Private Schools Wokeness Over the Top

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure the educated legal immigrants value things like: hard work, following the rules, staying out of trouble and crime, education, freedoms, land rights, liberty, local govt over huge central govt, etc.

Many countries in 2023 don’t have the above values or characteristics, more reward them. But maybe with a few less tests, defunding the police, reparations, admit and job quotas, and welfare programs we can really accel.

OP here. There is a lot of good about the US for sure and us immigrants really value the above! I’m not anti welfare though and as an immigrant I think the US healthcare system is pretty insane. I do believe in a single payer healthcare system. I do feel the US has gone backwards when it comes to freedom of speech. Not sure what happened to the ACLU.

England no longer does.

And remember, Canada went bankrupt in 1998.

OP here. The UK doesn't have a single payer healthcare system. It has a public healthcare system (which is being dismantled unfortunately). My home country does too. But I don't think it works for the US. Canada's system has many issues but its definitely better than people not having healthcare at all. But what's happening in Canada's healthcare system is definitely problematic.

Oh no, is it happening again? Public health insurance only lasted 25 years sustainable with death panels and long waits?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I believe in diversity and equity. The way it is pushed these days is more like a religion where other opinions are not allowed (look at the Hamline University debacle.. I am muslim and every muslim I know thinks what happens is insane). I am a person who is an admirer of Edward Said's book Orientalism as well as the People's History of the United States. I am Arab so am staunchly anti-imperialist. But I think schools have gone overboard. Also there is very little critique of class. I get it - they are private schools. But it is hypocritical to be pushing all of this and ignore the class aspect.

My kids are young - Kindergarten and first grade so they haven't been exposed to a lot of this yet. But I am worried that there is some indoctrination going on.

Harsh question: Why should someone who claims to be “from a foreign background “ and from a religion that hardly represents a common viewpoint in the US expect to “fit in” — or even want to “fit in”? Surely you must realize that it’s the culture and values behind what you deem “wokeness” that has given you and your kids not just the chance of fitting in, but of being accepted at all by schools and universities that, not too long ago, we’re almost exclusively white, male, American, and, in many cases aggressively Christian?

Talk about saying the quiet part out loud. Before it went out of virtue signaling fashion, there was a melting pot theory (and practice). Now, fitting in is passe in favor of naked tribalism, which ultimately thrives no hate.

OP here. I'm not a fan of the melting pot theory but not a fan of this new tribalism as well where everyone is part of some microcommunity..

Melting pot/ learn English/play baseball worked well until multiculturalism, esol, welfare and enclaves took over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I believe in diversity and equity. The way it is pushed these days is more like a religion where other opinions are not allowed (look at the Hamline University debacle.. I am muslim and every muslim I know thinks what happens is insane). I am a person who is an admirer of Edward Said's book Orientalism as well as the People's History of the United States. I am Arab so am staunchly anti-imperialist. But I think schools have gone overboard. Also there is very little critique of class. I get it - they are private schools. But it is hypocritical to be pushing all of this and ignore the class aspect.

My kids are young - Kindergarten and first grade so they haven't been exposed to a lot of this yet. But I am worried that there is some indoctrination going on.

Sounds like you would be happy for your kids to be taught about the specific type of oppression that has affected people of your ethnicity/religion. But you chafe at having to think about any injustice that doesn't affect you personally (or a group you identify with).

Maybe think about why that is

Not really. The "People's History of the United States" talks about oppression of the various minority groups in the US. I also mentioned in a separate post that I am a big fan of Cornell West and Reverend Barbar who focus mostly on anti-black racism within the US and income inequality. Also really like James Baldwin. The problem is that you can't understand why a person who is against colonialism, racism etc. is also against this new progressive ideology. There is a huge difference between Cornell West and Kendi. The difference between the two is why I just can't stand this new DEI crap.

