On this page:
Fatal Attraction: You, Too, Can Be an ISIS Fighter
But Why Would You Want To?
Party 'Til You Drop. Dead.
Community Organizing: A Degree with Radical Roots
Profiles in Liberty: Yoani Sanchez, Cuban Blogger and Activist
Concealed Carry on Campus: Do you want to stay alive or not?
Wanted: Liberty-Minded Students
What You Need to Know as a Conservative Student
Finding a University that Respects Your Views of Liberty
The Real Che Guevara
U Missouri "Labor Studies"
Transgender Activist and Political Polymorph Midge Potts
A blind 16 year old helped lead the resistance during WWII
- Read here
Fatal Attraction: You, Too, Can Be an ISIS Fighter
But Why Would You Want To?
Party 'Til You Drop. Dead.
Community Organizing: A Degree with Radical Roots
Profiles in Liberty: Yoani Sanchez, Cuban Blogger and Activist
Concealed Carry on Campus: Do you want to stay alive or not?
Wanted: Liberty-Minded Students
What You Need to Know as a Conservative Student
Finding a University that Respects Your Views of Liberty
The Real Che Guevara
U Missouri "Labor Studies"
Transgender Activist and Political Polymorph Midge Potts
A blind 16 year old helped lead the resistance during WWII
- Read here
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Elsewhere:
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Learn more about Defending Student Rights on College and University Campuses here.
Restore Campus Free Speech - "A recent poll found that more than 80 percent of students say they self-censor at least part of the time.1 And in another report, 60 percent of students have at some point felt they couldn’t express an opinion for fear of how students, professors, or college administrators might respond.2 Unfortunately, there’s a structural reason for that: Students’ freely expressed opinions could be picked up by their university’s bias reporting system (BRS) and get them into trouble with college administrators." Read article here.
Goodbye Utopia – professor dumps Marxism, opiate of the elites that spawns cruelty, injustice, loss of freedom. Daily Caller
Students organize national “Socialism Sucks” Day - “Taxation is Theft,” “It’s Not Free If Your Neighbor Paid for It,” “You’re Entitled to Nothing.” PoliZette
North Korean teens increasingly disenchanted with communism; worn out from events praising ‘Dear Leader’; devour foreign media (‘South Korean girls are better looking’). The Chosunilbo
How do you lead a meaningful life when, if you follow Grace Lee Boggs, all you ever do is change incessantly? Campus Reform
Early Progs justified minimum wage as eugenics, to weed out the ‘unfit’ and keep them out of the work force
https://fee.org/articles/how-to-get-progressive-students-to-understand-the-minimum-wage/
Bad Grade Sends Student on Ten-Year Quest to Amend the Constitution
Gregory Watson only got a C on his college paper arguing that a 200-year-old amendment was still alive and could be ratified. But he didn’t give up. He started writing lawmakers and, ten years later, the 27th Amendment became the law of the land:
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
People say we need a ‘living, breathing Constitution’. We have one. It’s been amended 27 times and the procedure for amending it is right there in the Constitution.
This story shows that every person in America has the power to bring about Constitutional change. Gregory Watson didn’t think the amendment process was ‘too hard’, and he was right.
The best part: his old professor later changed his grade to an A+! KUOW-FM Seattle
Restore Campus Free Speech - "A recent poll found that more than 80 percent of students say they self-censor at least part of the time.1 And in another report, 60 percent of students have at some point felt they couldn’t express an opinion for fear of how students, professors, or college administrators might respond.2 Unfortunately, there’s a structural reason for that: Students’ freely expressed opinions could be picked up by their university’s bias reporting system (BRS) and get them into trouble with college administrators." Read article here.
Goodbye Utopia – professor dumps Marxism, opiate of the elites that spawns cruelty, injustice, loss of freedom. Daily Caller
Students organize national “Socialism Sucks” Day - “Taxation is Theft,” “It’s Not Free If Your Neighbor Paid for It,” “You’re Entitled to Nothing.” PoliZette
North Korean teens increasingly disenchanted with communism; worn out from events praising ‘Dear Leader’; devour foreign media (‘South Korean girls are better looking’). The Chosunilbo
How do you lead a meaningful life when, if you follow Grace Lee Boggs, all you ever do is change incessantly? Campus Reform
Early Progs justified minimum wage as eugenics, to weed out the ‘unfit’ and keep them out of the work force
https://fee.org/articles/how-to-get-progressive-students-to-understand-the-minimum-wage/
Bad Grade Sends Student on Ten-Year Quest to Amend the Constitution
Gregory Watson only got a C on his college paper arguing that a 200-year-old amendment was still alive and could be ratified. But he didn’t give up. He started writing lawmakers and, ten years later, the 27th Amendment became the law of the land:
No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
People say we need a ‘living, breathing Constitution’. We have one. It’s been amended 27 times and the procedure for amending it is right there in the Constitution.
This story shows that every person in America has the power to bring about Constitutional change. Gregory Watson didn’t think the amendment process was ‘too hard’, and he was right.
The best part: his old professor later changed his grade to an A+! KUOW-FM Seattle
Fatal Attraction: You, Too, Can Be an ISIS Fighter
But Why Would You Want To?
