Evergreen (You Didn't Deserve Me at All): A Conservative Take on the Woke Culture

Evergreen (You Didn't Deserve Me at All): A Conservative Take on the Woke Culture

This article critiques the impact of woke culture on free speech and intellectual diversity, using the 2017 Evergreen State College protests as a case study.

Vince Vanguard

Vince Vanguard

Evergreen (You Didn't Deserve Me at All): A Conservative Take on the Woke Culture

Picture this: a world where the loudest voices are the most entitled, where the so-called "woke" culture reigns supreme, and where the concept of personal responsibility is as rare as a unicorn. Welcome to Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, circa 2017. This was the year when the college became the epicenter of a cultural earthquake that shook the foundations of free speech and common sense. The chaos erupted when a biology professor, Bret Weinstein, dared to question the college's "Day of Absence" event, which asked white students and faculty to leave campus for a day. The result? Protests, threats, and a campus in turmoil. But why did this happen, and what does it say about the state of our society?

First, let's talk about the absurdity of the "Day of Absence." The idea was to promote diversity and inclusion by excluding a specific group based on race. How ironic! It's like trying to promote health by banning vegetables. The event was supposed to be a day of reflection and understanding, but it quickly turned into a day of division and hostility. The message was clear: if you don't agree with the prevailing narrative, you're not welcome. This is the kind of twisted logic that has become all too common in today's world.

Now, let's address the elephant in the room: the reaction to Weinstein's dissent. Instead of engaging in a healthy debate, the response was to silence and intimidate. Students took to the streets, demanding his resignation and labeling him a racist. The administration, rather than standing up for free speech, caved to the mob mentality. This is a perfect example of how the left's obsession with identity politics has eroded the very principles of open dialogue and intellectual diversity.

The events at Evergreen are a microcosm of a larger trend sweeping across college campuses nationwide. The rise of "safe spaces" and "trigger warnings" has created an environment where differing opinions are not just discouraged but actively suppressed. It's a world where feelings trump facts, and where the mere act of questioning the status quo is seen as an act of aggression. This is not education; it's indoctrination.

Let's not forget the role of the media in all of this. The mainstream media, with its left-leaning bias, has been complicit in perpetuating this culture of victimhood. By glorifying the protesters and vilifying those who dare to think differently, they have contributed to the polarization of our society. It's no wonder that trust in the media is at an all-time low. People are tired of being told what to think and how to feel.

The Evergreen debacle also highlights the failure of leadership in higher education. College administrators, more concerned with appeasing the loudest voices than upholding academic integrity, have allowed this toxic culture to fester. Instead of fostering an environment of critical thinking and open discourse, they have created echo chambers where only one viewpoint is tolerated. This is a disservice to students who are supposed to be preparing for the real world, where differing opinions are a fact of life.

It's time to take a stand against this madness. We need to reclaim our institutions of higher learning and restore them to their rightful purpose: to educate, not indoctrinate. We must demand accountability from college administrators and hold them responsible for the environments they create. We must support those who have the courage to speak out against the prevailing narrative, even when it's unpopular.

The events at Evergreen State College serve as a cautionary tale of what happens when we allow the loudest voices to dictate the terms of discourse. It's a reminder that we must remain vigilant in defending the principles of free speech and open dialogue. The future of our society depends on it.