Michael Bloomberg Booed at University of Michigan for Saying Safe Spaces Are Dangerous
Even a guy who wants to ban soda is right every now and then.
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg assailed safe-space culture during his address to the University of Michigan's graduating class on Saturday.
"The fact that some university boards and administrations now bow to pressure and shield students from these ideas through "safe spaces," "code words" and "trigger warnings" is, in my view, a terrible mistake," said Bloomberg. "The whole purpose of college is to learn how to deal with difficult situations—not run away from them. A microaggression is exactly that: micro. And one of the most dangerous places on a college campus is a safe space, because it creates the false impression that we can insulate ourselves from those who hold different views.
"We can't do this, and we shouldn't try—not in politics or in the workplace," he continued. "In the global economy, and in a democratic society, an open mind is the most valuable asset you can possess."
Yahoo News reported that some students actually booed these remarks.
Bloomberg is a loathsome nanny-statist who attempted to ban everything from guns to sugary sodas during his time in office. He deserves derision—most of the time.
But this was not one of those times. Bloomberg is absolutely right to lament that easily-offended college students who can't listen to people they disagree with are ill-prepared for the challenges of the real world. It's a shame that some members of U-M's graduating class proved him correct.