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FIVELIESCOLLEGESTELLYOURKIDS…ANDHOWTODEBUNKTHEM

INTRODUCTION VanderbiltUniversity,November2015.

PickinguponthemediaobsessionwithcollegestudentsclaimingracismandsexismacrossAmerica,200studentsdecidedtoprotestthewhiteprivilegeandmicroaggressionsoftheadministration.Theydidn’tgiveanyparticularexamplesofdiscriminationbytheadministration,butthatdidn’tmatter–theyfeltvictimized.Thestudentsloudlydemandeddiversityclassesandamore“diverse”studentbody.

Thenextday,abagofcrapshowedupatthefrontdooroftheBishopJosephJohnsonBlackCulturalCenter.

Theapocalypseensued.ThestudentactivistgroupsponsoringtheoriginalmarchrushedtoFacebooktodenouncethe“vileact,”weeping,“TheviolationofaplacethatinmanywaysisthesolehomeformanyBlackstudentsisdeplorable.Asmanyofussitingrief,recognizethatthesetypesofactionsarewhatwespeakofwhenwenotetherealityofexclusionandisolationofstudentsofcolorandspecificallyBlackstudentsonourcampus.” Thepoliceinvestigated.Nobodywasarrestedorprosecuted.

Clearly,racismwasaliveandwellonAmerica’scampuses,right?Well,no.Itturnsoutthatthebagofexcrementwasn’taracistattack.Itwasleftbya

blindgirlwithaservicedog.Shecouldn’tfindatrashcan,andsoshefollowednormalprocedure:sheleftitoutsidethedoorofabuilding,knowingthatsomejanitorwouldpickitupanddiscardit. Oops.You’dimaginethestudentgroupwouldhavesomedogpooponitsface,no?Well,notexactly. Instead,thestudentgroupapologized–andthenaddedthat“theneedsofstudentswithdisabilitiesonthiscampusarealsomarginalized.”Yes,ourself-appointedvictimsco-optedtheblindgirlresponsibleforthedogpoopbagintotheirvictimsupportgroup.1 AndthusitgoesatAmerica’scampuses. ProtestshaverockedAmericancampusesthisyearbasedonnothing.FromUniversityofMissouritoYale,fromCaliforniaStateUniversityatLosAngelestoPennState,fromUniversityofWisconsintoUniversityofNorthCarolina,it’sbecomethenormforstudentstoscream,getviolent,blockfreespeechevents,anddemand“change”fromtheadministrationwhileclaimingthatAmericaisaracist,sexist,homophobiccountryfilledwithbigotswhostaffitsinstitutionsofhigherlearning. Allofitisnonsense.Butthatdoesn’tstopthepreaching. Someofthelanguageusedoncampusistoobizarretobebelievedbythosewhohaven’tbeenoncampusforthelastseveralyears.I’vebeenspeakingoncollegecampusesformorethanfifteenyears,butonlyinthelasttwohaveIrequiredsecurity.I’vebeenriotedagainstatCSULAandnear-riotedagainstatPennState;I’vebeenbannedfromDePaulUniversityandscreameddownatUniversityof

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Wisconsin.Allofthisisthankstoanewmentalityofprivilegethathasseepeddownfromthemostradicalleftiststoyoungstudents,whoassumeanairofunearnedmoralsuperioritywhileviolatingbasicdecency. It’snotacoincidencethisishappeningoncampus.AmericancollegecampuseshavebecomeabreedinggroundforAmericanfailure:careerfailure,moralfailure,emotionalfailure.Andthat’sthankstoaperverseleftistideologythatrewardssubjectiveself-aggrandizementoverobjectivetruth. Inthise-book,we’llexaminefiveofthemostcommonclaimsofthecampusleft:first,thatpeoplewhoaremoresuccessfulinAmericaaremoresuccessfuldueto“privilege,”andthereforecannotspeakaboutthemeritsordemeritsofAmericanpolicyandsociety;second,that“socialjustice”requiresredistributionofresourcesandimparts“rights”thatallowyoutodemandthingsfromothers;third,thatsubjectivefeelingseclipsetruthandfreeexpression,andthusnecessitate“triggerwarnings”andcampaignsagainst“microaggressions”;fourth,thatAmericansarebetteroffiftheyareprotectedfromthosewhodisagreein“safespaces”;andfifth,that“diversity”shouldtrumpdecency.

Thecampusleftisdeterminedtoinculcateeachoftheseperniciousideasinyoungmenandwomenacrossthecountry,toconvincethemthatAmericaisunfairandawful,thattheyarevictims,andthattheycanestablishtheirownmoralrectitudebypassingalongthesegrossnotions.Campusleftismisanideologicalmulti-levelmarketingscheme:ifyousellleftismtoyourfriends,yougetcreditfortheirleftism;iftheysellittotheirfriends,you’veonlyincreasedyourcircleofvirtue!

There’sonlyonewaytostopthis:bydebunkingthemostpopularbuzzwordstheleftenjoysemploying.

So,let’sbegin.1.“CHECKYOURPRIVILEGE” America’scollegecampuseshaveoneoverriding,leftistutopiangoal:tolevelallinequalityofoutcome.America’sFoundingFathersbelievedinequalityofopportunity–theythought,rightly,thatGodorNatureprovidedmankindwithrightstolife,liberty,andproperty.Theinternationalleftbelievesthattrueopportunitycanonlybereflectedinresult:anyinequalitymustbetheresultofinequity.That’strueforindividuals,andit’strueforgroups.Andwecan’tjustmeasureinequalityineconomicterms–wemustfeelequal. Oncollegecampuses,toachievethisend,thelefthassetupitsmini-utopias.Gradeinflationassuresthateveryoneissatisfiedwithhisorhergrade.Government-sponsoredtuitionensuresthateveryoneisabletoachieveacollegedegree,whetherornotthatdegreeisinausefulsubject.Collegeadministratorsworktoensurethateveryindividualoncampusfeelsequallyvaluable. Butthat’snotenough.Becauserealitydoesnotmatchthevision–becausetherewillalwaysbeindividualsandgroupsthatdonotachieveequally–theleftmustblamesomething.AndsotheyblamethestructureofAmerica:itshistory,itsvalues,itseconomics.Theystatethatanyonewhofailsatanythinghasdonesobecauseoftheracist,classist,sexist,homophobic“system,”bothoncampusandoff. Andtheysaythesystemmustbetornoutrootandbranch.

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Thisisallpartofatheorycalled“intersectionality,”whichsuggeststhatweareallmembersofbroadergroups,thatouridentitiesasmembersofthosegroupsmakeusvictimsorvictimizers,andthatweonlyhavetherighttospeakoutonaparticularissuetosomeonemore“privileged”thanweare.The“privilege”hierarchygoessomethinglikethis,asdescribedbyDamonLinkerinTheWeek:straightwhitemaleatthetop,then“straight,able-bodiedwhitewomen,withstraight‘peopleofcolor’ofeithergenderevenlessprivileged,followedbygay,lesbian,transgendered,anddisabledvariationsoneachidentitycategory–withahypotheticaldisabledblacklesbianperhapsleastprivilegedofall.”Thishierarchy,ofcourse,meansthatwhitemalesshouldshutup.2 Intersectionalityisdrilledintostudentsfromthemomenttheysteponcampus,withclassesdedicatedtodestroying“whiteprivilege”andtellingstudentsto“checktheirprivilege.”Thecampusleftsimplygivespeopleafeelingofvirtuebycountingthemasmembersofvictimizedidentitygroups.Ifyou’reanunderachievingblackwoman,theleftblamesyourfailuresonyouridentity:youmustbefailingbecausethe“system”hatesblacksandfemales.Ifyou’reanunderachievinggayHispanic,youmustbefailingbecausethe“system”targetspeoplelikeyou.