More power to you, OP! I’m African American and it drives me crazy that people think I must be alt right or something if I don’t like Kendi, as if he represents some sort of gospel of black intellectual thought. Plenty of black people have better takes on racism than Kendi. But their takes tend to me more complicated (as the truth often is) and less amenable to DEI buzz word reduction.

OP here. Thanks PP! Yes exactly! The problem with Kendi are that his takes are too simplistic and reductive. There are so many people with better takes out there that are just regular people who aren't making money off of their takes.

Not sure how this is possible as I'm not a Christian believer but I'm 100% convinced that Jesus had Kendi and fellow wokes in mind when, during the Sermon on the Mount, he (supposedly) said:

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

[Anonymous]

from that bleeding heart Joe Waslh

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I believe in diversity and equity. The way it is pushed these days is more like a religion where other opinions are not allowed (look at the Hamline University debacle.. I am muslim and every muslim I know thinks what happens is insane). I am a person who is an admirer of Edward Said's book Orientalism as well as the People's History of the United States. I am Arab so am staunchly anti-imperialist. But I think schools have gone overboard. Also there is very little critique of class. I get it - they are private schools. But it is hypocritical to be pushing all of this and ignore the class aspect.

My kids are young - Kindergarten and first grade so they haven't been exposed to a lot of this yet. But I am worried that there is some indoctrination going on.

Sounds like you would be happy for your kids to be taught about the specific type of oppression that has affected people of your ethnicity/religion. But you chafe at having to think about any injustice that doesn't affect you personally (or a group you identify with).

Maybe think about why that is

Not really. The "People's History of the United States" talks about oppression of the various minority groups in the US. I also mentioned in a separate post that I am a big fan of Cornell West and Reverend Barbar who focus mostly on anti-black racism within the US and income inequality. Also really like James Baldwin. The problem is that you can't understand why a person who is against colonialism, racism etc. is also against this new progressive ideology. There is a huge difference between Cornell West and Kendi. The difference between the two is why I just can't stand this new DEI crap.

Honestly I don't really understand. You liked the People's History of the United States but you don't think your kids should learn about the genocide of the Native American people? You like James Baldwin but you don't think kids should learn about the legacy of slavery or that there are multiple possible gender identities? Maybe go back and re-read those

OP here. Yes the problem is you don't understand. DEI/wokism is reductive and simplistic. Cornell West and James Baldwin are actually thinkers who are more nuanced. Of course I think my kids should learn about the genocide of Native American people. Where did I say they shouldn't? Go back to the quote that I had from the article about China. I am not a fan of Huntington but the quote I put was spot on - except like I said that I don't care that much about culture but the continuous focus on specific identity categories undermines solidarity amongst different identity groups which is necessary if we want to effectuate change. Here is the quote again:

"Progressive liberal ideology seeks to downplay cultural wholes. It envisions the world in universal, globalist terms, while reducing national ­societies to collections of atomized individuals. In its advanced form as identity politics, this version of liberalism views individuals as members of intersecting identity categories—categories that are not real communities and cultures, but rather demographic abstractions such as “Asian American” and “LGBTQIA+.” The word “community” may be added to such abstractions—as in “LGBTQIA+­ ­community”—but it is empty, for none of the identity-­politics categories are concrete communities with shared cultural lives. Indeed, the pseudo-­solidarity of identity politics further atomizes the individual by undermining the legitimacy of inherited cultures. This outcome is not accidental. Progressive liberals seek to weaken the hold of larger cultural collectives by erasing them from their accounts of the social world, accounts they disseminate using their dominance in the West’s humanities and social science departments."

I read a different article that has more of a leftist, "global south" critique of what's happening but unfortunately I can't find it, so this specific quote from this article will have to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I believe in diversity and equity. The way it is pushed these days is more like a religion where other opinions are not allowed (look at the Hamline University debacle.. I am muslim and every muslim I know thinks what happens is insane). I am a person who is an admirer of Edward Said's book Orientalism as well as the People's History of the United States. I am Arab so am staunchly anti-imperialist. But I think schools have gone overboard. Also there is very little critique of class. I get it - they are private schools. But it is hypocritical to be pushing all of this and ignore the class aspect.

