I'm an atheist but my bosses mock Christians! What should I do?

Question

First, I'd like to point out that I am hard-core left wing and atheist. I'm probably not capable of thinking a single conserative thought!

I am a post-degree Education student. I work in the Education library at my university. The other day the library did an orientation sesson for incoming students. Currently, the students are studying "Responding to Diversity". As part of the orientation session, the library staff (my bosses) played a video clip from The Colbert Report, which emphasized the inaccuracies of Wikipedia. The clip also contained materials insulting Bob Jones University (and in my opinion, insulting Conservative Christians). Everyone in the orientation sesson laughed.

It seems odd to me that mocking a Christian university would be part of the "Responding to Diversity" orientation. I can't help but wonder if any of the students in that session were offended or made uncomfortable by the video. It seems highly inappropriate to me. What should I do / have done?

Answer 1

I don't there was anything you could have done. If you weren't involved in the session like if you couldn't pick the curriculum or whatever and you just happen to work in the library where this was going on, I don't think you could've doen anything. I agree with you though, I don't think mocking one religion is a way to respond to diversity.

Answer 2

I'm guessing that you're in the US. Maybe even SC. What they did was highly unethical, it is not appropriate to make fun of others races, religion, sex, etc.

You can check Religious Discrimination
http://www.eeoc.gov/types/religion.html

First, see what human resources says on the subject of religious discrimination and harassment, so you can have your facts straight. Let HR think (or not) that you are not reporting anything, you just don't want to break any of the rules your self.

Maybe you like these people, and you feel they should be warned. Now, you are equipped to arm them appropriately with the facts so they won't break any rules or laws themselves.

If they continue to misbehave then the an appropriate thing you can do would be to go to human resources and try to make an anonymous complaint. If it is their first offense they could get off with a warning. Repeat offenders could face getting fired.

I don't know how the laws are in other countries, but here, they could get in trouble.

Answer 3

You are not responsible for curriculum. This is a University, hopefully the student render an essay about their own thoughts if not I am fearful of what the world is now producing humanity wise. You sound like a fair person, I am Christian and it is common to have people who go to church every Sunday make fun of Christians, Catholics, Protestants just because they are with a particular group. It takes a big person to speak out and point out how narrow minded someone is being. I don't know that saying anything or acting on anything would have made a difference as you are not dolling out marks right? It always comes down to an end to the means. It doesn't matter if you don't believe in God He believes in YOU!

Answer 4

Tell them that you don't feel it was appropriate to show the portion of the clip that mocked Bob Jones University, and that you are worried some of the students may have been offended or made uncomfortable. However, because of the subject material "Responsding to Diversity" I feel that presenting conflicting view points is essential or you defeat the entire purpose of the exercise. It might be worthwhile to next time simply state that the video may contain material the viewer may disagree with or may be offended by, but that it is only through viewing such material we can learn how to properly respond and deal with it.

Answer 5

I would point out to my boss the counter-productive nature of mocking or insulting anyone in the name of diversity. And better to get this issue resolved and addressed privately with the staff, than to let that attitude spread and potentially cause paying students to leave. It's not a matter of being politically correct. It's pure practicality.

Answer 6

Wow thats nice to hear (that you care). Im a Christian and a strong Republican and even though I dont support athiestic view points or Democratic views, I still try to respect everyone. I dont see why people have to mock others because we believe different things. Sorry but I dont really know what to tell you. I dont know what I would do. Try talking to them about it. Im really glad that someone has a heart and a brain. I wish there was more people like you. I hope everything works out. God bless

Answer 7

If you want to stay under the radar, keep it internal and file a complaint that your boss is displaying bias towards a persons religion.

Want to blow it up, give the video to someone who can use it to push charges.

I applaud you for your concern. i am a Christian and i fully respect your right as an Atheist. I also respect your right as a Liberal as you claim to be. We are Americans. But it is very un-American to say it is not right to bash my belief, but it is alright to bash yours. They obviously don't want anyone with a point of view past being an Atheist to have the same right as they do.

I hope you can resolve this...what they are doing is wrong.

Answer 8

Stay silent. University speech codes will put you through hell unless you protest and mock against the "right" people.
The whole diversity thing is a load of bullshit. We don't need legislative protection from being offended by some plastered moron, we just need to recognize what a plastered moron sounds like and proceed to laugh vigorously at the obsurdity of their comments.

Answer 9

Point out the hypocrisy to the dean in a brief email. If you're not hip to being known, send an anonymous note.

Answer 10

just point out that race, creed, color, etc. NONE of those are a basis for a student not to be accepted to your university, and you also firmly believe that none of those are a basis to make fun of someone. my mom recently told someone she was offended by their taliban joke, and they admitted that it never even crossed their mind that it was racist until she pointed it out. it probably doesn't have to be a humongous thesis statement you have to deliver to your boss, just mention it in conversation and then be silent and let the conversational ball be in her/his court. good for you for thinking against status quo.