Food for Thought

From William Katz, writing at Urgent Agenda:


Unity is an enticing goal. It is also the siren song of the dictator and demagogue.

In our universities today there's a code word going around. It's "collegiality." Surely you students want a "collegial" atmosphere, don't you? Surely you don't want to "offend," do you? Surely we want to have mutual respect, don't we? If you're 18, you know how to answer those questions. The problem is, each "correct" answer erodes your freedom. Instead of challenging someone, you shut up, especially if that someone is a member of an "oppressed" group. Instead of debating, you withdraw, fearful of being accused of spreading "hate."

I've always believed that Americans won't lose their freedoms. They'll give them up to some noble-sounding appeal. Now we are being sold "unity." We're being sold it by a man who is hypnotizing many in our country, in part because of his identity. Some feel better about themselves simply by listening to him. But, when the time comes, will these same people rise to disagree with him, especially if he's endangering the nation? That is the question.

When someone preaches "unity," watch out. Unity comes at us on a coating of snake oil.