The Inability to Distinguish Between the Two Is Discomfiting

One of the most discomfiting aspects of all this is that there are these false dicodomies that are presented all over the place. So one is that if you believe in independence of thought and not following the herd, then you were a racist. And so you find yourself woefully associated with and grouped with people who hold incredibly repugnant beliefs. But i think it's particularly upsetting in academia, because the whole point of the academic enterprise is to discuss questions objectively,. look at the evidence, and not be swayed by prejudices which are built in at the beginning.