Woah. I don't know what you're talking about in saying that younger folks take professors and academics word as gospel. Numerous times I have personally been taught a way to approach a problem, but either delved deeper into the issue myself or asked the professor why it's done that way. In more than one instance mistakes have been found and corrected, which could only have been done through this skepticism. Mind you that this is Engineering where there usually isn't too much leeway or room for interpretation. I'm sure it's even more interesting in softer sciences. I can assure you that all of my classmates have done the same with asking and challenging our professors and faculty, along with other Engineering students that I know.

Nor have any of us ever been belittled for having a different view, being of a different ethnicity, or anything in between. If anything, as thenewgreen said, you're looked upon in a good light for doing so (within a reasonable limit). That said, some of my...debates...with administration and faculty have got heated but never to the point of belittling each other. It appears as though you have had very different experiences than myself.