Forthosewhoareleft–whiteheterosexual“cisgender”males–theleftgrantsconditionalvirtuesolongasthosewhiteheterosexual“cisgender”malesadmittheirguiltandmakepenance.Theprocessiseasy:allthesepeoplehavetodoisperpetuallyacknowledgetheir“privilege,”andallisforgiven.

Accordingtothecampusleft,thetruebadguysintheworldarethesewhiteheterosexual“cisgender”males.The“system”wasbuilttobenefitthem;theFoundingFathersdesignedagovernmentalandeconomicsystemtoprotecttheirownevilinterest,attheexpenseofminoritieseverywhere.This“whiteprivilege,”saymembersofthecampusleft,extendstoeveryareaofAmericanlife.It’sinescapable.You’rebornintoitsolongasyou’rebornwhite;you’rebornwithaheavyburdenonyourbackthatcannevertrulybealleviatedifyou’rebornnon-white,non-straight,non-male.Here’sthedefinitionof“whiteprivilege”fromtheSouthernPovertyLawCenter,quotingJenniferHolladay’sWhiteAnti-RacistActivism:APersonalRoadmap:

Whiteskinprivilegeisnotsomethingthatwhitepeoplenecessarilydo,createorenjoyonpurpose.Unlikethemoreovertindividualandinstitutionalmanifestationsofracismdescribedabove,whiteskinprivilegeisatransparentpreferenceforwhitenessthatsaturatesoursociety.Whiteskinprivilegeservesseveralfunctions.First,itprovideswhitepeoplewith“perks”thatwedonotearnandthatpeopleofcolordonotenjoy.Second,itcreatesrealadvantagesforus.Whitepeopleareimmunetoalotofchallenges.Finally,whiteprivilegeshapestheworldinwhichwelive—thewaythatwenavigateandinteractwithoneanotherandwiththeworld.Thisis,toputitmildly,ridiculousandinsulting.Now,beforewegofurther,it’simportanttodefineourterms.Itistruethat

blackpeople,andotherminorities,sufferedhistoricdiscriminationintheUnited

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States.That’sinarguablytrue.Butthatdoesn’tmeanblackpeoplearesufferinginstitutionaldiscriminationnow.Andhistoricdiscriminationisinsufficienttoexplaincurrentlevelsofinequality,ortojustifydiscriminationagainstwhitepeoplewhohadnothingtodowithJimCrow.IndividualsalloverAmericahavedifferenthistoriesrangingfromthewealthytothepoor.Somepeoplearebornrich,somearebornpoor;somehavehistoriesofdiscrimination,somehavehistoriesofprivilege.Nobodyiscapableofrightingwrongsdonetopeoplethreegenerationsagobypenalizingpeoplewhohadnopartinthosewrongswithoutdoinggraveinjustice.

Thesolutiontohistoricinjusticeisn’tmoderninjustice.Threegenerationsago,mypeoplewerebeingslaughteredbythemillionsinEurope,andFDRwouldn’tletJewsintothecountry.Thatdoesn’tmeanthere’swidespreadanti-JewishprivilegethroughoutAmericathatrequiresrestitutionfromthegovernmentortoday’staxpayers.

IntheUnitedStatesvirtuallyallsuchinequalitiesresultnotfromhistoricinjusticesbutfromculturesthatembracepoorvalues.IndividualfailuresintheUnitedStatesaren’tduetoanunfairsystem,byandlarge,buttoindividualirresponsibilityandbaddecision-making.Andinequalityamonggroupsexistsineverysocietyinhistory.Wecan’tfixwhereyoustartinlife.That’sbeyondyourcontrolandit’sbeyondmycontrol.Butthenotionof“whiteprivilege”suggeststhatyoucanneverovercomewhereyoustartedinlifebecausethere’sabigbearcalled“whiteprivilege”tryingtoeatyou–thatifyoumakealltherightdecisions,whiteprivilegewillstillstandinyourway.

That’salie.Ingeneral,there’sanotherreasonthatsomepeoplefailandsomepeople

succeedinAmerica:somevaluesarebetterthanothers.Andpeoplewhotendtoholdfasttothosevaluesdobetterthanothersbecauseofthem.Whiteprivilegeisn’treality.It’sjustacowardlywaytoblamesomeoneelseforyourfailurestoliveuptodecentstandards. Let’sexaminesomeofthemythsof“whiteprivilege.”

First,advocatesof“whiteprivilege”rhetoricclaimthatdisproportionatepovertyinthenon-whitecommunityistheresultofcontinuinginstitutionalracism.That’sbunk.ToavoidpermanentpovertyintheUnitedStatesisnotparticularlydifficult.Youmustsimplyfollowthreerules,accordingtotheleft-leaningBrookingsInstitute:1)finishhighschool,2)getafull-timejob,and3)waituntilage21togetmarriedandhavechildren.AccordingtoBrookings,“ofAmericanadultswhofollowedthesethreesimplerules,onlyabout2percentareinpovertyandnearly75percenthavejoinedthemiddleclass.”3

Fully71percentofpoorfamilieswithchildrenareunmarried.Thepovertyrateamongnon-marriedwhitefamilieswas21.7percentasof2008;thepovertyrateamongblackmarriedcouplesthatsameyearwas6.9percent.4Thequestionofintergenerationalpovertyisn’toneofrace,butoneofdecision-making.Andit’snotaquestionofracism,either.Thesinglemotherhoodratehasjumpedacrossraciallines,andwhitepeoplearenotforcingblackwomentogetpregnantoutofwedlockdisproportionately.

Thenthere’sthequestionofwhoactuallyearnsintheUnitedStates.Ifcolorisinherentlytiedtoprivilege,whyisitthat,accordingtotheCensusBureau,in2015

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theracialgroupwiththehighestmedianincomewas…waitforit…Asians?5WasthatbecausetheAmericansystemisbasedon“Asianprivilege,”orbecauseAsianshavehistoricallybeentreatedfantasticallywell(forgetalltheinternmentstuffortheexploitationofAsiansontherailroads),orbecausetheConstitutioniswritteninKorean?

Advocatesof“whiteprivilege”alsoclaimthathigherimprisonmentratesamongblacksreflectinstitutionalwhiteracismfromwhichwhitesdisproportionatelybenefit.That’sasinine.Moreblackpeoplegotoprisonbyproportionthanwhitepeoplebecausemoreblackpeoplecommitcrimesbyproportionthanwhitepeople.Don’twanttogotojailformurder?Easy:don’tmurderpeople.Here’sthefactaboutthatsupposedlyeviljusticesystem:itunderprosecutesmurderinminoritycommunitiesbecauseminoritycommunitiesareunderpoliced.AsJillLeovy,aliberalreporterforTheLosAngelesTimes,wrote,“InpredominantlyAfrican-AmericanneighborhoodsofU.S.cities,fartoomanykillershavegottenawaywithfartoomanycrimesforfartoolong,fuelingadisastrousmurderepidemic.”6

Whenthepolicedocomeintocontactwithblackpeople,policearelesslikelytokillblackpeoplethanwhitepeopleinthesamecircumstances,accordingtoProfessorPeterMoskosofJohnJayCollegeofCriminalJusticeatCUNY.Moskosfoundthat“Adjustedforthehomiciderate,whitesare1.7timesmorelikelythanblackstodieatthehandsofpolice.Adjustedfortheracialdisparityatwhichpolicearefeloniouslykilled,whitesare1.3timesmorelikelythanblackstodieatthehandsofpolice.”7