Imagine leaving your life of going to school and hanging out with your friends to head for the Syrian desert to fight and maybe die for people you never met before who believe things you’re just hearing now for the very first time. Why would you do it? Why would anybody? But that’s exactly what 19-year-old Denverite Shannon Conley tried to do. More on her below, but first some background:
Alarming numbers of young people from around the world are giving up everything they have and flocking to the Middle East to join ISIS. Social media and the internet are enabling ISIS to take their recruitment to the next level, particularly among Millennials, the digital generation. Many are wondering what could attract young people, or any people, to a group infamous for beheadings and other heinous acts on the innocent - not only infidels, but even fellow Muslims who hold less radical views. It is estimated that as many as 3,000 citizens from Western countries have left their lives to fight alongside terrorists, a number that is growing at an alarming rate.
Most of the numbers we have to go on are estimates, as it is hard to say exactly how many people of what ages have willingly joined the ranks of ISIS, versus the number lured in and kidnapped.
Alarming numbers of young people from around the world are giving up everything they have and flocking to the Middle East to join ISIS. Social media and the internet are enabling ISIS to take their recruitment to the next level, particularly among Millennials, the digital generation. Many are wondering what could attract young people, or any people, to a group infamous for beheadings and other heinous acts on the innocent - not only infidels, but even fellow Muslims who hold less radical views. It is estimated that as many as 3,000 citizens from Western countries have left their lives to fight alongside terrorists, a number that is growing at an alarming rate.
Most of the numbers we have to go on are estimates, as it is hard to say exactly how many people of what ages have willingly joined the ranks of ISIS, versus the number lured in and kidnapped.
Source: https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_soldier
ISIS holding children in its ranks brings a slew of advantages. Children are the next generation, and will be slower to die off. Children tend to be more impressionable than their older counterparts, which makes indoctrinating them generally easier. Many of these children are raped and tortured by men every day, and if they complain or try to leave, they may be tortured or killed and displayed as examples of what happens if you cross ISIS.
ISIS knows how to employ the psychology of the need to belong. Children have a stronger need to belong so they are more likely to join a group to feel important, and even independent. Those within ISIS are brainwashed into believing what they are doing is good and necessary, and all who stand in their way are evil.
Some are too graphic to include in this story, but finding photographs of the young, sad faces of ISIS children online is not difficult. ISIS proudly shares images of very young children holding guns, children hung in the streets with signs warning others of the consequences of resistance, even children holding the heads of beheading victims.
Young people joining ISIS are not exclusively male. ISIS is working to recruit young women, as well. One example is Shannon Conley, a 19-year-old suburban girl from Denver. Conley met an ISIS fighter online and planned to travel to Syria to not only marry him, but also fight alongside him. Conley and several other girls from suburban Denver have been detained for attempting to travel to Syria to join the ranks of ISIS.
Not all women who have tried, however, have been caught. At least 12 young people from Minnesota alone have successfully made the journey to ISIS. Many women have successfully joined ISIS on the promises of husbands and an exciting new life. But the reality of life as a woman of ISIS is far different from the promises made over social media interactions with ISIS recruiters.
The women of ISIS reportedly serve as wives and work in brothels for ISIS fighters, enforce Sharia Law, and carry out suicide bombings. Having females within the ranks allows ISIS to lure in new male recruits with the promise of brides. "While they are recruiting men, they promise them wives when they get there," Bob Fletcher with the Center of Somalis History Studies Center told CBN News. Additionally, women are less likely to be suspected as terrorists, so they can slip past security and through crowds more easily.
ISIS uses fake social media profiles to attract prime victims. Using profile pictures of young, attractive, often American boys, they are able to lure in the young girls of their choosing.
The first young people to make major headlines as ISIS youth were two girls from Austria, Samra Kesinovic, 17, and Sabina Selimovic,15 who were lured to Syria online. Some sources say they may be pregnant or dead. It is unclear what their current state is, as ISIS has reportedly taken over their Twitter accounts. The girls later contacted their parents saying they wish to go home, but those who know how ISIS operates claim escaping once you have joined is nearly impossible.
ISIS has been recruiting child soldiers for a while. Last year, the Syrian Human Rights Committee estimated that ISIS already employed around 800 child soldiers under 18 years of age. It was also estimated that they were recruiting children at a rate of 200-300 per month. With the development of their web presence and media notoriety, these numbers are increasing.
Not all children who end up in ISIS are recruited. Some are kidnapped. When ISIS raids villages, they take what they want and that can include women and children.
National Intelligence Director James Clapper reports that approximately 180 Americans, including some as young as 15 years of age, have joined ISIS. So far this year, at least 25 arrests have been made of people attempting to do the same. "We are opening cases quicker than we are closing them," an American counterterrorism official told CNN.
By Lyda Loudon
ISIS knows how to employ the psychology of the need to belong. Children have a stronger need to belong so they are more likely to join a group to feel important, and even independent. Those within ISIS are brainwashed into believing what they are doing is good and necessary, and all who stand in their way are evil.
Some are too graphic to include in this story, but finding photographs of the young, sad faces of ISIS children online is not difficult. ISIS proudly shares images of very young children holding guns, children hung in the streets with signs warning others of the consequences of resistance, even children holding the heads of beheading victims.
Young people joining ISIS are not exclusively male. ISIS is working to recruit young women, as well. One example is Shannon Conley, a 19-year-old suburban girl from Denver. Conley met an ISIS fighter online and planned to travel to Syria to not only marry him, but also fight alongside him. Conley and several other girls from suburban Denver have been detained for attempting to travel to Syria to join the ranks of ISIS.
Not all women who have tried, however, have been caught. At least 12 young people from Minnesota alone have successfully made the journey to ISIS. Many women have successfully joined ISIS on the promises of husbands and an exciting new life. But the reality of life as a woman of ISIS is far different from the promises made over social media interactions with ISIS recruiters.
