Teaching when the going gets tough

I don't always agree with Prof. Eugene Volokh, but I think he is spot on with this post.  The gist of the matter is whether and to what extent we as professors should be comfortable teaching and working with students whose views we find morally repugnant.  There will be gray areas for sure, but, like Volokh, I think the answer is basically yes.

The challenge for us is to provide the space in which students can share their views, at least to the extent relevant to the class, have these views tested and interrogated, and shape discussions and lectures in a way that enables the transmission of knowledge, and also perspective.  These morally terrible (maybe so views as more subjective than objective in this regard) views may evaporate; they may evolve.  But the university serves its best function by being a place where such views can be tested, in environments led by ideologically diverse and well-intentioned teaching.  Sometimes this testing will be easy, and consensus seamlessly achieved.  Other times the debates will be intense and difficult, and the professor will have some sleepless nights.  But we can do our best in our roles as discussion leaders and trained academics transmitting knowledge and fomenting learning.