Have you heard of Austin Ruse? Three days ago, I had no idea who he was, but today I cannot stop thinking about him. Austin Ruse is the President of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute (C-Fam), whose mission, as described on the website, is to “defend life and family at international institutions and to publicize the debate.” The way C-Fam defends life and family, again per the website, is by “discrediting socially radical policies” on an international scale. Last week, Ruse took time away from defending life and family at C-Fam to play substitute radio talk show host on American Family Radio, where he shared his perceptions regarding the Duke University student. Earlier this month, the student revealed her porn-actress alter ego. This led Ruse to conclude that the student learned to become a porn star at Duke University in the women’s and gender studies programs. Ruse shared his hope that when the time comes for his daughters to go to college they opt for a private Christian college to avoid “the hard left, human-hating people that run modern universities, who should all be taken out and shot.” Yes, he really said that, on the open air waves, as the man in charge of a human rights organization. According to the Huffington Post, Ruses’ response to critics who express concern over his imperative was to dismiss the statement as “a figure of speech” and to call critics “pajama boys who have their panties in a twist.”
Ruse’s purported off-the cuff remark, and the public’s lethargic response to it have left me entirely perplexed. There’s been barely a peep about the comment in the media. Apparently I’m one of the few who sees the irony in the situation, that is, a man who fronts a human rights organization calling for the execution of people who do not share his worldview. I’m perplexed because I sit on the women’s studies advisory board at the university where I am employed, and I’m married to a history professor who dares to enlighten students on some of the lesser known details of US interventions abroad, and I can’t shake the thought that he’s talking about us!
So many of my present and former colleagues, friends, and members of my community also work at a university, and not one of them, not a single person fits the profile of someone so frightening or subversive as to warrant execution. This leads me to question who is the scary monster Ruse is imagining? Who are these “human-hating” individuals? When he calls upon people to be taken out into the street and shot, who does he see in his mind’s eye? Do average people like me, my husband, my friends and colleagues really evoke such horror? Or, is it the ideas that are so terrifying? I wonder if Ruse knows that ideas don’t die.
Yes, I have many questions. The questions arise because I feel threatened, and I don’t want to feel that way. I want to understand the thinking behind his comment. Given his response, that it was a “figure of speech”, it’s quite possible that he really didn’t think before saying it, but how does such a violent expression haphazardly roll from the tongue of a human rights advocate? Is Ruse oblivious to the copious examples of oppressive movements that began with the mass murders of academics whose views threatened authoritarian rule? Does he not consider mass execution to be a socially radical policy? His lack of sensitivity leads me to conclude he believes this type of violence is justified. His derisive response to people who expressed concern over the usage, the one where he insults their masculinity and expresses absolutely no regret over his thoughtlessness, adds to my conclusion that he feels entitled to the belief that violence is justifiable against differing worldviews.
My understanding of the comment and its implications leave me feeling targeted, so I am compelled to ask questions in an effort to help Mr. Ruse and others through the process of actually thinking about it, which leads to my next question. Who does Ruse anticipate will pull the trigger? Once someone like me, a mother, wife, military veteran, and beloved daughter is dragged into the street because I work at a university and possess differing viewpoints, who would be responsible for actually shooting me? Would there be death squads? Would the military be called upon to perform this act? Would it be Ruse himself? Inquiring in this way might appear pointless because it is virtually impossible to imagine the likelihood that such violence would be exacted upon citizens in the United States. We take for granted that this level of violence would never occur in the US, but it has happened repeatedly as policy in dictatorial and theocratic regimes across the globe.
