"In 2017, at Evergreen State College, a biology professor had his class invaded by a frenzied mob hurling ‘Fuck you, you piece of shit’ type abuse. The professor, ironically a lifelong progressive, “had refused to obey an edict from Evergreen’s Director of First Peoples Multicultural Advising Services that all white faculty cancel their courses for a day and…white students were also ordered to absent themselves from the school to show ‘solidarity’.” Evergreen’s president expressed his “gratitude” for the mob’s “passion and courage”". This and dozens of other examples are examined in Heather Mac Donald's copious examination of DEI 'helpfulness' in her book The Diversity Delusion. https://grahamcunningham.substack.com/p/how-diversity-narrows-the-mind
“The central purpose of universities is to pursue truth.”
The central purpose has become the accumulation of assets. Money. Administrations are led by people chosen because that is where they excel. The money, in turn, comes from private-sector research grants, secondary only to government research grants. That tends to explain the interest in DEI.
Oh Chris, please do not be fooled by the Prog-Marxist two step. They are going to play a 'Mott & Bailey' on you, see James Lindsay's explication of this fave tactic of the left. Now the NY Times can say they aren't biased cuz they published you. They, and their radical comrades, expect 'backlash' from reactionary forces. And be clear Chris, they believe you are a reactionary force against social justice. They do not think you are reasonable or are making good points. I do find this claiming of victory on the Right becoming more common, which is sad to me. DEI programs are proceeding apace in 10s of thousands of organizations of all kinds as I write this. We aren't winning. We haven't even stopped losing this war yet. In fact, they have won decisively ALREADY and are now properly seen as consolidating their power.
What Chris has done that is incredibly important is frame this battle correctly for the Right. We have been the victims of a massive, 90 year cultural revolution that in its final phase from the '70s on focused on institutional capture and succeeded beyond any Leftist's fever dreams. They OWN the institutions of America. From the Boy Scouts to your local college or university to the administration of govt at every level of society to news, arts, entertainment - do I really need to go on?
We have lost a cultural revolution. The counter-revolution must focus on taking back these institutions as Chris is doing in Florida. So now we have maybe 10 colleges/unis in the nation out of 4300 that aren't teaching ideas based on neoMarxism, the bizarre melange (this stupid spell checker doesn't have melange as a word, lol - our culture is so broken) of postmodern, poststructuralist and critical theory based ideas. This is what losing looks like, not winning. Be clear. And we cannot be satisfied with symbolic victories.
We need 1000 Chris Rufos, well funded and sent out into the world to overtake cultural and educational institutions. Think about this, as an aside that may illuminate how pathetic the Right is (I'm of the Right). We have all this money - has anyone used it to take control over a social media company? A conservative corporate raid of say Google or Facebook? Take over the board, take it private, fire half the useless turds who work there and make it fair and welcoming to conservatives? Nope, instead I get Getter - a frikking echo chamber. Same in education. Are we trying to take over any Ivy League schools? Even one? Second tier? Nope - I get some podunk state college in Florida, lol.
One could read my comment the wrong way, as though I don't appreciate Chris's work. Quite the contrary, I'm a huge fan. It's just that we still have no chance of beating these folks and some op ed in the NY Times is not meaningful. Sorry. The propensity for those of us who oppose the Left to smoke our own 'hopium' is boundless it seems.
"We have “politicized” DEI—that is, we have subjected it to democratic debate, forcing the Left into a defensive posture."
I love this reframing of the leftists' projections and bad faith critiques! You expose their authoritarian policy of repressing dissent by taking back control of language.
Thanks for all of your writing efforts which are bringing desperately needed truth to the important issues of our time. You are a literary treasure that is making a difference.
Thank you for your tireless efforts. Your a national hero who will go down in history as one of the leaders in the fight against a destructive social movement.
It's rarely said that DEI's pernicious goal is to displace white males. If you don't believe me, ask yourself what the DEI definition is of 'marginalized or oppressed people'. It is everyone except heterosexual (Christian) white males. Sadly, in our society today their is a war on straight white men.
Thank you for all of your hard work. God bless you!
When falsehoods are held up as undeniable truths, we must all stand up and fight back, even in the smallest way. Your example is one we should all follow.
Exactly as you claim Mr Rufo - the arrow has moved towards a more open university system and closer to pure knowledge versus political action as the inherent stance in schools ( and beyond) . Congratulations on a successful beginning ! The man of the hour ! Grace !
"The prior certitude—DEI as an incontestable good—has turned into a question: Does DEI help or harm education? As is often the case, posing such a question is the first step toward answering it."
Reshaping the Narrative
Does DEI help or harm education?