Moskosisn’talone.Awidely-publicizedstudyinJuly2016fromHarvardProfessorRolandFryersurveyedover1,000policeshootingsandfoundthatblacksuspectsareshotlessoftenthanwhitesuspectsincomparablesituations.Fryer,forwhatit’sworth,isbothblackandofthepoliticalleft.In2015,thecopsshot987people;ahugemajoritywerearmedorthreateningdeadlyforce,andblacksrepresented26percentofthoseshot.Policeofficersare18.5timesmorelikelytobeshotbyablackmalethananunarmedblackmaleistobekilledbythepolice.8

Asearlyas1994,theDOJsurveyedfelonycasesinthecountry’s75largesturbanareasandfoundlowerfelonyprosecutionratesforblacksthanwhites.9AdeadlyforcelabstudyfromWashingtonStateUniversityfoundthatparticipantswerebiasedinfavorofblacksuspectsinsimulatedthreatscenarios.10In2015,theDOJanalyzedthePhiladelphiaPoliceDepartmentandfoundthatwhiteofficerswerelesslikelythanblackorHispanicofficerstoshootunarmedblacksuspects.11

Howaboutthe“whiteprivilege”of“stopandfrisk”?Itdoesn’texist.InNewYorkCity,minoritieskeeprunningintocopsbecauseminoritieskeepcommittinganoutsizedshareofcrimes.FromJanuarytoJune2008,98percentofallgunassailantsinNYCwereHispanicorblack,asHeatherMacDonaldhasreported.Stopandfriskinthatcitystatisticallyundertargetedminorities–onlyabout85percentofthosestoppedandfriskedduringthattimewereblackorHispanic.12Ifthere’swhiteprivilege,it’sinoverpolicingwhitecommunities.Blackareasplaguedbyviolentcrimeneedmorecops,notfewer–andthey’renotgoingtogetthem,thankstoBlackLivesMatter.

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Howabout“drivingwhileblack”?TheDOJandNewJerseyattorneygeneralcommissionedastudyinthe1990sthatclockedthespeedofalldriversafterfindingthatpolicepulledoverblacksdisproportionately.Theyfoundthatblackpeoplespeddisproportionately.Blackswere25percentofallspeedersand23percentofdriversstoppedforspeeding.Naturally,theDOJtriedtokillthestudy.13

Whataboutthe“whiteprivilege”ofsentencingdisparities?Thedisparitybetweencrackandpowdercocainesentencescameaboutbecausecrackiseasiertoobtainanddistribute,andbecauseblacklegislatorswantedstrictersentencingtoridtheirareasofdrugs.Thesentencesforcrystalmetharepreciselythesameasthoseforcrack.Just16percentofstateprisonerswereconvictedfordrugoffenses,andmostofthosedrugoffensesinvolveddistribution(just3.6percentofstateprisonersareinforsimpledrugpossession,andmostofthosepeoplepleddowntheiroriginalchargesfromtrafficking).14

Advocatesfor“whiteprivilege”alsoarguethatnon-whitepeoplearevictimizedbyinstitutional“redlining”–banksrejectingpeoplebecauseofthecoloroftheirskin.There’sonlyoneproblem:banksrejectmorewhitesthanAsians.Andwhenthegovernmentattemptedtocramdownsubprimemortgageregimesinordertorectifythesupposedimbalance,theeconomycollapsed.15

“Whiteprivilege”fanaticsalsoblusteronaboutcollegeadmissions,asthoughuniversityofficersareattemptingtokeepblackpeopleout,wheninfacttheonlyracialpoliciesgenerallyacceptedoncampusdiscriminateinfavorofblackAmericans.APrincetonUniversitystudyshowedthatblacksreceiveda“bonus”of230pointsonSATscoresversustheircompetitorsontheold1600-pointscale;bycontrast,Asiansarepenalized50points.16 Finally,“whiteprivilege”advocatessaythatAmericanssufferfrom“implicitbias.”Todefendthisproposition,theygenerallyusetheresultoftheso-calledImplicitAssociationTest,inwhichyouareaskedtositatacomputerandhitabuttontomatchawordtoapersonofacertaincolor.Typically,leftistssaythatthestudiesshowthatbothwhiteandblackpeopleassociatecriminalwordswithblackfaces.Butitturnsoutthatthetestsareunreliable,andlargelyinvalid,sinceitdoesn’tpredictbehavior.That’snotmycontention.That’sthescience.AsJesseSingal,aleft-leaningwriteratNewYorkMagazine,writes,“Apileofscholarlywork,someofitpublishedintoppsychologyjournalsandmostofitignoredbythemedia,suggeststhattheIATfallsfarshortofthequality-controlstandardsnormallyexpectedofpsychologicalinstruments.TheIAT,thisresearchsuggests,isanoisy,unreliablemeasurethatcorrelatesfartooweaklywithanyreal-worldoutcomestobeusedtopredictindividuals’behavior—eventhetest’screatorshavenowadmittedassuch.”17 “Whiteprivilege”isawaytodivide,tosilence.Wecanallagreethatdiscriminationisterrible.Wecanallstandtogetherwhenablackmaniswrongfullyshotbypolice.Buttoattributethatshootingtounspecified“whiteprivilege”andthenstatethatAmericaitselfisracistisactuallyracistinandofitself.Youcan’tassumewhitepeopledon’tcareaboutinnocentblackpeoplegettingshotwithoutevidence.That’sdisgusting–andbytheway,it’sracist. Thesameholdstruewithregardtoaccusationsofgeneralizedsexismand“rapeculture.”Womenarenotpaidlessforthesamework,18noraretheyvictimsof

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discriminationoncollegecampuses,wheretheynowconstitutethemajorityofstudents.19Andthetalkofacampus“rapeepidemic”ispurefantasy–asChristinaHoffSommershaspointedout,the“oneinfivewomenisrapedoncampus”statisticisanout-and-outliereliantonconflating“attemptedforcedkissing”withsexualassault.Inactuality,theBureauofJusticeStatistics“ViolentVictimizationofCollegeStudents”reportshowsthatfrom1995-2002,thereweresixrapesperthousandperyear.Theraperatehasbeendroppingrapidly,too.20