The irony of Ruse, human rights advocate calling for the execution of academics reminds me of George Orwell’s 1984. The novel depicts a dystopian society where citizens are dominated through propaganda and paradoxical use of language. Government agencies are given euphemistic labels that are meant to mask a dangerous reality. For example, The Ministry of Truth oversees propaganda and the revision of history. The Ministry of Plenty oversees shortage and famine, and The Ministry of Peace overseas war atrocities. The people are taught to believe that war is peace, freedom is slavery, and that 2+2=5. The theory being that people who are willing (in the case of the book coerced) to believe in two mutually exclusive realities, ideologies or facts can be easily subjugated and victimized. Ruse claims his mission is to defend life and family, yet he promotes the use of terror and execution as means to that end; the two are diametrically opposed. I realize comparisons of dystopian literature to modern society have become almost passé, but in Ruse’s case, the comparison is apt.
I chose to write about Ruse because his comments, juxtaposed against his position as the president of a human rights organization, struck me as needing more attention. I cannot just afford him the benefit of the doubt and assume he really didn’t mean it. Maybe it’s because as a member of some of the groups he describes, I feel targeted by the comments. Maybe it’s because history has shown that a violent purge of university faculty and staff is the proven strategy of abusive leaders who seek to implement authoritarian rule by crushing dissenting voices and ideas. Maybe I chose to write about Ruse because those of us who are committed to social justice take for granted that people see us in a positive light because of the work we do. We know we’re on the right side, but the harsh reality is that, to some folks, our ideas are subversive, our commitment is unnerving, and our passion is threatening.
To some, we are a scary monster, and we must be put down. The more persistent we are in the pursuit of social justice, the more desperate people like Ruse become! Courtney Kidd wrote a great piece where she discussed the things they don’t tell you in social work school. To her list I would add that they don’t tell you people will be frightened and intimidated by your ideas and your pursuit of fairness, parity, and human rights. As social justice champions, we must be aware that people like Ruse exist, and that secretly, they wish we didn’t. It’s a frightening possibility, and some might shrink at the thought. I know at first, I did, but after some pause, and an opportunity to process, I feel better, less like a sitting duck and more like a social justice giant.
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I see you’ve posted this at something called Social Justice Solutions. I would guess you pride yourself on dialogue, tolerance, reconciliation, compassion, and, well, justice. I wonder if you’re satisfied with the justice your have shown me with this post?
Yes, I am satisfied with my contribution. I quoted you directly, and from there simply explained how threatening your comments are to real people who work in academia, who may not share your views. I did not threaten you or call for violence. I simply asked questions and explained my thought process, as a member of the groups you identified as “human haters” who should be executed.
Austin,
It is my understanding that you said the above on a public radio show, criticizing modern academia, how is this article, which is also a public forum, different from your statements in regard to the “Justice” of it. Should academia be crying out for justice from your comments as well?
What are your questions for me?
My first question is did you read the article? There are numerous questions in the article.
What would you like to know. Ask me directly. I’ll answer.
They’re all in the article, Mr. Ruse.
I was hoping for a fruitful dialogue. Seriously. You’ve written about me. You’ve got my attention. Let’s talk.
I read Anatomy of a Takedown, and all the comments that followed. I really don’t think a fruitful dialogue is what interests you, Mr. Ruse. My concerns have all been expressed in the article, and you are free to respond or not. Have a good day.
What kind of justice do you seek! How have you been wronged, Matthew such that justice is called for?
Austin it is clear that you feel you must engage one-on-one through the comments, however, there are numerous questions that our writer has posed which you are free to respond to. If you’d like to make a statement, or clarify the quoted remarks which you have made on air. If you do not wish to do so that’s fine, but you have an opportunity to clear some of these statements up. Should you wish to clarify specific questions that can be found in the article, or follow up further after, I’m sure our staff would be happy to oblige.
Ok. I’ll break the ice. You ask, “Does he not consider mass execution to be a socially radical policy?”
I answer, “yes.”
“Who does Ruse anticipate will pull the trigger? ”
No one.
“…but how does such a violent expression haphazardly roll from the tongue of a human rights advocate?”
By accident.
“When he calls upon people to be taken out into the street and shot, who does he see in his mind’s eye?”
No one.