"In 2017, at Evergreen State College, a biology professor had his class invaded by a frenzied mob hurling ‘Fuck you, you piece of shit’ type abuse. The professor, ironically a lifelong progressive, “had refused to obey an edict from Evergreen’s Director of First Peoples Multicultural Advising Services that all white faculty cancel their courses for a day and…white students were also ordered to absent themselves from the school to show ‘solidarity’.” Evergreen’s president expressed his “gratitude” for the mob’s “passion and courage”". This and dozens of other examples are examined in Heather Mac Donald's copious examination of DEI 'helpfulness' in her book The Diversity Delusion. https://grahamcunningham.substack.com/p/how-diversity-narrows-the-mind
“The central purpose of universities is to pursue truth.”
The central purpose has become the accumulation of assets. Money. Administrations are led by people chosen because that is where they excel. The money, in turn, comes from private-sector research grants, secondary only to government research grants. That tends to explain the interest in DEI.
Oh Chris, please do not be fooled by the Prog-Marxist two step. They are going to play a 'Mott & Bailey' on you, see James Lindsay's explication of this fave tactic of the left. Now the NY Times can say they aren't biased cuz they published you. They, and their radical comrades, expect 'backlash' from reactionary forces. And be clear Chris, they believe you are a reactionary force against social justice. They do not think you are reasonable or are making good points. I do find this claiming of victory on the Right becoming more common, which is sad to me. DEI programs are proceeding apace in 10s of thousands of organizations of all kinds as I write this. We aren't winning. We haven't even stopped losing this war yet. In fact, they have won decisively ALREADY and are now properly seen as consolidating their power.
What Chris has done that is incredibly important is frame this battle correctly for the Right. We have been the victims of a massive, 90 year cultural revolution that in its final phase from the '70s on focused on institutional capture and succeeded beyond any Leftist's fever dreams. They OWN the institutions of America. From the Boy Scouts to your local college or university to the administration of govt at every level of society to news, arts, entertainment - do I really need to go on?
We have lost a cultural revolution. The counter-revolution must focus on taking back these institutions as Chris is doing in Florida. So now we have maybe 10 colleges/unis in the nation out of 4300 that aren't teaching ideas based on neoMarxism, the bizarre melange (this stupid spell checker doesn't have melange as a word, lol - our culture is so broken) of postmodern, poststructuralist and critical theory based ideas. This is what losing looks like, not winning. Be clear. And we cannot be satisfied with symbolic victories.
We need 1000 Chris Rufos, well funded and sent out into the world to overtake cultural and educational institutions. Think about this, as an aside that may illuminate how pathetic the Right is (I'm of the Right). We have all this money - has anyone used it to take control over a social media company? A conservative corporate raid of say Google or Facebook? Take over the board, take it private, fire half the useless turds who work there and make it fair and welcoming to conservatives? Nope, instead I get Getter - a frikking echo chamber. Same in education. Are we trying to take over any Ivy League schools? Even one? Second tier? Nope - I get some podunk state college in Florida, lol.
One could read my comment the wrong way, as though I don't appreciate Chris's work. Quite the contrary, I'm a huge fan. It's just that we still have no chance of beating these folks and some op ed in the NY Times is not meaningful. Sorry. The propensity for those of us who oppose the Left to smoke our own 'hopium' is boundless it seems.
"We have “politicized” DEI—that is, we have subjected it to democratic debate, forcing the Left into a defensive posture."
I love this reframing of the leftists' projections and bad faith critiques! You expose their authoritarian policy of repressing dissent by taking back control of language.
Thank YOU for taking issue with DEI when others would not. Many of us agree with you - & are deeply disappointed in leadership.
So many of us are strongly supportive of all your efforts. A giant thanks to you.
Thanks for all of your writing efforts which are bringing desperately needed truth to the important issues of our time. You are a literary treasure that is making a difference.
Thank you for your tireless efforts. Your a national hero who will go down in history as one of the leaders in the fight against a destructive social movement.
It's rarely said that DEI's pernicious goal is to displace white males. If you don't believe me, ask yourself what the DEI definition is of 'marginalized or oppressed people'. It is everyone except heterosexual (Christian) white males. Sadly, in our society today their is a war on straight white men.
Thanks, Chris. Proud to be a long time supporter.
Thank you for all of your hard work. God bless you!
When falsehoods are held up as undeniable truths, we must all stand up and fight back, even in the smallest way. Your example is one we should all follow.
Good progress!! Thanks.
Yes!
Good work Chris. I always appreciate your courage.
Exactly as you claim Mr Rufo - the arrow has moved towards a more open university system and closer to pure knowledge versus political action as the inherent stance in schools ( and beyond) . Congratulations on a successful beginning ! The man of the hour ! Grace !
"The prior certitude—DEI as an incontestable good—has turned into a question: Does DEI help or harm education? As is often the case, posing such a question is the first step toward answering it."
There is a saying:
"To ask the question is to answer it."
And another one:
"If the shoe fits..."
Hope you enjoy every success as much as we all do. Thankyou, Chris!