The women of ISIS reportedly serve as wives and work in brothels for ISIS fighters, enforce Sharia Law, and carry out suicide bombings. Having females within the ranks allows ISIS to lure in new male recruits with the promise of brides. "While they are recruiting men, they promise them wives when they get there," Bob Fletcher with the Center of Somalis History Studies Center told CBN News. Additionally, women are less likely to be suspected as terrorists, so they can slip past security and through crowds more easily.
ISIS uses fake social media profiles to attract prime victims. Using profile pictures of young, attractive, often American boys, they are able to lure in the young girls of their choosing.
The first young people to make major headlines as ISIS youth were two girls from Austria, Samra Kesinovic, 17, and Sabina Selimovic,15 who were lured to Syria online. Some sources say they may be pregnant or dead. It is unclear what their current state is, as ISIS has reportedly taken over their Twitter accounts. The girls later contacted their parents saying they wish to go home, but those who know how ISIS operates claim escaping once you have joined is nearly impossible.
ISIS has been recruiting child soldiers for a while. Last year, the Syrian Human Rights Committee estimated that ISIS already employed around 800 child soldiers under 18 years of age. It was also estimated that they were recruiting children at a rate of 200-300 per month. With the development of their web presence and media notoriety, these numbers are increasing.
Not all children who end up in ISIS are recruited. Some are kidnapped. When ISIS raids villages, they take what they want and that can include women and children.
National Intelligence Director James Clapper reports that approximately 180 Americans, including some as young as 15 years of age, have joined ISIS. So far this year, at least 25 arrests have been made of people attempting to do the same. "We are opening cases quicker than we are closing them," an American counterterrorism official told CNN.
By Lyda Loudon
Party 'Til You Drop. Dead.
- Designer Drugs the Scourge of a Generation
On July 19, 2014, Devin and Veronica Eckhardt said one last goodbye to their son, Connor, one of the most recent young victims of a drug-related death. Connor, an otherwise healthy, happy, vibrant teenager, lost his life to one hit of the marijuana-imitation drug,"Spice”. Connor is not the only young person to lose his life to a drug this year. On January 11, 17-year-old Tara Fitzgerald, was found unresponsive after using 25i-NBOMe, a synthetic drug similar to LSD or acid. She was then hospitalized and died shortly after. A 19-year-old girl died and three others were hospitalized after consuming a bad batch of ecstasy in January. They were found having seizures, muscle spasms, and foaming at the mouth. Doctor Mike Taylor, who cared for the four hospitalized that night said, "Sometimes people are told it's MDMA, but it may be something different... And MDMA is not at all safe, as sometimes thought, it has caused quite a lot of deaths over the years." He went on to say, "it seems, especially, it's young girls dying of ecstasy overdoses all the time." The list of recent drug-related fatalities among Millennials goes on.
According to TeenHelp.com, overall drug use and accessibility among young people has not decreased with time. 38.4 percent of public school students have drugs readily available. 62.9 percent of teenagers claim street gangs are around to sell drugs. 29.6 percent of young people have access to heroin, one of the most addictive drugs and the drug behind many deaths. 6.2 percent of high school seniors have used hallucinogens in the past year. A 2009 CDC survey showed one in five teenagers has used prescription drugs without a prescription, a growing trend, as many believe prescription drugs are safer than others. According to DrugFreeWorld.org, 2,500 young people between the ages of twelve and seventeen illegally try their first prescription painkiller every day. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, misusing the painkiller, Fentanyl, (which is thirty to fifty times more powerful than the street drug, heroin) killed more than 1,000 Americans in 2007. In 2011, the number of drug-related deaths outnumbered motor vehicle accident deaths in the U.S. In 2009, drug abuse claimed an estimated 37,485 lives, and 38,329 in 2010, according to the CDC. That marked the eleventh consecutive year that the number of drug-related deaths rose.
Molly is a common, trending “party drug,” often affectionately referenced by rappers and pop stars such as Kanye West and Miley Cyrus in their songs. Molly is marketed as pure 3,4 methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine or MDMA, but is rarely pure, and often cut with various other substances. Molly is a Schedule 1 controlled substance that acts as a stimulant and psychedelic. The high generally lasts a few hours, causing the brain to release excessive norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. Several recent party scene deaths are attributed to Molly. Not only is MDMA dangerous by itself, but is often laced or bulked up with other things like rat poison or baby powder, resulting in a cocktail of potentially harmful, mind-altering, but unknown substances.
Synthetic marijuana, also known as "K2" or "Spice" has claimed Connor and a number of other lives since first appearing in the U.S. in 2008. The American Association of Poison Control Centers received 2,906 calls regarding synthetic marijuana in 2010, and 6,959 calls in 2011. According to the CDC, more high school students (23 percent) reported recently smoking marijuana than cigarettes (18 percent). For some, synthetic marijuana is an easier sell than real marijuana due to its lower price, false reputation as a legal substance, and less detectability on drug tests. Spice is usually composed of some real, low-quality marijuana, combined with artificial chemical compounds, such as JWH-018, HU-210, and JWH-073. HU-210 acts similarly to THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the active component of marijuana, but can be 100 to 800 times more potent. This increases the risk of overdose while inflicting a number of potentially unpleasant effects, such as anxiety, paranoia, disassociation, inability to hold a thought, heart palpitations, loss of concentration, nausea, and psychotic episodes. It holds few similarities to real marijuana and many additional risks.