My kids are young - Kindergarten and first grade so they haven't been exposed to a lot of this yet. But I am worried that there is some indoctrination going on.

Sounds like you would be happy for your kids to be taught about the specific type of oppression that has affected people of your ethnicity/religion. But you chafe at having to think about any injustice that doesn't affect you personally (or a group you identify with).

Maybe think about why that is

Not really. The "People's History of the United States" talks about oppression of the various minority groups in the US. I also mentioned in a separate post that I am a big fan of Cornell West and Reverend Barbar who focus mostly on anti-black racism within the US and income inequality. Also really like James Baldwin. The problem is that you can't understand why a person who is against colonialism, racism etc. is also against this new progressive ideology. There is a huge difference between Cornell West and Kendi. The difference between the two is why I just can't stand this new DEI crap.

More power to you, OP! I’m African American and it drives me crazy that people think I must be alt right or something if I don’t like Kendi, as if he represents some sort of gospel of black intellectual thought. Plenty of black people have better takes on racism than Kendi. But their takes tend to me more complicated (as the truth often is) and less amenable to DEI buzz word reduction.

OP here. Thanks PP! Yes exactly! The problem with Kendi are that his takes are too simplistic and reductive. There are so many people with better takes out there that are just regular people who aren't making money off of their takes.

Not sure how this is possible as I'm not a Christian believer but I'm 100% convinced that Jesus had Kendi and fellow wokes in mind when, during the Sermon on the Mount, he (supposedly) said:

"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."

OP here. Omg so true! Not Christian either but Jesus said a lot of good stuff

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Pretty sure the educated legal immigrants value things like: hard work, following the rules, staying out of trouble and crime, education, freedoms, land rights, liberty, local govt over huge central govt, etc.

Many countries in 2023 don’t have the above values or characteristics, more reward them. But maybe with a few less tests, defunding the police, reparations, admit and job quotas, and welfare programs we can really accel.

OP here. There is a lot of good about the US for sure and us immigrants really value the above! I’m not anti welfare though and as an immigrant I think the US healthcare system is pretty insane. I do believe in a single payer healthcare system. I do feel the US has gone backwards when it comes to freedom of speech. Not sure what happened to the ACLU.

England no longer does.

And remember, Canada went bankrupt in 1998.

OP here. The UK doesn't have a single payer healthcare system. It has a public healthcare system (which is being dismantled unfortunately). My home country does too. But I don't think it works for the US. Canada's system has many issues but its definitely better than people not having healthcare at all. But what's happening in Canada's healthcare system is definitely problematic.

Oh no, is it happening again? Public health insurance only lasted 25 years sustainable with death panels and long waits?

Not the time and place for this debate given the thread (my fault for bringing it up lol) but the US healthcare system doesn't offer a better alternative. And yes I think the death panels are crazy (referring to the Maid here)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

What this "Slow Boring" author seems not to understand or account for is that elite high schools are responding to the preferences of elite colleges, because the sole purpose of an elite high school is to help its students gain admission into an elite college. If it cannot fulfill this singular purpose it will not survive, no matter what other acculturation in the norms of fancy manners and society it may otherwise provide. College admission is king.

And what this author similarly seems to not understand about elite college "wokeness" is that it is the product not only of demands from the culture at large (and, crucially, the demographic of affluent teenagers that elite colleges cater to) but also its highly educated and abnormally intelligent faculty, who often lead the charge in determining intellectual and cultural norms on campus. Although this imperfect attempt at semi-meritocracy has been under attack in America for decades, for the most part smart people still run universities (not necessarily in the administration buildings, but in the lecture halls and research labs). So colleges tend to be on the progressive cutting edge, because the more educated you are, the more likely you are to hold progressive beliefs. If you really understand systemic racial and economic oppression you are going to support efforts to dismantle it (unless you are a sociopath or otherwise lacking in normal moral sensibilities, super-ego, empathy, or conscience). Even if those efforts to dismantle become absurd or performative (as, of course, they eventually do as dumber and less genuinely other-regarding people jump onto the PC train) the efforts are rooted in the result of education itself: a deeper, more nuanced, and more accurate understanding of how the world actually works.