Weshouldallbeheldtothesamebehavioralstandard:decencyandresponsibility.The“checkyourprivilege”slurdispenseswithdecency,alongwiththefacts.Itgrantsthe“privilege”ofavoidingresponsibilityforindividualactionsolongasyoucheckcertainsocialgroupboxes.Andthatdestroysthepossibilityofsocialharmonyorindividualgrowth.2.“FIGHTFORSOCIALJUSTICE!” Theleft’ssupposedhatredof“privilege”springsfromtheirquestforwhattheyterm“socialjustice.”Now,socialjusticeisanoxymoron.Justiceis,bynecessity,individual.Ifaguiltymanisacquittedbecausehe’stherightrace,that’santi-justice.Ifaninnocentmanisconvictedbecausehe’sthewrongrace,that’santi-justice.WhitesouthernersinToKillAMockingbirdwouldhavesaidthatTomRobinson’smurderwas“socialjustice.”BlackracistswouldhavesaidthatNicoleSimpson’smurderwas“socialjustice.”Socialjusticesuggeststhatyourgroupidentityrelievesyouofindividualresponsibility. Today,hard-coreleftistscallthemselvessocialjusticewarriors.Theydothisbecausetheybelievethatindividualjusticeisracist,sexist,bigoted,homophobic.Individualjusticesuggeststhatweeachbeheldresponsibleforouractions.ButtheSJWsthinkthat’sunfair.Afterall,we’renotjustindividuals–we’remembersofgroups!Whatifthosegroupsaredisproportionatelypoor?Whatifthey’redisproportionatelyinjail?Howcanweachievegroupjusticeifindividualjusticekeepsgettingintheway? ThemostcoherentadvocateforsocialjusticeisthephilosopherJohnRawls.Rawlssuggestedthatindividualjusticewasn’tjusticeatall,becauseitdidn’tcreateactualfairness–itonlycreatedtheappearanceoffairness.Rawlsbelievedthat“undeservedinequalitiescallforredress.”AsThomasSowellexplains,“AfightinwhichbothboxersobservetheMarquisofQueensberryruleswouldbeafairfight,accordingtotraditionalstandardsoffairness,irrespectiveofwhetherthecontestantswereofequalskill,strength,experienceorotherfactorslikelytoaffecttheoutcome--andirrespectiveofwhetherthatoutcomewasahard-foughtdraworacompletelyone-sidedbeating.Thiswouldnot,however,beafairfightwithintheframeworkofthoseseeking‘socialjustice,’ifthecompetingfighterscameintotheringwithverydifferentprospectsofsuccess--especiallyifthesedifferenceswereduetofactorsbeyondtheircontrol.”21 Torectifytheseimbalances,asSowellpointsout,is“thequestforcosmicjustice,”anattempttoovercomeallimbalancesinnaturebyviolatingindividualrightsanddestroyingindividualliberties.Itisunjust,asSowellsays,toforceapoorstudenttostudymore–butifwedon’t,thepoorstudentfallsbehind.Anditisjustasunjusttoforceagoodstudenttoredistributehisincometothepoorstudentin

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thefutureratherthandrivingthepoorstudenttoahigherlevelofsuccessonhisown.Socialjusticeisn’tmerelyunfair,it’scounterproductive.22 Proponentsofsocialjusticearetheleadingantagonistsofwhattheyterm“incomeinequality”–thegapbetweenthehighestearnersandthelowestearners.Theytreat“incomeinequality”asthoughsuchgapshavenotwidenedandnarrowedovertime,orasifthereisacorrelationbetweenlevelsofinequalityofoutcomeandgeneralsuccessofthesocietyorindividualswithinit.It’squitepossibleforincomeinequalitytogrowwhilethoseatthebottomendofthescalegetricher.Infact,that’spreciselywhat’sbeenhappeninginAmerica:themiddleclasshasn’tdissipated,it’sbifurcated,withmoreAmericansmovingintotheuppermiddleclassoverthepastfewdecades.Theuppermiddleclassgrewfrom12percentofAmericansin1979to30percentasof2014.23Asfarasmedianincome,mythsofstagnatingincomearegreatlyexaggerated,asEdwardConardpointsout:

Misleadingincomemeasuresassumetaxreturns–includingpass-throughtaxentities–representhouseholds.Theyexcludefaster-growinghealthcareandothernontaxedbenefits.Theyfailtoaccountforshrinkingfamilysizes,whereanincreasingnumberoftaxpayersfileindividualtaxreturns.Theydon’tseparateretireesfromworkers.Theyignorelargedemographicshiftsthataffectthedistributionofincome.Nordotheyacknowledgethatconsumptionismuchmoreevenlydistributedthanincome.Moreaccuratemeasuresshowfasterincomegrowth,especiallyfornon-Hispanicworkers,andwagegrowththatparallelsproductivitygrowth.24

Astothenotionthatincomemobilityhasdeclineddramatically,inhibitingsocialjustice,that’sbunkaswell.Theprobabilityofmovementfromthelowestincomethresholdupwardhasremainedstableoverthepastseveraldecades.Andincomeinequalityhasnoimpactonincomemobility,whichiswhyAmericanincomemobilityisjustasstrongasEuropeancountrieswithfarmoreredistribution.WanttoknowwhycertainpopulationsinAmericasufferfromlackofincomemobility?Becauseincomemobilitydeclineswhenyoudropoutofhighschoolorhaveababyoutofwedlock.25

AsforpovertyinAmericagenerally,thepooraretherichestpooronearth:asPewResearchpointsout,“TheUSstandsheadandshouldersabovetherestoftheworld.Morethanhalf(56%)ofAmericanswerehighincomebytheglobalstandard…Another32%wereupper-middleincome.Inotherwords,almostnine-in-tenAmericanshadastandardoflivingthatwasabovetheglobalmiddle-incomestandard.Only7percentofpeopleintheUSweremiddleincome,3%werelowincome,and2%werepoor.”26 Proponentsof“socialjustice”continuetomaintainthatthebestwaytocurbinequityisbycurbinginequality.Theyneglecttomentionthatsocialjusticecanonlydosobydestroyingpersonalfreedom,liberty,andthemostpowerfuleconomyinthehistoryofmankind.TheyalsoneglecttomentionthatAmericanattemptstoquashinequalityhaveactuallyexacerbatedit–we’venowspent$22trillionintheso-calledwaronpoverty,tonoavail,27andwespend$30,000peryeartopoornon-elderlyfamilies.28

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3.TRIGGERWARNINGSANDMICROAGGRESSIONS. Becausetheleftbelievesthatequalityofoutcomeisessential–andbecauseequalityofoutcomecanneverbeachieved–theyfallbackonthenotionofsubjectiveequality:equalityoffeelings.Everyone’sfeelingsmustbeprotected…except,ofcourse,ifyou’reontopofthevictimhierarchypositedbyintersectionality.Then,shutup. Inordertoensurethatyoushutup,collegeshavebegunwieldingtwotermsasweapons:triggerwarnings,andmicroaggressions.Whataremicroaggressions?Let’susethedefinitionprovidedbysocialpsychologistJonathanHaidt,aprofessoratNYU,inTheAtlantic:microaggressionsare“smallactionsorwordchoicesthatseemontheirfacetohavenomaliciousintentbutthatarethoughtofasakindofviolencenonetheless.”Yoursubjectiveperspectiveonwhenyouhavebeen“aggressed”isallthatcounts.29 Astheworditselfconnotes,theseoffensivewordsoractionsaren’tmerelyunpleasant–they’reviolence,presumablytobemetwithviolence.WhenIwasscheduledtovisitCaliforniaStateUniversityatLosAngeles,oneparticularprofessor,upsetatmyupcominglecture,threatenedtowrestlestudentswhosponsoredmyvisit,thenputupanoticeonhisofficedoor:“Thebestresponsetomicro-aggressionismacro-aggression.”30

Suchmicroaggressionscanrangefromtheutterlybenign(“I’mcolorblind”)tothecompletelynormal(usingtermslike“he”and“she”canbeperceivedasoffensivetothosewhodonotconsiderthemselves“cisgender”)tothecurious(“Whereareyoufrom?”)tothefactual(“Blacksinglemotherhoodisasignificantpredictorforhighercrimeintheblackcommunity”).Theonlycommonalityamongmicroaggressions:somebodyfindsthemsubjectivelyoffensive.Subjectively.Notobjectively.Thereisnoreasonablestandardwhenitcomestomicroaggression,nostoppingtoask,“wouldanybodytrulyfindthisbigoted?” Andofcourse,nobodybotherstoaskwhethersuchmicroaggressionsareprotectedfreedomofspeech.Allperceivedoffensesmustbequashed.That’swhylastfall,whenthestudentsatUniversityofMissouridecidedtotargettheadministrationforitssupposedracism,thepolicedepartmentactuallyaskedstudentstoreport“hurtful”words.31 That’stotalitarian–it’susingtheforceoftheguntosilencethosewhoopposeyou.Butthosewhoclaimmicroaggressionaretreatedasheroesoncampus.Theycontrolthecampusdialogue.Thisreachesridiculousproportions.AtBrandeisUniversity,forexample,evendiscussingmicroaggressionsisconsideredamicroaggression.Lastyear,theBrandeisAsianAmericanStudentsAssociationputoutan“installation”inthepublicsquareto“bringattentiontomicroaggressionsthatarefrequentlyheardinandoutoftheBrandeiscommunity,”accordingtotheBAASAFacebookpage.Unfortunately,someAsianAmericanstudentsfeltmicroaggressedbythedisplay,soitwasremoved.32 Topreventpeoplefrombeingupsetbymicroaggressionsandotheroffenses,campuseshavebegunusing“triggerwarnings.”Triggerwarningsarenotificationsrequiredbeforeshowingmaterialthatcoulddredgeupnegativefeelingsamongthosewhoviewthematerial.So,forexample,collegeshaverequiredthatcertain

