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Christopher F. Rufo's avatar

Jordan Peterson has graciously responded to this essay, offering to have a conversation, perhaps on the campus of New College next year. I will keep you posted.

https://x.com/jordanbpeterson/status/1829144404768256007

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Mark Paul's avatar

Cool. I hope your arguments can be sharpened by the conversation. I also hope Peterson can come to appreciate your efforts at NCF.

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Tommaso di Maria's avatar

This proposed discussion is the proper outcome - and the hoped-for initial consequence of your prudence. Dr. Peterson did not reject your work, but expressed doubts that I believe - based on his record - he sincerely holds re: means and ends. These doubts point to more substantive issues - truth/reality, philosophy/ideology, authority/non-authority ("To make grow").

Dr. Peterson is willing to be convinced - or half-convinced - but will only accept reason. The resulting conversation can yield an outstanding document for others to study and learn.

The libertarian tendency is a kind of liberal worry about State power which defers the problem of The Good and becomes a kind of social compromise, but one which is not holding. If that compromise is to be restored, then those who violate it must be educated politically in the costs of that violation via exercise of sovereignty.

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Gym+Fritz's avatar

A good start, but why wait until next year?

The US is a debate dessert; why not take this as an opportunity to start something similar to the Munk Debates in the US.

What we let pass for debates in American is sort of pathetic (Congressional “debates”, MSM-formatted Presidential debates, biased journalistic discussions) - compare these to Prime Minister’s Questions, no comparison.

There are so many big, important, issues that need to be discussed in depth and debated, and so many good, centered, people who could debate these issues; CFR & JD are just the tip of the iceberg. (No need for far left / right participants.)

We need to debate: Immigration, child sexual mutilation, deficit spending / inflation, the war in Ukraine, racial grifting, the power of political parties, the legitimate powers of the presidency, the drug problem, homelessness, anomalies related to crime, politicalization of our judicial system, the need & purpose for Homeland Security, the degradation of the bill of rights, why it takes so much time and money to correct problems with the judicial system, etc., etc., etc.

Call them the Peterson-Rufo debates, and do them every week . . . Please.

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Christopher F. Rufo's avatar

One reason: my calendar is full the next month and my wife is expecting a baby in the fall!

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The Real Mary Rose's avatar

Congrats, on the new addition and also the incredible work you are doing!

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Michael Magoon's avatar

Family first!

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Sherly K. Salisbury's avatar

Congratulations 🙏🏻❤️

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Vito A. Marangelli's avatar

Auguri

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Freedom Fox's avatar

"An educated citizenry is a vital requisite for our survival as free people."

- Thomas Jefferson

I honored TJ's birthday a few years ago in this Stack:

https://freedomfox.substack.com/p/thomas-jeffersons-birthday

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Pat Orsban's avatar

He is the good doctor.

I do not think he has gotten to the point where he understands the need for rough men, doing dirty work in the dark, while he sleeps.

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Jamal X's avatar

Like the nazi stormtroopers did in pre-WWII Germany?

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Pat Orsban's avatar

nope, that would be the democrats, except they do it in the open, because they feel they can, just like the nazis, its the other guys killing nazis, that did the trick,

some folks can't tell the difference,

pretty words did not stop rabid nazis, and will not it stop rabid democrats, it takes rough men, to do that,

you can vote your way into nazism, boys, your kids will have to shoot their way out,

assuming the dads are to chicken shit to fix the problem they let happen,

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Jamal X's avatar

Your father may have been regularly physically abusive, leading to your dysfunctional perspectives.

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Pat Orsban's avatar

nope, he was not a rabid democrat, like most of the other racists that lived around us back in the 60s,

I got spanked twice (I was a smart kid) when did your mommy remove your balls.

amazing how often stupid democrat vermin get things wrong

perhaps because their mommies removed their little boys balls before puberty

I am surprised that Substack does not identify the rabid little democrat orcs that post here. But then, their posts and comments do that nicely.

Hope that helped, but in your case, nah.

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Davey J's avatar

Wow. Isnt it nice for two people who disagree on matters to be civil and willing to have some more dialogue and debate? Our current climate is to run smear campaigns on people who don't see it your way. Bravo fellas.

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Dakinisimo's avatar

Excellent. My first thought on seeing you had responded to his comments with an essay was that a direct in-person conversation between the two of you would be of inestimable value to the public.

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Martin T's avatar

Excellent! You are on the same side, so this is an honest dialogue about making a better world and preserving a decent system of higher education.

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Surak's avatar

I admire Dr. Peterson's personal strength and his insights on life. I wonder if his philosophy has specific views on how one goes about preserving a civilization, which I believe was the original intent of the universities. Christopher Rufo can answer that question. If Peterson cannot offer a viable alternative, then Rufoism becomes the default choice for cultural traditionalists.

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Denah Butts's avatar

I look forward to this discussion! 👏

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axons007's avatar

He is ALSO great ! Open and willing to discuss. This would be an awesome conversation - would love to attend !

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