<p>Thanks for the suggestions regarding Carleton, Middlebury, and Swarthmore. </p>
<p>I guess that upon self reflection, I really DON’T want to send him to a school that stresses anti-imperialism and cultural pluralism. You might view me as a neanderthal for saying that, and I realize many probably view such ideas as sophisticated and enlightened thinking, but in my view, it is severely muddled PC thinking, because if someone can’t recognize that the art and architecture of Italy is indeed “better” than the under-development of Chad, I think that is simply closing your eyes to inconvenient facts. That is not intended to denigrate you, but merely to suggest that you might at least consider the fact that you may have become too PC. It would seem to me that the end result of imperialism has been tremendous economic development in the Third World, once they adopted many western ways (China, India). I am old enough to remember when China and India weren’t even a part of the world economy. </p>
<p>As someone who is 55 years old and went to 4 top colleges, it actually makes me sad that America has fallen to the point where such views are prevalent. I am actually astounded at how PC the universities have seemingly become, where all views are tolerated, except, apparently, the views of conservatives/republicans, who after all, in any given year, make up between 43% and 52% of the electorate. I am not some Pat Robertson yee-haw conservative from Mississippi. I went to Cornell, and am jewish. My father was the head of the democratic party in my home town. I am from the New York City area, and when it comes to the point where even I would not send my kid to a Reed type school, I think it shows that some colleges, true or not, have given some parents the impression that they are left wing indoctrination factories, churning out political correctness and passing it off as enlightened and sophisticated thought. On the other side of the spectrum, I wouldn’t want my kid going to a Wheaton College either. But perhaps I am being alarmist, as you did point out to me that Reed spends a lot of time on Western Civilization as well. </p>
<p>Anyway, good “debating” with you, and I will research Carleton, Middlebury, and Swarthmore, as I feel my kid, who is very intellectual but is not a partier, would do better in a small liberal arts college as opposed to a football college like University of Florida or Florida State. Your insight is appreciated. It is really great that College Confidential exists, and that someone can throw out a question and get immediate responses from all around the country. In my day, you would simply have your mother consult with the other mothers to get college tips.</p>