“Do average people like me, my husband, my friends and colleagues really evoke such horror?”
I don’t know you.
“Or, is it the ideas that are so terrifying?”
I’m not clear what ideas you’re referring to.
” Once someone like me, a mother, wife, military veteran, and beloved daughter is dragged into the street because I work at a university and possess differing viewpoints, who would be responsible for actually shooting me?”
No one.
“Would there be death squads? ”
No.
“Would the military be called upon to perform this act?”
No.
” Would it be Ruse himself?”
No.
Now isn’t this silly? If you want to have a real conversation, I’d be happy to but I suspect like a lot of folks piling on, you’d rather ridicule and mock than talk.
But, let me know.
Mr. Ruse,
The day you made these regrettable comments, I called your NY and DC offices. I left messages at both places. Spoke with a staff person in the NY office. She was very nice, kindly listened to my concerns. I’m not inclined to continue back and forth. You have my contact information, if you truly wish to clarify.
Mr. Ruse,
I contacted your wife via email, and I left a message for her, and for you in both your NY and DC office. I think you’re jumping to illogical conclusions when you assert that by sending her an email I was attempting to harm her position with her employer. The email to your wife contained nothing more than inquiries.
I am not the one who called for the execution of innocent people, and I have done nothing more than ask questions. You seem intent on conflict, not resolution–again, an odd position for someone who claims to defend human rights. I’d expect a bit more sincerity and humility, but expectations rarely meet reality these days. I’m happy to talk with you over the phone, as you see, I did leave my contact info.
Oh dear oh dear oh dear, how you clamor for what you think is an upper hand. Now, I seem intent on conflict? How silly. Throughout this exchange I have been seeking a dialogue whihc you repeatedly rebuffed. Now I find that you contacted my wife’s employer. My wife viewed this as a threat and it really made her feel “unsafe” (of course, I am joking now..she is made of sterner stuff than that.). But she did view it and so did I as an attempt to harm her with her employer. Nice! Is this what passes for social work and social justice these days?
Anyway, knowing that it was you, and by the way you were the only fruticake to do so, who called my wife’s place of employment, I am not interested in talking with you.
I am, however, sorry to know that once more the “social justice” left — i won’t use the term liberal since I am that and you certainly are not — are largely hypocrites. Call for dialogue but don’t mean it. Call for tolerance but certainly don’t mean it. Call for forgiveness and reconcilliation and are really only interested in punishment.
Lastly, your questions can only be described as vaporous. I really would have loved to talk but your “unsafeness!” got the better of you. Remember, love drives out unsafeness.
Best to all,
PS by the way…watch for yourself in one of my upcoming columns. Your missive and your really hardhitting “questions” are going to be fun to write about. And the fact that you tried to hurt my wife’s employment? Wow. Folks are going to love that one.
I am not the one who made threats, Mr. Ruse. That was you. You are free to write whatever you like, just so it is honest. You might want to exercise caution when you assert that I harmed your wife by sending her an email, that is, if you want anyone to take you seriously. As I stated in the article, questions and ideas can be scary. You’re proving my point. Again, I have nothing to hide. Last I checked, the Family Research Council, your wife’s employer, welcomes inquiry to further greater understanding. Greater understanding was the goal. I’m done responding to you. Off to enjoy the rest of my day with my family
Do you want to call my children’s school, too? I bet you would if you knew its name.
Would you have asked my daughters if they knew that tyrannies often start with the killing of academics? Why do you suppose your daddy threatened to directly pull the trigger himself on hundreds of millions of college professors? What’s that you say? You say he didn’t. Well, of course he did. I should know. I’m an LCSW! I’m just of so thoughtfully wondering. These are just questions!
Aren’t silly questions fun. Wheeeeee!!!!!
Yes, done. Do not call my mother, or our neiighbors or the guy who fixes my car. And seriously, do not call my office or my wife’s employer. And since I know you want to, leave my children alone, too….