If you don't like it, don't fret: the pendulum will swing again because not everyone with power and influence in American culture is smart or well-educated, or equipped with a functioning super-ego.

You seem to be suggesting that the only reason the DEI narrative is dominant is because of the superior intellect of academics. This is ridiculously absurd. You seem to have no awareness of how group psychology and social psychology operate, and groupthink around societal norms. You seem oblivious to understanding how changing power structures and power dynamics entice or dissuade people from adopting particular narratives. You are taking everything at face value, and trusting that academic person = smarter than average person = intelligent points of view, and this has been proven wrong so many times. People should know better by now than to say things like this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you’re worried about some vague notion of wokeness that hasn’t apparently even affected you or your kids in private school. And yet racism, ableism, and general bullying of minority groups still happens a lot in the public schools in this area. Are you sure you want to dump wokeness? Some kid made fun of my dd’s darker skin color and compared her to a turd. She was too hurt and embarrassed to tell me about the incident for a whole year. Just one reason I will be happy to trade public school for our woke private school next year. And check out this recent gem from TikTok. At least I know that this type of behavior would get a kid instantly expelled from any private school: https://www.tiktok.com/@tizzyent/video/7187837986858421547

"

No where did I say that the behavior you are describing is a better alterative. I have always known that the conservatives hate people like me. But now we have progressives that are claiming to be our "allies" speaking for us and spewing dangerous BS. Perhaps why I feel so lost here is because I don't agree with either side although I'm not equating the two either. Many progressives have their hearts in the right place but what they are pushing is reductive, harmful and in some ways as the original article I quoted is saying, creating its own exclusive club. Of course many progressives will say that the DEI "industry" is not progressives. But maybe they should ask themselves why corporations are jumping to adopt the terminology that progressives love to use. Again I go back to that quote from that article about why the Chinese love conservatives.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

What this "Slow Boring" author seems not to understand or account for is that elite high schools are responding to the preferences of elite colleges, because the sole purpose of an elite high school is to help its students gain admission into an elite college. If it cannot fulfill this singular purpose it will not survive, no matter what other acculturation in the norms of fancy manners and society it may otherwise provide. College admission is king.

And what this author similarly seems to not understand about elite college "wokeness" is that it is the product not only of demands from the culture at large (and, crucially, the demographic of affluent teenagers that elite colleges cater to) but also its highly educated and abnormally intelligent faculty, who often lead the charge in determining intellectual and cultural norms on campus. Although this imperfect attempt at semi-meritocracy has been under attack in America for decades, for the most part smart people still run universities (not necessarily in the administration buildings, but in the lecture halls and research labs). So colleges tend to be on the progressive cutting edge, because the more educated you are, the more likely you are to hold progressive beliefs. If you really understand systemic racial and economic oppression you are going to support efforts to dismantle it (unless you are a sociopath or otherwise lacking in normal moral sensibilities, super-ego, empathy, or conscience). Even if those efforts to dismantle become absurd or performative (as, of course, they eventually do as dumber and less genuinely other-regarding people jump onto the PC train) the efforts are rooted in the result of education itself: a deeper, more nuanced, and more accurate understanding of how the world actually works.

If you don't like it, don't fret: the pendulum will swing again because not everyone with power and influence in American culture is smart or well-educated, or equipped with a functioning super-ego.

