From the Classroom to the Culture War:

Earlier this year “Morning Joe” host, Joe Scarborough, said his daughter, a student at the University of Virginia, is afraid to raise her hand in class. “If she says anything polticallly incorrect she knows she’ll immediately be cancelled,” he said.

Great.

It happens everywhere. Colleges and universities have become intolerant left-wing indoctrination centers.Several days ago, I stumbled upon this essay on Facebook. The author gave me permission to reprint it, but asked to remain anonymous. I suspect it’s because of some of the backlash he got on his post.

He attended another Virginia state university.

The Dangerous Redefinition of Words And The Legacy of Charlie Kirk

It's time we stop trying to silence each other and listen. When I was in college, I watched newly graduated professors change the definition of words to mean something completely different from their etymological roots, to suit an ideological agenda.

When asked to define "racism" in a mandated sociology class, I replied something along the lines of - "prejudice of another based on the other's ethnic background or race" - my sociology professor, a freshly minted Ph.D from UT, told me I was wrong - that it actually is "the oppression of one group by a class with more power" or some other postmodern redefinition, conveniently none of which had to do with race, the literal root word of "racism".

When I asked "If a black person who owns a restaurant refuses service to a white person simply because they are white, is that racism?" I was told "No", because "black people are systemically or structurally oppressed" or something along these lines.

Regardless of the truth of black people being an oppressed class or not, changing the definition of "racism" to not include "race" meant something was terribly wrong here. If I didn't go along with the redefinition of the word, I was academically penalized. I got a C on the exam where this was later asked.

Guess why?

At this point, I realized something was wrong.

In order for communication to take place, we must agree upon the definition of words. If we change the definition of words selectively, we lose our ability to communicate. We are just making noises at each other.

I realized at that point that our education system was compromised by an ideology that did not like me or anyone who looks like me, and would change the definition of words to suit the advancement of philosophy and policy that enforces "equity" over merit, and selectively enforces justice based on unclear principles.

This was 2014. I can only imagine what it is like to be a college student right now.

I believe this is what is happening right now, and why people like Charlie Kirk are so important. He was attempting to foster true communication. I cannot believe that he was killed in such a brutal, cold-blooded way, when attempting to communicate openly. He was debating bravely, with language and not violence. I never saw him make a personal attack. I was not even a particular fan of his, but Charlie was about a month older than me, and I agreed with him on a few key points. It is hard not to be shaken by something like this. My heart breaks for his family.

Charlie inspired many to reconsider their relationship with the truth and meaning of things, including spirit, morality, philosophy, all of it. Whether you liked him or agreed with him or not, what he was doing was an honorable counterpoint to an ideological takeover of our most cherished institutions, which now seem to abhor logic and reason. He expressed his principles in a measured and respectful way.

Rest in Peace Charlie. Your courage has inspired me to be a better man.