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worksofclassicliteraturebeaccompaniedbywarningsthatstudentsmayencounterscenesthat“trigger”memoriesofpastevents.Sure,Vietnamvetsdon’tgettriggerwarningsbeforefireworksdisplays,butcollegestudentsneedtriggerwarningsjustincasephysicalabuseinEastofEdenremindsthemofastorytheyheardaboutacousin’smomfromAnnArbor.BooksthatrequiretriggerwarningshaveactuallyincludedThingsFallApartbyChinuaAchebe,TheGreatGatsbybyF.ScottFitzgerald,andShakespeare’sTheMerchantofVenice.AstudentatRutgerssuggested,“TheexaminationofsuicidaltendenciesinMrs.Dallowaymaytriggerpainfulmemoriesforstudentssufferingfromself-harm.”33

AllofthishascreatedanentiregenerationofmentallyandemotionallystuntedAmericansunpreparedfortherealworld.JonathanHaidtwrites,“Therecentcollegiatetrendofuncoveringallegedlyracist,sexist,classist,orotherwisediscriminatorymicroaggressionsdoesn’tincidentallyteachstudentstofocusonsmalloraccidentalslights.Itspurposeistogetstudentstofocusonthemandthenrelabelthepeoplewhohavemadesuchremarksasaggressors.”Thisistheoppositeofcognitivebehavioraltherapy,whereweattempttocurepeopleofdistortedthinkingandseetheworldmoreclearly.PC2.0actuallyreinforcessubjectiveassessmentsofvictimhoodandsuffering.Thisviciouscyclecreatesadultsunwillingtofaceuptoreality,determinedtoblametheworldfortheirproblems,convincedthatthemoretheyclaimoffense,themoretheydeservefromothers.It’snotjustun-American,it’sunhealthy. Italsomakesmorallyberefthumanbeings.ProfessorRoyBaumeisterwritesinhisbookEvil:InsideHumanViolenceandCrueltythatevilbehaviorgenerallyspringsfromidealismthatturnstoviolence;unjustifiedself-esteem,andhypersensitivity.“Peoplewhothinkthey’rebetterthantheyarewillbethedangerousones,”Baumeisterwrites.“Hypersensitivepeoplewhooftenthinktheirprideisbeingassaultedarepotentiallydangerous.Evenwhenaneutralobserverwouldconcludethatnoseriousprovocationoccurred,itisstillimportanttorecognizethat,intheperpetrator’sownview,heorshewasmerelyrespondingtoanattack.”34 Self-appointedvictimhoodisdangerousstuff.Andmillionsofstudentsarelearningiteachyear,andthengoingforthtodestroybasicAmericanphilosophy.That’swhyaNovember2015Pewpollfoundthat40percentofso-calledmillennials,aged18-34,believethatthegovernmentshouldbeabletopreventpeoplefrommaking“statementsthatareoffensivetominoritygroups.”ThatwouldinvolverepealoftheFirstAmendment.35Butthat’sthelogicalextensionofaphilosophythatprizesprotectionofindividualfeelingsoverprotectionofindividualrights.

Triggerwarningsaren’tavailableinreallife.Andmicroaggressionsdon’tmatter.AsformerMarineandpoliceofficerChrisHernandezwrote,“f***yourtrauma.Mysympathyforyoursuffering,whetherthatsufferingwasrealorimaginary,endedwhenyoudemandedIchangemylifetoavoidbringingupyourbadmemories….Ifyourpsycheissofragileyoufallapartwhensomeoneinadvertentlyremindsyouof‘trauma,’especiallyifthattraumaconsistedofyouoverreactingtoaself-interpretedracialslur,youneedtherapy.Youbelongona

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psychiatrist’scouch,notincollegedictatingwhattherestofsocietycan’tdo,say,orthink.Getyourownheadrightbeforeyoutrytorunotherpeople’slives.”364.SAFESPACES. Oncemicroaggressionshavebeenpolicedandtriggerwarningsissued,campusesarefinallydeemed“safespaces.”Again,theimplicationisclear:ifyouaresubjectedtolanguagethatoffendsyou,youhavebeenmade“unsafe.”Yourequiretheprotectionofmenwithguns.Yourequiresegregatedareas.Infact,blackstudentsattheUniversityofMissouriinsistedthatnowhitepeoplebeallowedtorallywiththem,lesttheirsafespacebeinvaded.Oncampusesaroundthecountry,blackstudentsarenowcallingforblacks-onlyhousing,asuggestionwithwhichtheKuKluxKlanwouldpresumablybeoverjoyedtocomply–afterall,it’sbothseparateandequal!37 Thosesafespacesmustneverbepenetrated,underanycircumstances.Here’swhatonecolumnistfromtheHarvardCrimsonwroteearlierthisyear:

InaclassIattendedearlierthissemester,alargeportionofthefirstmeetingwasdevotedtocompilingalistofrulesforclassdiscussion.Astudentcontendedthatasawoman,shewouldbeunabletositacrossfromastudentwhodeclaredthathewasstronglyagainstabortion,andtheotherstudentsintheseminarvigorouslydefendedthisdeclaration.Theprofessorremainedsilent.Inarecentconversationwithpeers,IposedaquestionaboutaversefromtheBible.AHarvardemployeeintheroomimmediatelyinterjected,informingmethatwewereinasafespaceandIwasthusnotpermittedtodiscussthecontroversialbiblicalpassage.Andthesearejuststoriesfromthepastthreemonths.38

Whensafespacesarethreatened,violencebreaksout.Andcollegeadministratorsnowusethethreatofviolencefromtheirownstudentstoshutdownfreespeechevents.AtDePaulUniversity,forexample,alt-rightpopularizerMiloYiannopoulosspoke,andleftiststudentschargedthestagewhilecampus-sponsoredsecuritystoodbyanddidnothing.Afterward,thepresidentoftheuniversity,DennisHoltschneider,sentalettertostudents:“Universitieswelcomespeakers,givetheirideasarespectfulhearingandthenrespondwithadditionalspeechcounteringtheideas.IwasashamedforDePaulUniversitywhenIsawastudentripthemicrophonefromthehandsoftheconferencemoderatorandwaveitinthefaceof(the)speaker…Thisisunworthyofuniversitydiscourse.”

