School's back in session

I hope you enjoyed your hiatus as much as I enjoyed mine, but the truth is I missed "teaching" at the Stu-Niversity, where all aggression is macro and all opinions matter. (Well, not all. We exclude the deranged as a matter of principle.)

Before we hit the books, a few words for those of you who sit in the back of the classroom, because you like to throw spitballs, you fear being called on or are particularly slow.

Such as those of you who tweeted – Twitter being the Kenner oven for the half-baked – in surprise that my column continued to appear in the Daily News (and continued to educate and/or infuriate). The blog was suspended, not the column. That disappointed those who despise opposing points of view. Here at the Stu-Niversity we welcome informed dissent and Political Incorrectness, which is why the Stu-Niversity isn't in the Ivy League. Agreement, which is anathema to learning, is never required.

The very same column that makes some people giddy with happiness is sure to send others into wild-eyed rage and possibly bore (heaven forbid) others. That is because we live in a divided America and no longer share common values.

Why are we surprised that Democrats and Republicans in Congress can't get along when Democrats and Republicans in the supermarket can't get along? Congress reflects who we are and, yes, I am sometimes frightened by that.

In his keynote speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, then-Sen. Barack Obama said this about those who see a divided America: "I say to them tonight, there's not a liberal America and a conservative America; there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America."

Would he say those same words today? You gotta be kidding. We are divided, there is a culture war, and we should admit. Maybe even embrace it.

As to the "why" of the suspension, contrary to the online conspiracy theories, the facts were exactly as presented.

Coming back from a two-week vacation, I forgot to run a post past editors for review, which is a good and necessary practice. The blog appears on philly.com and the "landlord" has a right to review what the "tenants" are up to, just as every print column is read by editors.

For one thing, it reduces the number of typos that too-often stud posts. For another, a second set of eyes can catch an error of fact.

When "word" of the suspension got out, Joel Mathis of Philly mag did what reporters are supposed to do and called me up.

Here's his reporting on the subject:

http://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/07/20/stu-bykofsky-blog-suspended/

I know it's more "fun" to believe rumor, conjecture and gossip. You are free to do so.

But that places you among those who believe Elvis, JFK and Marilyn Monroe are sharing a condo in Boca Raton.

It's up to you.

Regular classes will resume Friday, on 9/11. Brace yourselves.