Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Anyone Up for “Re-educating”?
As is my Sunday morning ritual, I busied myself with a pot of coffee and the morning newspapers. These days, I get through the newspapers much faster than I used to. I suppose this is because I’ve developed a bit of a system; when I see a story coming from the New York Times or Washington Post, I will read it as far as the first liberal “dog whistle” that I encounter and then I go on to the next story. (Amazing, how this has cut down on my reading time.)
When I got to the “Arts & Leasure” section, I started going down the “Bestsellers” list, and after scanning a few titles, I could see that there was a definite pattern developing. Was it just my imagination or was I really on to something? You be the judge:
- “White Fragility”
- “How to Be an Antiracist”
- “So You Want to Talk About Race”
- “Me and White Supremacy”
- “Between the World and Me”
- “The New Jim Crow”
- “The Color of Law”
- “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?”
In an accompanying article entitled “So then how do I get books about race right now?”, we get this brilliant advice: “If…the major chains are sold out and you don’t want to wait to get your hands on physical copies of best-selling anti-racist books, your best bet is to go digital.” (Gasp! I would never have thought of that!)
Happily, for those who do not have the attention span to read a book, there are alternatives. One such enlightened individual advised that “(her) journey to rooting out bias within (herself) started two years ago when (she) ran across the ’28-day Me and White Supremacy Challenge’ aimed at fostering a better understanding of privilege.”
Now, people are free to read whatever they wish or to attend whatever exercise they believe is going to help them. However, when any literature or exercises become mandatory then I begin to have problems.
In the latter stages of both my military and civilian careers, I noticed the trend toward mandatory “diversity and inclusion” training. Never mind that, in both areas, blacks, whites, Asians, and Latinos had been executing their duties and getting along without any $1,000.00 per hour “diversity coaches” telling us what our differences were. In both careers (combat communications and information technology, respectively), there were always a measurable set of expectations; if an individual couldn’t, or wouldn’t, meet them, then changes were going to be made.
Of course, something changed. It’s not the purpose of this post to examine exactly what changed; maybe I’ll think it over and write something later. However, for now, I can’t help but think that we’re on a very bad path toward “re-education” and it sort of hearkens me back to what happened in Vietnam after we pulled out in 1973. After the Viet Cong and North Vietnam took over the South, there were numerous “re-education” facilities set up throughout the country. Those who were classified as “irredeemable” (hmmm, where have I heard that term before?) were executed (somewhere between 70 and 100 thousand) and the rest either knuckled under or became “boat people” (about 800,000 made it; the rest became shark food).
I don’t believe we’re close to that (yet) in this country. However, with the massive re-education effort now going on in so many facets of our country, can we say that it will never happen?
I wonder…
Published in General
Yes. The zealots are prescribing a series of religious tracts for your reeducation.
I’m getting it from friends and co-workers as well, with reading suggestions pressed upon me with a cult-like fervor. I have had a queasy feeling in my stomach for over a week now. I don’t even want to go into work anymore. And this is sad because I work at a church.
I assume most of these will find their way into a school curriculum, if they haven’t already.
The more serious question is whether there will be any responsible contrary views expressed in book form to the more nonsensical of these works.
I received by email such a list from a specialty vendor from whom I’d purchased women‘s clothing. A UK based company making small lot designs. They sent me an email telling me how I could improve myself along with them. I declined their offer and told them to cancel an outstanding order. I couldn’t believe it. Except I saw similar comments and then I did. I told them I didn’t look to them to be my moral benchmark.
“Of course, something changed. It’s not the purpose of this post to examine exactly what changed; maybe I’ll think it over and write something later. However, for now, I can’t help but think that we’re on a very bad path toward “re-education” – your perception is spot-on accurate. The something is present everywhere you turn – my sister said that the other day on the phone. The something is affecting culture at large, and it’s not good. Archbishop Vigano’s letter to President Trump spells out the something.
https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/archbishop-viganos-powerful-letter-to-president-trump-eternal-struggle-between-good-and-evil-playing-out-right-now
I solved this problem by cancelling the Post a couple years ago, after being a subscriber for about 35 years. I only had a crossword subscription for the NYT, but I cancelled it last year.
I used to read the Post for the business, sports and metro sections. More than a few coworkers mentioned how an intact front section and “style” pages would be neatly folded in my wastebasket–for “borrowing.” But recently, I’ve found reasons to not even tolerate the three “acceptable” sections. Bye, bye.
I am not a psychologist, or (even better) a psychiatrist. Good on me.
But is it unreasonable to ask whether imposing a national, racial guilt trip on young people (or people in general) will have damaging effects? Should someone be addressing this? In a book–so much the better.
It’s everywhere now. That awful “New Jim Crow” book especially, which is described most critics as an ahistorical screed.
Here’s the galling bit – people foist these books on us and insist that we cannot possibly discuss current events until we have read the books. Nevermind that such people persistently refuse to return the favor. “How about Thomas Sowell’s books on race? How about these in-depth studies on crime?” Nope.
It’s all one-sided indoctrination.
No “conversation” is actually desired, only agreement and brainwashing.
I’ve noticed that when I buy a book from a non-left author, Amazon starts putting more leftist writings in the “recommended for you” section of the Kindle pages. That might just be the algorithm popping up “social issues” books without prompting.
An evangelical writer and speaker who does writing workshops recently recommended the 1619 Project. I feel like burning his books now.
Everyone who liked this post will be force-fed a book from Drew’s list each day until they see the light. No catsup will be allowed.
Here’s a cut-and-paste of a note from Audible at the of the book’s Amazon description: