So, this is a rather horrible story. A San Diego State University college professor finds the amount of well wishes being sent to “war criminal” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) problematic. It’s just a rather bizarre post. Sen. McCain was recently diagnosed with brain cancer (via Law Newz):
McCain is a war criminal and, more to the point. someone who as a politician has championed horrifying actions and been lousy on state commitment to public health,” said Graubart, an associate professor of political science. “I have no idea what he is like on the personal level and don’t care.”
He goes on to say that what really bothers him “is the urge to send such well wishes to an utter stranger,” claiming ignorance as to why anyone would feel a connection to a long-serving U.S. Senator in the public eye who previously ran for president (the professor has also complained about not being able to shut off Facebook’s birthday notifications, so he’s apparently not keen on wishes for people he knows, either). Graubart says that by wishing McCain to get well, it somehow “reinforces the notion that some lives are more important than others,” because there are other people who have suffered and died from the same malady.
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A SDSU spokesperson said in a statement, “SDSU does not have a social media policy for faculty and staff. As a public institution, we do not and cannot regulate the private speech of students, faculty or staff. However, that should not imply the university’s endorsement of any particular viewpoint.”
The post is no longer available, but who does this? Sen. McCain hasn’t been the best of Republicans as of late—the conservative wing is not fond of him—but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to wish him well. Cancer sucks. I’ve seen some of my liberal friends on social media using this as a way to take a swipe at the GOP over their health care reform push. Now’s not the time, folks, though it just shows the rather odious nature of American liberalism: everything is political, and they will make you care. Even wishing cancer patients a successful recovery is a political event. Then again, it serves as another reminder for why I’m proud not to be a liberal or a Democrat.