Postmodernism and 9/11

For many people, the word postmodernism conjures images of beret-wearing Frenchies denying the meaning of the word "and." And there's no doubt that many postmodernists have lost their minds, and use academic jargon to obscure the vacuousness of their non-ideas.

But if there's one postmodernist I always enjoy reading -- and usually agree with -- it's Prof. Stanley Fish, a law professor at Florida International University. Recently, Fish wrote an op-ed for the NY Times, explaning the difference between academic freedom (which allows academics to pursue any avenue of inquiry, no matter how controversial or bizarre) and academic proselytizing (wherein academics try to convert their students to their views). It's not a topic that particularly interests me, but you should read his piece nonetheless, if only to admire the clarity of his writing.

Oh, and if you do, the 9/11 reference will make more sense.