

I leave my politcs outside the classroom. But I can't , and I believe I shouldn't , hide my values.  As an academic, and an educator, I strive to model the values of respect and intellectual honesty above all else.

I understand the nuances of subjective perceptions, I believe that much is relative; but it cannot all be relative; to function as a community we need to adhere to a baseline of shared reality.

Therefore I don't believe it is a political action, but rather my responsibility, to express my disapproval of actions by the US government which are violating my values, and causing harm to our communities.

1. I disapprove of the continuation of killings by ICE, in particular Johan Sebastián Guerrero and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.

2. I disapprove of the lies about election fraud in the 2020 elections.

3. I disapprove of the war in Iran, and I wish we focused our attention on the human tragedy it brings to the innocent civilian population more than on the economic repercussions on the market and on the price of oil.

4. I am heartbroken about the murder of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, and I disapprove of their vilification by administration officials.

5. I disapprove of violations of international law consisting in military operations in the sovereign country of Venezuela, even if the immediate outcome is the removal of a dictator.

6. I disapprove of trolling and disparaging all opposition. 

7. I disapprove of killing suspected criminals in international waters. 

8.  I disapprove of stoking the flames of division and taking advantage of the strong emotions caused by political     violence for political gain. 

9.   I disapprove of the erasure and targeting of the transgender community.

10.   I disapprove of indiscriminate execution of immigration raids (carried out by masked agents using techniques that lead to violent escalation).

11.   I disapprove of the lack of due process, and the vindictive nature in the treatment of Kilmar Abrego Garcia. 

12.   I disapprove of the unlawful detention of Mahmoud Khalil, Rümeysa Öztürk and others.

13.   I disapprove of the indiscriminate mass firing of federal workers.

14.   I disapprove of a foreign policy alienating allies and empowering enemies.

15.   I disapprove of dismantling the department of education.

16.   I disapprove of skirting obeyance to judges’ orders.

17.   I disapprove of using anti-semitism as a foil to attack universities.

18.   I disapprove of unnecessary military escalation againist protests.

19.   I disapprove of the treatment of Senator Alex Padilla, who did not need to be pushed to the ground and handcuffed.

20.   I disapprove of how the pardon power is being used, to shield supporters from legal consequences and to lower the gravity of white collar crimes.

21.   I disapprove of corruption and self-enrichment. 

If you disagree with me on any of the above statements, I invite you to engage with me; I promise to be respectful, and I will expect your respect. We may or may not converge to a common view, but at least an effort will be made  not to live in disconnected realities.