You seem to be suggesting that the only reason the DEI narrative is dominant is because of the superior intellect of academics. This is ridiculously absurd. You seem to have no awareness of how group psychology and social psychology operate, and groupthink around societal norms. You seem oblivious to understanding how changing power structures and power dynamics entice or dissuade people from adopting particular narratives. You are taking everything at face value, and trusting that academic person = smarter than average person = intelligent points of view, and this has been proven wrong so many times. People should know better by now than to say things like this.

+1

I think isolation, mass delusion and mob intimidation explains much more the spread of DEI in certain circles than the "superior intellect of academics"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

You fit in like we do, also a foreign couple who used to live in DC:

Move to Florida! The whole coast from Miami to Delray Beach is awesome, beautiful, cosmopolitan...and sane.

Plenty of great schools too around Boca Raton, both public and private.

Give it a thought

It is among the most corrupt states in the country. No thanks.

OP here. Above response wasn’t from me by the way. Florida doesn’t appeal to me because all my in laws are here lol. Plus DC has more expats and it’s easier to get flights to back home But I’m not anti Florida like the above poster. Enjoy the sunshine!

Don't worry, it was very easy to distinguish you from the corrupt poster

Just in case look up flights from Miami, you may be surprised. There are people from all over getting along very well, including Latinos and anglos and Haitians and of course Jews and many Arabs (many come from the Ontario area to spend the winters here).

Best

Yes! My cousin who lives in Canada tells me that this is a thing! Florida has its own issues but yes I agree that it is becoming more and more diverse.

Best regards to your smart cousin and come visit him/her some time

Her She's in Canada tells me that many Canadians have second homes in Florida. We are planning on visiting Miami over spring break. Kids want to go to Disney again but I'm hoping that the beach will make them forget about that lol.

[Anonymous]

OP, even though we have disagreed on some points, you seem like a very thoughtful and interesting person. I wish I knew you in real life. I love much of what you said, even though I’m more in the DEI camp (mostly because there will be some elite “secret language” signaling no matter the dominant cultural norm is and I prefer DEI —with its capacity to also actually do some good— to the casual elite misogyny and racism of past decades). I hope whatever your kids end up that they have a great educational experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a parent from a foreign background, this article resonated with me. I feel lost here and feel like I no longer fit in.

https://www.slowboring.com/p/who-is-included-by-inclusive-language

You fit in like we do, also a foreign couple who used to live in DC:

Move to Florida! The whole coast from Miami to Delray Beach is awesome, beautiful, cosmopolitan...and sane.

Plenty of great schools too around Boca Raton, both public and private.

Give it a thought

It is among the most corrupt states in the country. No thanks.

OP here. Above response wasn’t from me by the way. Florida doesn’t appeal to me because all my in laws are here lol. Plus DC has more expats and it’s easier to get flights to back home But I’m not anti Florida like the above poster. Enjoy the sunshine!

Don't worry, it was very easy to distinguish you from the corrupt poster

Just in case look up flights from Miami, you may be surprised. There are people from all over getting along very well, including Latinos and anglos and Haitians and of course Jews and many Arabs (many come from the Ontario area to spend the winters here).

Best

Yes! My cousin who lives in Canada tells me that this is a thing! Florida has its own issues but yes I agree that it is becoming more and more diverse.

Best regards to your smart cousin and come visit him/her some time

Her She's in Canada tells me that many Canadians have second homes in Florida. We are planning on visiting Miami over spring break. Kids want to go to Disney again but I'm hoping that the beach will make them forget about that lol.

Yup, we always meet tons of Canadians flying into Ft Lauderdale or Miami We have even seen several cars from over there but that's quite a feat!

Here's a suggestion: if kids are 12+ they're likely to enjoy Universal Studios more, and perhaps by April the new high-speed train line between Miami and Orlando will be ready to roll!

Have a great time

(sorry OP, won't derail the thread any longer)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I believe in diversity and equity. The way it is pushed these days is more like a religion where other opinions are not allowed (look at the Hamline University debacle.. I am muslim and every muslim I know thinks what happens is insane). I am a person who is an admirer of Edward Said's book Orientalism as well as the People's History of the United States. I am Arab so am staunchly anti-imperialist. But I think schools have gone overboard. Also there is very little critique of class. I get it - they are private schools. But it is hypocritical to be pushing all of this and ignore the class aspect.