Other new drugs like "bath salts" and "krokodil" killed their way into the news, then scared away potential users and disappeared, but not before claiming the lives of young people looking to experiment with whatever is hot. "Designer drug" is the label for drugs that are made to evade drug laws, but that often means they are made from substances that have not yet been classified as drugs, or approved for human consumption at all. Regardless of a drug's label, it could be mixed with a long list of other substances that cause similar effects, but could also cause any number of negative reactions. It is hard to tell what is in a drug by the time it has reached a user, or predict what reactions or highs a user will experience after consuming it.
Even drugs that may not take your life can rob you of your ability to truly live. Drugs are capable of putting their victims under the illusion that sobriety is a dull and sad existence in contrast to the high. For some people, drug experimentation is worth the risk of experiencing negative side effects, triggering addiction, or even losing their lives. For others, life and the ability to enjoy it to its fullest are too precious to risk for a temporary high or the bragging rights of ‘cool’. It can be easy to forget the many good lives like Connor Eckhardt that were lost to drugs and drug addiction when presented with the choice to say yes or no.
By Lyda Loudon
Sidenote on Cocaine:
- Designer Drugs the Scourge of a Generation
On July 19, 2014, Devin and Veronica Eckhardt said one last goodbye to their son, Connor, one of the most recent young victims of a drug-related death. Connor, an otherwise healthy, happy, vibrant teenager, lost his life to one hit of the marijuana-imitation drug,"Spice”. Connor is not the only young person to lose his life to a drug this year. On January 11, 17-year-old Tara Fitzgerald, was found unresponsive after using 25i-NBOMe, a synthetic drug similar to LSD or acid. She was then hospitalized and died shortly after. A 19-year-old girl died and three others were hospitalized after consuming a bad batch of ecstasy in January. They were found having seizures, muscle spasms, and foaming at the mouth. Doctor Mike Taylor, who cared for the four hospitalized that night said, "Sometimes people are told it's MDMA, but it may be something different... And MDMA is not at all safe, as sometimes thought, it has caused quite a lot of deaths over the years." He went on to say, "it seems, especially, it's young girls dying of ecstasy overdoses all the time." The list of recent drug-related fatalities among Millennials goes on.
According to TeenHelp.com, overall drug use and accessibility among young people has not decreased with time. 38.4 percent of public school students have drugs readily available. 62.9 percent of teenagers claim street gangs are around to sell drugs. 29.6 percent of young people have access to heroin, one of the most addictive drugs and the drug behind many deaths. 6.2 percent of high school seniors have used hallucinogens in the past year. A 2009 CDC survey showed one in five teenagers has used prescription drugs without a prescription, a growing trend, as many believe prescription drugs are safer than others. According to DrugFreeWorld.org, 2,500 young people between the ages of twelve and seventeen illegally try their first prescription painkiller every day. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, misusing the painkiller, Fentanyl, (which is thirty to fifty times more powerful than the street drug, heroin) killed more than 1,000 Americans in 2007. In 2011, the number of drug-related deaths outnumbered motor vehicle accident deaths in the U.S. In 2009, drug abuse claimed an estimated 37,485 lives, and 38,329 in 2010, according to the CDC. That marked the eleventh consecutive year that the number of drug-related deaths rose.
Molly is a common, trending “party drug,” often affectionately referenced by rappers and pop stars such as Kanye West and Miley Cyrus in their songs. Molly is marketed as pure 3,4 methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine or MDMA, but is rarely pure, and often cut with various other substances. Molly is a Schedule 1 controlled substance that acts as a stimulant and psychedelic. The high generally lasts a few hours, causing the brain to release excessive norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. Several recent party scene deaths are attributed to Molly. Not only is MDMA dangerous by itself, but is often laced or bulked up with other things like rat poison or baby powder, resulting in a cocktail of potentially harmful, mind-altering, but unknown substances.
Synthetic marijuana, also known as "K2" or "Spice" has claimed Connor and a number of other lives since first appearing in the U.S. in 2008. The American Association of Poison Control Centers received 2,906 calls regarding synthetic marijuana in 2010, and 6,959 calls in 2011. According to the CDC, more high school students (23 percent) reported recently smoking marijuana than cigarettes (18 percent). For some, synthetic marijuana is an easier sell than real marijuana due to its lower price, false reputation as a legal substance, and less detectability on drug tests. Spice is usually composed of some real, low-quality marijuana, combined with artificial chemical compounds, such as JWH-018, HU-210, and JWH-073. HU-210 acts similarly to THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, the active component of marijuana, but can be 100 to 800 times more potent. This increases the risk of overdose while inflicting a number of potentially unpleasant effects, such as anxiety, paranoia, disassociation, inability to hold a thought, heart palpitations, loss of concentration, nausea, and psychotic episodes. It holds few similarities to real marijuana and many additional risks.
Other new drugs like "bath salts" and "krokodil" killed their way into the news, then scared away potential users and disappeared, but not before claiming the lives of young people looking to experiment with whatever is hot. "Designer drug" is the label for drugs that are made to evade drug laws, but that often means they are made from substances that have not yet been classified as drugs, or approved for human consumption at all. Regardless of a drug's label, it could be mixed with a long list of other substances that cause similar effects, but could also cause any number of negative reactions. It is hard to tell what is in a drug by the time it has reached a user, or predict what reactions or highs a user will experience after consuming it.