Thatopenedthefloodgates.Oneprominentlawprofessorwrote,“thepresidenthasbetrayed[marginalized]studentsandhasundoubtedlydonelastingharmtotheirperceptionsofDePaul.”TheDePaulBlackLeadershipCoalitionsmackedHoltschneider,too,sayingthatYiannopoulos’speechwasjustthelatestinalineofterriblyracistevents–suchhorrorsincludedchalkingsthatsaid“BuildaWall”and“BlueLivesMatter,”plusoilpaintingsonthequadinsupportofTrump. SoHoltschneiderapologizedforallowingYiannopoulosoncampusatall.Hewrote,“Whendiscussingthisinclassrooms,ourstudentsheardotherstudentsrecommendthattheydevelop‘thickerskins’or‘shakeitoff.’Theyweresurprisedto

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findthatsomefacultywereunawareoftheevents,andtheywereconcernedthatthestressandtraumaofthesituationwouldadverselyaffecttheirabilitytocompletethetermsuccessfully.Theyreadmyletteraboutfreespeechastheywerestillshakingfromthefrighteningeffectsofthehatespeechtheyexperienced….Inshort,manyofourstudents,staffandfacultyfeltinsufficientlysupportedbytheDePaulcommunitylastweek,includingbyme.Forallofthis,Ideeplyapologize.”39 Thenheresigned. Andtheadministrationbannedmefromcoming. WhatdidIdo?Theuniversitycouldn’tnameanyideologicalsins,buttheyknewthatI’dbeenriotedagainstatCalStateLosAngeles,protestedatPennState,andwalkedoutonatUniversityofNorthCarolina.SoBobJanis,VicePresidentofFacilitiesOperationsatDePaul,announced,“GiventheexperiencesandsecurityconcernsthatsomeotherschoolshavehadwithBenShapirospeakingontheircampuses,DePaulcannotagreetoallowhimtospeakonourcampusatthistime.” Laterthatyear,IattemptedtospeakatDePaulinconjunctionwithintersectionalityexpertChristinaHoffSommers.TheschoolpromptlydeployedseveraldozensecurityofficersandcalledinthesheriffofCookCountytoarrestmeifIdaredsetfootoncampus.WhenIshowedup,theybarredmyentryandinformedmethattheywouldindeedputmeinacellifItriedtoevensitintheaudienceforChristina’slecture. Therewerenoprotestersatthetime. That’showsafe“safespaces”mustbe:eventhehintofdissentmustbequashed. Take,forexample,YaleUniversity.AtYale,NicholasChristakisandhiswifeErica,whoserveastheheadsofresidentialcollegeSilliman,weren’twillingtogoalongwiththePCregime.BeforeHalloween,theInterculturalAffairsCouncilsentanemailtostudentstellingthemnottowearcostumesthatwould“threatenoursenseofcommunity.”Thisbeingrathervague,Erica,aprofessorofdevelopmentalpsychology,sentoutanemailasking,“Havewelostfaithinyoungpeople’scapacity–inyourcapacity–toexerciseself-censure,throughsocialnorming,andalsoinyourcapacitytoignoreorrejectthingsthattroubleyou?” Turnsoutsheshouldhavelostfaithinyoungpeople’sabilitynottobeprecioussnowflakes.Over700studentsandfacultyandalumnisignedanopenletterwhining,“Inyouremail,youaskstudentsto‘lookaway’ifcostumesareoffensive,asifthedegradationofourculturesandpeople,andtheviolencethatgrowsoutofitissomethingthatwecanignore.”TheletterdidnotlistincidentsofviolencespringingfromHalloweencostumeracism. ThenNicholasencountered100studentsintheresidentialcollegequad,whereintrepidsocialjusticewarriorJerelynLutherconfrontedhim.There,shetoldhimthatitwashisjobtocreateaplaceofcomfortforstudents.Whenhesaidthatwasnotinfacthisjob,shedecidedtoscreamathim,demandheapologize,tellhimto“bequiet,”callhim“disgusting,”andwail,“Whothef***hiredyou?”Itturnsout,bytheway,thatshewasonthesearchteamthatbroughtChristakistoYale. Nonetheless,thegauntlethadbeenthrown:1,000YalestudentsthenjoinedaMarchofResilienceforasupposedlyinhospitableclimateforpeopleofcolor.Thenthestudentsdemandedallundergraduatestakeuselessethnicstudiescourses,

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whichqualifyyoutobeuselessethnicstudiesprofessors;thatmentalhealthprofessionalsjoinalltheculturalcenters(maybethatone’sagoodidea);thatthetitle“master”beabolished,andthattheChristakisesbefired. AndtheYaleadministrationcaved.DeanJonathanHollowaysaidhesupportedtheIACHalloweencostumeguidelines,whichwere“exactlyright.”Thentheyincreasedthebudgetfortheculturalcentersandabolishedthetitle“master.”Ofcourse,theword“master”comesfromtheLatinwordmagister,whichmeans“chief,head,director,orteacher,”andinacademicsettings,hasalwaysmeantexpertiseinasubject. Realityhasnoplaceinthe“safespace”bubble. ButAmericaisasafespace.Whenprotesterschantatmeandthreatenme,they’refreetodoso.AtUniversityofWisconsin,socialjusticewarriorsstoodupandshouted“Safety!”atme,asthoughmyhulking5’9”,165-lb.presencethreatenedthem.Iansweredthattheywereinthesafestplaceintheworld:America.ButAmericaisn’tasafespaceforconversationanddebatewhentheleftinsistsonfascistic,thought-freeareas.5.“DIVERSITYISOURSTRENGTH.” AfewdaysbeforeIwasscheduledtospeakatCaliforniaStateUniversityatLosAngeles,thepresidentoftheuniversityrealizedthatIwouldbesayingsomethingwithwhichsomestudentsmightdisagree.Sohedidwhatleftistsaresofondofdoing:hetriedtostiflethespeech.Hedidsointhenameof“diversity.”Hewrote,“Aftercarefulconsideration,IhavedecidedthatitwillbebestforourcampuscommunityifwerescheduleBenShapiro’sappearanceforalaterdate,sothatwecanarrangeforhimtoappearaspartofagroupofspeakerswithdifferingviewpointsondiversity.Suchaneventwillbetterrepresentouruniversity’sdedicationtothefreeexchangeofideasandthevalueofconsideringmultipleviewpoints.” Accordingtotheleft,diversitydoesnotincludephilosophicaldifferences.That’sbecausetheleftbelievesthatdiversityofraceandculturecan’tthrivewherepeopledisagree.Itcanonlythrivewherepeopleagreethatracialandculturaldiversitymattermorethandecency.HerbertMarcusecalledthisidea“liberatingtolerance,”asopposedtothe“repressivetolerance”offreespeech.Hesaidonlypowerfulpeoplewantfreespeech.Thepowerlessneedspeechlimitedsothattheycanbeonevenfootingwiththepowerful.Morespecifically,Marcusesaid,conservativethoughthadtobesilenced,sinceitwas“repressive.”“Liberatingtolerance,”saidMarcuse,“wouldmeanintoleranceagainstmovementsfromtheRight,andtoleranceofmovementsfromtheleft.”40 Marcuse’ideologicalgrandchildrenrunthecampuses.WhenIgottocampus,anear-riotbrokeout.Studentsbarricadedthedoors.Inflamedbytheirprofessorsandtheirpatheticadministration,theypushedaroundstudentswhowantedtolistentoanalternativeviewpoint.Ihadtobeescortedtoandfromcampusbyarmedpoliceofficers. Theonlysortofactualdiversitytheleftdesiresisracialandculturaldiversity.Butracialdiversitydoesn’tmeananything.Araciallydiversecriminalgangisn’tabetterenterprisethananall-blackchurchchoir.Valuesmatter.Skin