My kids are young - Kindergarten and first grade so they haven't been exposed to a lot of this yet. But I am worried that there is some indoctrination going on.

Sounds like you would be happy for your kids to be taught about the specific type of oppression that has affected people of your ethnicity/religion. But you chafe at having to think about any injustice that doesn't affect you personally (or a group you identify with).

Maybe think about why that is

Not really. The "People's History of the United States" talks about oppression of the various minority groups in the US. I also mentioned in a separate post that I am a big fan of Cornell West and Reverend Barbar who focus mostly on anti-black racism within the US and income inequality. Also really like James Baldwin. The problem is that you can't understand why a person who is against colonialism, racism etc. is also against this new progressive ideology. There is a huge difference between Cornell West and Kendi. The difference between the two is why I just can't stand this new DEI crap.

Honestly I don't really understand. You liked the People's History of the United States but you don't think your kids should learn about the genocide of the Native American people? You like James Baldwin but you don't think kids should learn about the legacy of slavery or that there are multiple possible gender identities? Maybe go back and re-read those

OP here. Yes the problem is you don't understand. DEI/wokism is reductive and simplistic. Cornell West and James Baldwin are actually thinkers who are more nuanced. Of course I think my kids should learn about the genocide of Native American people. Where did I say they shouldn't? Go back to the quote that I had from the article about China. I am not a fan of Huntington but the quote I put was spot on - except like I said that I don't care that much about culture but the continuous focus on specific identity categories undermines solidarity amongst different identity groups which is necessary if we want to effectuate change. Here is the quote again:

"Progressive liberal ideology seeks to downplay cultural wholes. It envisions the world in universal, globalist terms, while reducing national ­societies to collections of atomized individuals. In its advanced form as identity politics, this version of liberalism views individuals as members of intersecting identity categories—categories that are not real communities and cultures, but rather demographic abstractions such as “Asian American” and “LGBTQIA+.” The word “community” may be added to such abstractions—as in “LGBTQIA+­ ­community”—but it is empty, for none of the identity-­politics categories are concrete communities with shared cultural lives. Indeed, the pseudo-­solidarity of identity politics further atomizes the individual by undermining the legitimacy of inherited cultures. This outcome is not accidental. Progressive liberals seek to weaken the hold of larger cultural collectives by erasing them from their accounts of the social world, accounts they disseminate using their dominance in the West’s humanities and social science departments."

I read a different article that has more of a leftist, "global south" critique of what's happening but unfortunately I can't find it, so this specific quote from this article will have to do.

When you use terms like "woke" and "leftists" it is a tell. Really just find some parochial school for your kids, probably some Evangelical indocrtination is your jam. Schools like GDS and Sidwell clearly are not going to be good fits for your outlook.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, even though we have disagreed on some points, you seem like a very thoughtful and interesting person. I wish I knew you in real life. I love much of what you said, even though I’m more in the DEI camp (mostly because there will be some elite “secret language” signaling no matter the dominant cultural norm is and I prefer DEI —with its capacity to also actually do some good— to the casual elite misogyny and racism of past decades). I hope whatever your kids end up that they have a great educational experience.

Haha thanks PP! Not sure which PP you are but I would love to have these discussions in real life. What I loved about college the most (and I fear that its not the case anymore) is that I could have these heated debates but then we can all go hang out afterwards like nothing happened. Represents what I love about America and what I fear is disappearing.

I keep telling people that I was "woke" (and like I said before, I understand the term has taken on its own meaning) before being woke was cool lol lol. But then it got to be too much even for me. Again the quote I keep posting (with my caveats) really explains my issue with what's going on.

Also, can you tell, I can't focus on work today? lol lol