Even drugs that may not take your life can rob you of your ability to truly live. Drugs are capable of putting their victims under the illusion that sobriety is a dull and sad existence in contrast to the high. For some people, drug experimentation is worth the risk of experiencing negative side effects, triggering addiction, or even losing their lives. For others, life and the ability to enjoy it to its fullest are too precious to risk for a temporary high or the bragging rights of ‘cool’. It can be easy to forget the many good lives like Connor Eckhardt that were lost to drugs and drug addiction when presented with the choice to say yes or no.
By Lyda Loudon
Sidenote on Cocaine:
Source: http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/cocaine
Some who may seem otherwise healthy are just one drug experimentation away from death by adverse reaction. America has the highest rate of cocaine abuse in the world. Depending on the user, cocaine can be either harmful, or deadly. A first line of cocaine can cause an irregular or increased heartbeat, and constricted blood vessels. The heart can fail on its first brush with the drug with little warning. According to law enforcement, every day, an estimated 2,500 Americans try cocaine for the first time. It is hard to know in advance how each individual will react to a substance, but with heart problems on the rise in America, the heart is especially susceptible to drug-related damage, and even failure. Millennials are especially susceptible to cocaine complications, as five percent of those in the age group of eighteen to twenty-five are active users, more than in any other age group. Many drugs with "speed" or "caffeine" (another substance many drugs are combined with to increase the effects) send the heart racing which can trigger many heart problems. Cocaine kills roughly seven people per month. If one has had heart problems, experimenting with cocaine or other "upper" drugs is especially dangerous.
Community Organizing: A Degree with Radical Roots
- Saul Alinsky Says 'Don't Take This Course'
- Saul Alinsky Says 'Don't Take This Course'
By John Friedman
Senior – World History Major
Kennesaw State University
[Editor's Introduction – Today's students are being duped into getting Community Organizing degrees. 'Community organizing' sounds warm and fuzzy, but is just academic cover for radical extremist left-wing politics, something the degree candidates might not realize is really going on and would disagree with if the whole exercise were more transparent – radical politics dressed up as public service to rope in young, unsuspecting idealists. Students might like 'mutual benefit' and 'community change' when first encountering such terms, but might not after realizing what they really mean. Don't waste your money.]
UPDATE 4/15: Education-Portal.com is now Study.com. The pertinent links in the story are now
http://study.com/directory/category/Liberal_Arts_and_Humanities/Human_and_Social_Services/Community_Organization_and_Advocacy.html
Now that America has had over 5 years of Obama's failed policies, in part stemming from his lack of work experience other than that as a community organizer, why would anyone want to follow in his footsteps and earn a degree in Community Organizing? Apparently there are plenty of people, given that a major in Community Organizing exists and numerous colleges are offering it.
There are currently 124 colleges that offer Bachelor’s Degrees related to community organizing (http://colleges.findthebest.com/d/o/Community-Organization-and-Advocacy). According to education-portal.com, “there is no direct field of study in community organizing and advocacy.” (http://education-portal.com/directory/category/Liberal_Arts_and_Humanities/Human_and_Social_Services/Community_Organization_and_Advocacy.html) Instead, it is mainly offered as a concentration within other college majors, such as social work and sociology. One of the leading college level Community Organizing programs is California Santa Cruz's Bachelor's degree in Community Studies. The program consists of 10 required main courses, including Introduction to Community Activism and Independent Field Study. As part of the degree requirements, students have to complete two semesters of field work with a community organization, which is almost always performed in urban areas with predominantly liberal organizations. There are also graduate level programs focused around Community Organizing, such as Hunter College in New York City, which offers an M.A. in Social Work with a concentration in Community Organizing. Candidates perform field work at progressive locales that are officially sanctioned by the program, such as the Urban Justice Center, Queers for Economic Justice, and Live Out Loud. Currently there are 15 colleges around the country offering Masters Degrees in Community Organizing (http://www.universitiesabroad.com/programs/master/community-organization-and-advocacy/united-states).
Graduates with Community Organizing degrees have pursued a variety of career paths, including the obvious Community Organizer, K-12 Teachers, EPA Regulatory Workers, Public Policy Analysts, Social Workers, and Lawyers (http://communitystudies.ucsc.edu/undergraduate/career-prospects.html). If we look simply at the position of Community Organizer, we will find that there isn't much money to be made: as of July 2014, the median salary for Community Organizers nationwide was only $33,402 (http://www1.salary.com/Community-Organizer-Salary.html). This is far below the median US Household income for 2012, which was $51,371 (http://www.deptofnumbers.com/income/us/).
The role of a Community Organizer depends on the organization. According to the Western Organization of Resource Councils' website, “an organizer’s role is to build public relationships, that is, relationships based on the general needs of civic and community life. The main tool for building such relationships is a face-to-face conversation (often called a one-on-one). The purposes of one-on-ones are to build relationships and trust, discover self-interests, identify skills and talents, and move people to involvement.” (http://www.worc.org/userfiles/file/Howto-Understand-Role-of-Community-Organizer.pdf)
The history of Community Organizing should be relevant to those contemplating such a career. Its roots extend back to the 1930s with further development through the 1960s, and are centered around the controversial Saul Alinsky. Alinsky used strong-handed tactics and threats to pressure the authorities to give in to his demands for the “have-nots”. He is also known as the author of the political work Rules for Radicals and considered the Father of Community Organizing. In Rules for Radicals, Saul Alinsky laid out the guidelines for how to become a “realistic radical.” Being a “realistic radical” meant taking power away from the “haves” and giving it to the “have-nots” by using tactics that appealed to the masses. According to Conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin, the tactics Alinsky outlined in Rules for Radicals were designed to create a “quiet revolution”, rather than a bloody coup. The aim is to convince the masses that the system is depriving them of the prosperity and happiness to which they are “entitled”. Alinsky in his wordy, intellectual manner put it this way: “any revolutionary change must be preceded by a passive, affirmative, non-challenging attitude toward change among the mass of our people. They must feel so frustrated, so defeated, so lost, so futureless in the prevailing system that they are willing to let go of the past and chance the future. This acceptance is the reformation essential to any revolution.” (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Saul_Alinsky)
The key word here is CHANGE. Sound familiar? In 2008 and 2012, the majority of the American people voted for Obama, who promised to “remake America.” Even if he doesn't admit it, Obama has “worked inside the system” (in Alinsky's words) to instigate a quiet revolution against the American establishment. From putting America's healthcare system under government control, to vastly expanding government welfare programs, to changing the scope of Federal agencies and bureaucracies (i.e., the IRS and EPA), and even issuing sweeping and controversial Executive Orders, Obama has certainly worked to change the nation as we know it.