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colordoesn’t.Anybodywhodoesn’tbelievethatisaracist.“Diversity”isn’tourstrength–decencyisourstrength. RobertPutnam,authorofthebookBowlingAlone,isaleftist,andhebelievedinthemantra“diversityisourstrength.”Thenhestarteddoingexperimentsregardingcommunities,andwhathesawwasthatdiversityincommunities–racial,ethnicdiversity,whichthesedayscomesalongwithdiversityoffundamentalvaluesthankstotheleft–didn’tleadtobetter,morecohesive,moretolerantcommunities.Hesaid,“Theonlytwothingsthatgoupasthediversityofyourcensustrackgoesupareprotestmarchesandtelevisionwatching.”41Putnamconcludedthattheonlywaytocreatesocialcapital–thatstuffthatallowsustoleaveourdoorsunlockedatnightandtrusteachothertobabysitourkids–comesfromsharedvalues.Theonlythingthatcouldallowpeopleofdiversebackgroundstolivetogetherandovercometheirtribalismwasdecency. Buttheleftcaresonlyaboutracialdiversity.WhichmeansthatatYaleUniversity,theYaleDramaticAssociationBoardheldnewauditionsforaplayafterpeoplewhinedthatawhitewomanwascastinarolenormallyplayedbyablackman.Itdidn’tmatterthatthewhitewomanwascastafterapparentlyoutcompetingninepeopleofcolorwhoauditioned.No,theauditionshadtobereheldbecausediversitymandatesthattherolegonottothebestactororactress,buttotheonewiththeappropriatelevelofmelanin.TheBoardsaid,“Werecognizethepainthatthissituationhascausedandthatthisnewdecisionmaycometoolateforsomeandmayhurtothers.Still,wehopethatreopeningauditionswillgivetheYalecommunityanotheropportunitytobringnewandvariedvoicestothestage.”ExceptforSarahChapin,thewhitewomanthrownoutoftherole,ofcourse.42 Thedesirefordiversityendsindiscriminationagainstpeoplebasedonskincolorandbackground.ItmeansdiversityquotasthatharmAsiansandJews.Itmeansthatintersectionalitydeterminesvalue,ratherthanmerit.ItispreciselythereverseoftheMartinLutherKingJr.injunctiontojudgepeoplebythecontentoftheircharacterratherthanthevalueoftheirskin.WhyNot?

TheleftcontendsthatitiscreatingabetterworldwithitsutopianvisionanditsPCjackboots.Whyshouldn’tsocietyattempttoconformtothehopesanddreamsofthosewholiveinit?Whyshouldn’tsocietyadapttoourfeelingsandperceptions?Whyshouldn’tsubjectiveperceptionsofrealitytrumpobjectivefacts?Whynotpursuesafespaces,completewithtriggerwarningsandmicroaggressions,inthenameofdiversity,andthenwecanallfightforsocialjustice?Wouldn’tthatmaketheworldakinder,gentlerplace?

Whatdoesitmatter,afterall,ifwesimplytoethePClineandsaythatbroadAmericanracismisresponsibleforhighratesofinnercitycrime,ratherthanindividualchoicesmadebyindividualhumanbeings?WhynotpretendthatpoliceforcestargetblackAmericans,ifbyacknowledgingthatuntruthwecreateabondofunderstandingwithblackaudiences?Whyshouldn’tweallfrontallylobotomizeourselvestothetruththatCaitlynJennerisaman,ifbycallinghimawomanwehelphimfindacceptanceandhappinessandpreventsuicideofthoselikehim?Whynotpushredistributionism,evenifitmeansabitofdemagoguery?

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Afterall,peoplewillfeelbetter! BarryGlasner,presidentandprofessorofsociologyatLewis&ClarkCollege,andMortonSchapiro,presidentandprofessorofeconomicsatNorthwesternUniversity,thinkweshouldembracesuchaphilosophy:“Aseducators,weseektodevelopinourstudentstheculturalliteracythatreducesthechancesthatsomeonewillinadvertentlybelittleanother.Wholesaledenouncementsofyoungpeople'sconcernsonlyhinderoureffortstodorightbyourstudents.” Sure,doingrightbystudentsmeansdoingwrongbyAmerica.Butthat’sallright:abetterworldwillresult. Unlessitdoesn’t.Asocietythatdemeansachievementgetslessofit.Asocietythatincentivizesavictimmentalitygetsmoreofit.Asocietythatblamesitselfforindividualfailuresendsupdestroyingitselfontheshoalsofself-esteem. Americaisthegreatestsocialexperimentinhistory.OurFoundersassertedthatindividualrightstrumpedsocialengineering,andthatnomanhadtherighttousegovernmenttoshapehisownutopia.Theresult:thegreatest,mostsuccessfulnationeverconceived. America’scampusesareworkinghardtotearthatdown. Andthey’rewinning.Thecollegetotalitariansarestackingupbodiesatanincreasinglyrapidrate.Theybrooknodissent,andtheytoleratenodisagreement,evenfromthoseontheirownpoliticalside.There’sareasonthatwhenIspokeatOtayRanchHighSchool,anadministratordismissedstudentsafterItoldthemthattheonlyreasonforpermanentpovertyintheUnitedStateswaspoormonetarydecision-making–hesaidhehadanobligationtoprotectthestudentsfromsuchinformation.There’sareasonthatsomestudentsatCaliforniaStateUniversityinLosAngelesvowedtostopmefromspeaking,andoneprofessorofferedtowrestlethe“whitesupremacists”whohadinvitedme,bragging,“Ilift,bro.” ThecollegetotalitarianshaveoustedapresidentofHarvard,liberalLawrenceSummers,forrecognizingthatmenandwomenmightperformdifferentlyinmathandsciences.They’vegottenthepresidentofUniversityofMissouritostepdownfromhispositionforfailingtobowbeforetheidolof“whiteprivilege.”They’vedestroyedthecareerofUniversityCollegeLondonNobelPrize-winningbiochemistTimHuntformakingajokeaboutwomenintheworkplace.They’veassaulteddissenters.They’vetargetedthosewhodisagree.They’vepurgedtheuniversities. Andbypurgingtheuniversities,they’veensuredthatthenextgenerationgrowsupintheirutopianleftist“safespace.”Ofcourse,thoseAmericanswillbedumber,lesswell-rounded,lessinformed,lesstolerant,andsignificantlymorementallyandemotionallyfragilethantheirparentsandgrandparents.Butatleastthepreciouslittlesnowflakeswillneverhavetofacedowntheterrorofreality.Conclusion Wecanfightback. Americaisthegreatestplaceontheplanet,withthebestvaluesystem–asystemthatthelefthasbeenattemptingtodestroyforthreegenerations.Nobodyisbetteroffinasystemofrepressivefakediversity,orpreachingphantomwhite

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privilege,orwhiningabouttriggerwarnings,orbeingoffendedbymicroaggressions,orretreatingtosafespaces. We’rebetteroffwhenweallembracefundamentallygoodvalues.Whenwesharethosevaluesofresponsibilityanddecencytogether. So,whatarethecommon,fundamentalvaluesweshouldbeteachingoncampus?Let’sstartwithvaluessuchasthoseembodiedintheConstitution:freedomofspeech,ofreligion,ofthepress,ofassemblyandpetition.Let’saddinsomebasiccivicvalues:don’thavebabieswithoutbeingmarried,don’tengageincrime,don’tdoviolencetopeoplewhodisagreewithyou. Let’sallbebettertooneanother–notintermsofbeingoversensitiveorworryingthatwe’reallgoingtooffendoneanother,butinassumingthatwewilloffendeachotherfromtimetotime,andthat’sokay.Thatdoesn’tmeanweshouldgoaroundinsultingeachother.Butitdoesmeanthatwehavetorespectfactsasfacts,opinionsasopinions,andinsultsasinsults–they’renotallthesamething. Thenwedon’thavetoshutdowndebateandstrongarmprotestersanddestroythecountryinordertomakeourselvesfeelgood.Wecanfeelgoodaboutwhatwesharetogether:aconstitutionalsystemthatprizesindividuallibertyandindividualresponsibility,asimplegoodnessthatagreestodisagreeaboutwhatwedoinourownlives,butagreesgenerallythatbeingamenschisrequiredofeveryone.Wesharenot“ourowntruths,”butactual,factualtruths–andactualstandards. We’reallinthistogether.Solet’sstoplettingthefascistleftseparateuswithbuzzwordsandthetyrannyofsubjectivefeelings.Ifwedothat,we’llfinallybegintobuildwhatthefoundersforesaw,whatMartinLutherKingJr.dreamedof,andwhatgenerationsfoughtandbledanddiedtoachieve:asocietyofvaluesratherthanraces,ofcommonalityratherthanpolarization,oftruthratherthanlies.