The main problem here is that Obama's progressive vision for America is diametrically opposed to the original intent of the Founders, who believed in the power of individuals to make their own decisions, and elevated ordinary citizens over the “necessary evil” that is the federal government. Community Organizers, while professing to give power and a voice to 'the little guy', ironically diminish the power of the individual. By deduction, Community Organizers advocate for bigger government through their advocacy for innumerable government-funded social programs and their direct support of the Democratic Party. Conservative talk show host and author Dennis Prager summed it up well, “the bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.” (http://www.dennisprager.com/the-bigger-the-government-the-smaller-the-citizen/)
Which brings us back to the question of the value of a degree in Community Organizing. Education-portal.com states “for the most grass-roots community organizations, a community advocate does not necessarily need any formal education, just relevant knowledge about the cause.” (http://education-portal.com/directory/category/Liberal_Arts_and_Humanities/Human_and_Social_Services/Community_Organization_and_Advocacy.html). Saul Alinsky wrote “among the organizers I trained and failed with...there were those who had trained in schools of social work to become community organizers. Community organization 101, 102, and 103...They had done 'field work' and acquired even a specialized vocabulary. Basically the difference between their goals and ours is that they organize to get rid of four-legged rats and stop there; we organize to get rid of four-legged rats so we can get on to removing two-legged rats.” (http://archive.org/stream/RulesForRadicals/RulesForRadicals_djvu.txt)
The fact that Saul Alinsky himself didn't see any true value in getting a Community Organizing degree is informative. Whether or not you agree with Alinsky's goals or tactics, he at least had one thing right concerning the value of a degree in Community Organizing.
Senior – World History Major
Kennesaw State University
[Editor's Introduction – Today's students are being duped into getting Community Organizing degrees. 'Community organizing' sounds warm and fuzzy, but is just academic cover for radical extremist left-wing politics, something the degree candidates might not realize is really going on and would disagree with if the whole exercise were more transparent – radical politics dressed up as public service to rope in young, unsuspecting idealists. Students might like 'mutual benefit' and 'community change' when first encountering such terms, but might not after realizing what they really mean. Don't waste your money.]
UPDATE 4/15: Education-Portal.com is now Study.com. The pertinent links in the story are now
http://study.com/directory/category/Liberal_Arts_and_Humanities/Human_and_Social_Services/Community_Organization_and_Advocacy.html
Now that America has had over 5 years of Obama's failed policies, in part stemming from his lack of work experience other than that as a community organizer, why would anyone want to follow in his footsteps and earn a degree in Community Organizing? Apparently there are plenty of people, given that a major in Community Organizing exists and numerous colleges are offering it.
There are currently 124 colleges that offer Bachelor’s Degrees related to community organizing (http://colleges.findthebest.com/d/o/Community-Organization-and-Advocacy). According to education-portal.com, “there is no direct field of study in community organizing and advocacy.” (http://education-portal.com/directory/category/Liberal_Arts_and_Humanities/Human_and_Social_Services/Community_Organization_and_Advocacy.html) Instead, it is mainly offered as a concentration within other college majors, such as social work and sociology. One of the leading college level Community Organizing programs is California Santa Cruz's Bachelor's degree in Community Studies. The program consists of 10 required main courses, including Introduction to Community Activism and Independent Field Study. As part of the degree requirements, students have to complete two semesters of field work with a community organization, which is almost always performed in urban areas with predominantly liberal organizations. There are also graduate level programs focused around Community Organizing, such as Hunter College in New York City, which offers an M.A. in Social Work with a concentration in Community Organizing. Candidates perform field work at progressive locales that are officially sanctioned by the program, such as the Urban Justice Center, Queers for Economic Justice, and Live Out Loud. Currently there are 15 colleges around the country offering Masters Degrees in Community Organizing (http://www.universitiesabroad.com/programs/master/community-organization-and-advocacy/united-states).
Graduates with Community Organizing degrees have pursued a variety of career paths, including the obvious Community Organizer, K-12 Teachers, EPA Regulatory Workers, Public Policy Analysts, Social Workers, and Lawyers (http://communitystudies.ucsc.edu/undergraduate/career-prospects.html). If we look simply at the position of Community Organizer, we will find that there isn't much money to be made: as of July 2014, the median salary for Community Organizers nationwide was only $33,402 (http://www1.salary.com/Community-Organizer-Salary.html). This is far below the median US Household income for 2012, which was $51,371 (http://www.deptofnumbers.com/income/us/).
The role of a Community Organizer depends on the organization. According to the Western Organization of Resource Councils' website, “an organizer’s role is to build public relationships, that is, relationships based on the general needs of civic and community life. The main tool for building such relationships is a face-to-face conversation (often called a one-on-one). The purposes of one-on-ones are to build relationships and trust, discover self-interests, identify skills and talents, and move people to involvement.” (http://www.worc.org/userfiles/file/Howto-Understand-Role-of-Community-Organizer.pdf)
The history of Community Organizing should be relevant to those contemplating such a career. Its roots extend back to the 1930s with further development through the 1960s, and are centered around the controversial Saul Alinsky. Alinsky used strong-handed tactics and threats to pressure the authorities to give in to his demands for the “have-nots”. He is also known as the author of the political work Rules for Radicals and considered the Father of Community Organizing. In Rules for Radicals, Saul Alinsky laid out the guidelines for how to become a “realistic radical.” Being a “realistic radical” meant taking power away from the “haves” and giving it to the “have-nots” by using tactics that appealed to the masses. According to Conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin, the tactics Alinsky outlined in Rules for Radicals were designed to create a “quiet revolution”, rather than a bloody coup. The aim is to convince the masses that the system is depriving them of the prosperity and happiness to which they are “entitled”. Alinsky in his wordy, intellectual manner put it this way: “any revolutionary change must be preceded by a passive, affirmative, non-challenging attitude toward change among the mass of our people. They must feel so frustrated, so defeated, so lost, so futureless in the prevailing system that they are willing to let go of the past and chance the future. This acceptance is the reformation essential to any revolution.” (http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Saul_Alinsky)
The key word here is CHANGE. Sound familiar? In 2008 and 2012, the majority of the American people voted for Obama, who promised to “remake America.” Even if he doesn't admit it, Obama has “worked inside the system” (in Alinsky's words) to instigate a quiet revolution against the American establishment. From putting America's healthcare system under government control, to vastly expanding government welfare programs, to changing the scope of Federal agencies and bureaucracies (i.e., the IRS and EPA), and even issuing sweeping and controversial Executive Orders, Obama has certainly worked to change the nation as we know it.
The main problem here is that Obama's progressive vision for America is diametrically opposed to the original intent of the Founders, who believed in the power of individuals to make their own decisions, and elevated ordinary citizens over the “necessary evil” that is the federal government. Community Organizers, while professing to give power and a voice to 'the little guy', ironically diminish the power of the individual. By deduction, Community Organizers advocate for bigger government through their advocacy for innumerable government-funded social programs and their direct support of the Democratic Party. Conservative talk show host and author Dennis Prager summed it up well, “the bigger the government, the smaller the citizen.” (http://www.dennisprager.com/the-bigger-the-government-the-smaller-the-citizen/)
Which brings us back to the question of the value of a degree in Community Organizing. Education-portal.com states “for the most grass-roots community organizations, a community advocate does not necessarily need any formal education, just relevant knowledge about the cause.” (http://education-portal.com/directory/category/Liberal_Arts_and_Humanities/Human_and_Social_Services/Community_Organization_and_Advocacy.html). Saul Alinsky wrote “among the organizers I trained and failed with...there were those who had trained in schools of social work to become community organizers. Community organization 101, 102, and 103...They had done 'field work' and acquired even a specialized vocabulary. Basically the difference between their goals and ours is that they organize to get rid of four-legged rats and stop there; we organize to get rid of four-legged rats so we can get on to removing two-legged rats.” (http://archive.org/stream/RulesForRadicals/RulesForRadicals_djvu.txt)
The fact that Saul Alinsky himself didn't see any true value in getting a Community Organizing degree is informative. Whether or not you agree with Alinsky's goals or tactics, he at least had one thing right concerning the value of a degree in Community Organizing.
The ACORN Scam
Taxpayer-Funded Voter Fraud
One of the major accomplishments of Community Organizing was ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), which is now defunct. ACORN served as a major lobbying group for the Democratic Party and was best known for conducting large scale voter registration drives. This was done in line with its primary goal of mobilizing low to mid-income families in support of the Progressive agenda. Though ACORN claimed to have made a positive difference for many poor American communities, it was ultimately exposed to be very corrupt.
ACORN first ran into legal trouble in 2008, brought on by two separate incidents. First, “during the 2008 presidential campaign, ACORN collected more than 1.3 million voter registrations in 21 states. About 400,000 were rejected as incomplete, duplicated or fraudulent.” That means almost one-third of their work, paid for by taxpayers, was wasteful or fraudulent. (http://theweek.com/article/index/200161/the-fall-of-acorn-a-timeline) Second, criminal charges were filed in Nevada against ACORN alleging its workers were being paid to register voters. ACORN ultimately pled guilty in 2011 and was forced to pay the maximum fine of $5,000 for voter fraud. (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/10/judge-gives-maximum-and-fines-acorn-5000-for-illegal-voter-registration-scheme/)
But the fatal incident occurred in 2009, when “independent filmmaker James O'Keefe and conservative activist Hannah Giles posed as a pimp and a prostitute and secretly videotaped workers in several ACORN offices giving them advice on dodging taxes and establishing a brothel with underage girls.” (http://theweek.com/article/index/200161/the-fall-of-acorn-a-timeline). After this, Congress withdrew millions in taxpayer funding for ACORN.