1DaveUrbanski,“RacismImmediatelyAllegedAfterBlackBagofPoopFoundonStepsofVanderbilt’sBlackCulturalCenter–ThenTheTruthComesOut,”TheBlaze.com,November20,2015<http://www.theblaze.com/news/2015/11/20/racism-immediately-alleged-after-black-bag-of-poop-found-on-steps-of-vanderbilts-black-cultural-center-then-the-truth-comes-out/>2DamonLinker,“Liberalsaredrunkonapoliticalpoisoncalledintersectionality,”TheWeek.com,January11,2017<http://theweek.com/articles/672265/liberals-are-drunk-political-poison-called-intersectionality>3RonHaskins,“ThreeSimpleRulesPoorTeensShouldFollowtoJointheMiddleClass,”Brookings.edu,March13,2013<https://www.brookings.edu/opinions/three-simple-rules-poor-teens-should-follow-to-join-the-middle-class/>4RobertRector,“Marriage:America’sGreatestWeaponAgainstChildPoverty,”Heritage.org,September2010<http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/09/marriage-america-s-greatest-weapon-against-child-poverty>

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5BernadetteD.Proctor,JessicaL.Semega,MelissaA.Kollar,“IncomeandPovertyintheUnitedStates:2015,”Census.gov,September2016<http://www.census.gov/data/tables/2016/demo/income-poverty/p60-256.html>6JillLeovy,“TheUnderpolicingofBlackAmerica,”TheWallStreetJournal,January23,2015<http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-underpolicing-of-black-america-1422049080>7ValerieRichardson,“Policekillmorewhitesthanblacks,butminoritydeathsgeneratemoreoutrage,”WashingtonTimes.com,April21,2015<http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/21/police-kill-more-whites-than-blacks-but-minority-d/>8QuactrungBuiandAmandaCox,“SurprisingNewEvidenceShowsBiasinPoliceUseofForcebutNotinShootings,”TheNewYorkTimes,July11,2016<https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/12/upshot/surprising-new-evidence-shows-bias-in-police-use-of-force-but-not-in-shootings.html>9HeatherMacDonald,“ThePost-ZimmermanPoisonPill,”NationalReview.com,July19,2013<http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/353864/post-zimmerman-poison-pill-heather-mac-donald>10EricSorensen,“‘Deadlyforce’labfindsracialdisparitiesinshootings,”WSU.edu,September2,2014<https://news.wsu.edu/2014/09/02/deadly-force-lab-finds-racial-disparities-in-shootings/>11HeatherMacDonald,“Theacademicresearchonpoliceshootingsandrace,”WashingtonPost.com,July19,2016<https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2016/07/19/academic-research-on-police-shootings-and-race/?utm_term=.ed541268ff03>12HeatherMacDonald,“Hillary’sDebateLies,”CityJournal.org,September27,2016<http://city-journal.org/html/hillarys-debate-lies-14759.html>13DavidKocieniewski,“StudySuggestsRacialGapInSpeedingInNewJersey,”TheNewYorkTimes,March21,2002<http://www.nytimes.com/2002/03/21/nyregion/study-suggests-racial-gap-in-speeding-in-new-jersey.html>14HeatherMacDonald,“TheMythofCriminal-JusticeRacism,”City-Journal.org,October22,2015<http://www.city-journal.org/html/myth-criminal-justice-racism-10231.html>15ThomasSowell,“Bankrupt‘Exploiters,’”NationalReview.com,July22,2008<http://www.nationalreview.com/article/225093/bankrupt-exploiters-thomas-sowell>16FrankShyong,“ForAsianAmericans,achanginglandscapeoncollegeadmissions,”LATimes.com,February21,2015<http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-adv-asian-race-tutoring-20150222-story.html>17JesseSingal,“Psychology’sFavoriteToolforMeasuringRacismIsn’tUptotheJob,”NYMag.com,January11,2017<http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2017/01/psychologys-racism-measuring-tool-isnt-up-to-the-job.html?mid=twitter-share-scienceofus>

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18KarenAgness,“Don’tBuyIntoTheGenderPayGapMyth,”Forbes.com,April12,2016<http://www.forbes.com/sites/karinagness/2016/04/12/dont-buy-into-the-gender-pay-gap-myth/#15effd804766>19MattRocheleau,“Oncampus,womenoutnumbermenmorethanever,”BostonGlobe.com,March28,2016<https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/03/28/look-how-women-outnumber-men-college-campuses-nationwide/YROqwfCPSlKPtSMAzpWloK/story.html>20CarolineKitchens,“TheRape‘Epidemic’Doesn’tActuallyExist,”USNews.com,October24,2013<http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/economic-intelligence/2013/10/24/statistics-dont-back-up-claims-about-rape-culture>21ThomasSowell,“TheQuestForCosmicJustice,”TSowell.com<http://www.tsowell.com/spquestc.html>22ThomasSowell,“TheQuestForCosmicJustice,”TSowell.com<http://www.tsowell.com/spquestc.html>23JoshZumbrun,“NotJustThe1%:TheUpperMiddleClassIsLargerAndRicherThanEver,”WSJ.com,June21,2016<http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2016/06/21/not-just-the-1-the-upper-middle-class-is-larger-and-richer-than-ever/>24EdwardConward,TheUpsideofInequality(Portfolio/Penguin:NewYork,NY,2016),165-16625Ibid,179-18526RakeshKochhar,“HowAmericanscomparewiththeglobalmiddleclass,”PewResearch.org,July9,2015<http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/07/09/how-americans-compare-with-the-global-middle-class/>27RobertRectorandRachelSheffield,“TheWaronPovertyAfter50Years,”Heritage.org,September15,2014<http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2014/09/the-war-on-poverty-after-50-years>28EdwardConward,TheUpsideofInequality(Portfolio/Penguin:NewYork,NY,2016),20429GregLukianoffandJonathanHaidt,“TheCoddlingoftheAmericanMind,”TheAtlantic,September2015<http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2015/09/the-coddling-of-the-american-mind/399356/>30PardesSeleh,“CSULAProfessorThreatensto‘Macroaggress’inResponsetoBenShapiroLecture,”DailyWire.com,February19,2016<http://www.dailywire.com/news/3514/csula-prof-threatens-macroagress-response-ben-pardes-seleh>31AlexGriswold,“UniversityofMissouriPoliceAskStudentstoReport‘HurtfulSpeech,’”Mediaite.com,November10,2015<http://www.mediaite.com/online/university-of-missouri-police-ask-students-to-report-hurtful-speech/>32KatherineTimpf,“CampusGroupApologizestoStudents‘Triggered’byAnti-MicroaggressionsExhibit,”NationalReview.com,April30,2015

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