If these incidents weren't telling enough, ACORN employees began to speak out on corruption that they had personally witnessed. In a 2009 Fox News interview, ACORN whistleblower Anita Moncrief stated that,
“ACORN actually goes after its own members. It uses its members because they are poor and marginalized communities in order to build their coffers. They use these voter registration programs to cause chaos at the offices and then to drive the people out to the polls by saying 'they're trying to take away your rights, the Republicans are trying to keep Black people from voting.' It's all a massive ruse: what they're really committing is funder fraud. These voter registration drives garner up to $28 million, sometimes $30 million dollars a year.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYTppCPMdeM
Taxpayer-Funded Voter Fraud
One of the major accomplishments of Community Organizing was ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now), which is now defunct. ACORN served as a major lobbying group for the Democratic Party and was best known for conducting large scale voter registration drives. This was done in line with its primary goal of mobilizing low to mid-income families in support of the Progressive agenda. Though ACORN claimed to have made a positive difference for many poor American communities, it was ultimately exposed to be very corrupt.
ACORN first ran into legal trouble in 2008, brought on by two separate incidents. First, “during the 2008 presidential campaign, ACORN collected more than 1.3 million voter registrations in 21 states. About 400,000 were rejected as incomplete, duplicated or fraudulent.” That means almost one-third of their work, paid for by taxpayers, was wasteful or fraudulent. (http://theweek.com/article/index/200161/the-fall-of-acorn-a-timeline) Second, criminal charges were filed in Nevada against ACORN alleging its workers were being paid to register voters. ACORN ultimately pled guilty in 2011 and was forced to pay the maximum fine of $5,000 for voter fraud. (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/08/10/judge-gives-maximum-and-fines-acorn-5000-for-illegal-voter-registration-scheme/)
But the fatal incident occurred in 2009, when “independent filmmaker James O'Keefe and conservative activist Hannah Giles posed as a pimp and a prostitute and secretly videotaped workers in several ACORN offices giving them advice on dodging taxes and establishing a brothel with underage girls.” (http://theweek.com/article/index/200161/the-fall-of-acorn-a-timeline). After this, Congress withdrew millions in taxpayer funding for ACORN.
If these incidents weren't telling enough, ACORN employees began to speak out on corruption that they had personally witnessed. In a 2009 Fox News interview, ACORN whistleblower Anita Moncrief stated that,
“ACORN actually goes after its own members. It uses its members because they are poor and marginalized communities in order to build their coffers. They use these voter registration programs to cause chaos at the offices and then to drive the people out to the polls by saying 'they're trying to take away your rights, the Republicans are trying to keep Black people from voting.' It's all a massive ruse: what they're really committing is funder fraud. These voter registration drives garner up to $28 million, sometimes $30 million dollars a year.” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYTppCPMdeM
Profiles in Liberty: Yoani Sanchez, Cuban Blogger and Activist 7.30.14
Source: Kickstarter: Yoani - The Film
Yoani Sanchez is a Cuban dissident who has devoted her life to speaking out to her compatriots, fellow citizens and the world about what is happening in Cuba. Her government has tried imprisoning, beating, kidnapping, demoralizing and criticizing her for standing up, but that has failed to stop Yoani. By speaking out to her compatriots and the world, she knowingly risks further government intervention and attack. The Cuban government has killed and stopped many similar dissidents, but that has not stopped Yoani or her fellow freedom fighters from standing up.
Yoani posts her writings on her blog, Generacion Y, contributes to Huffington Post, and shares her story in her book, Havana Real: One Woman Fights to Tell the Truth about Cuba Today.
In America, the words “dissident" or "activist" may conjure up images of blogs, rallies, and clever statements on signs. In Cuba, dissidence and freedom activism represent dangerous rebellion against an overreaching government, with exile and other consequences sometimes the result. In America, to some degree, we still have freedom of speech that enables us to speak out against our government when we see injustice. Some would argue that our freedom of expression has been tarnished in the midst of “free speech zones” on campuses, and the eagerness to label unpopular opinions as bigotry, homophobia, or racism. When we post on a blog in America, however, we can generally assume we will not awaken the next morning to federal agents at our door. But in Cuba, voicing or publicizing views that go against the government’s agenda makes you a criminal. Yoani believes that “freedom is fundamentally the possibility of standing on a street corner and shouting ‘There is no freedom here!’” Despite the obstacles, censorship laws, and consequences, Yoani continues to speak out in the name of freedom.
Cuba has three television channels, all owned by the government. This effectively keeps negative news about the government from reaching the Cuban population via television. Getting internet in Cuba is next to impossible. In an interview with The Lede, Yoani said, “I live in a country that has a monopoly on information, so when a Cuban is saying critical things about the government, the biggest challenge is how to get that information out to your compatriots on the island.” In Cuba, it is illegal to have a home wifi connection. In order to run her blog, Yoani must go to tourist destinations, such as hotels and internet cafes to buy wifi hotspot time. A single hour of wifi costs about one third of the average monthly salary in Cuba.
Even when Yoani is able to get her reports, tweets and stories online, getting that information out to other Cubans is an obstacle in itself. Only two percent of the Cuban population has internet access. Her materials and information are sometimes passed around via flash drives, paper, text messages, etc. This is also dangerous, as Cuba has strict laws pertaining to sedition that were passed in 1999. Information and material sharing with international news agencies, telling tales of democracy and the like, was made punishable by up to 20 years in prison. “There is a forced isolation and suppression of free thought, as well as a suppression of the need to communicate and interact with each other, other societies, and other cultures,” says actor and Cuban immigrant, Steven Bauer (formerly Esteban Ernesto Echavarria). “This is motivated by a fear that once Cubans are exposed to the world outside Cuba, they will see how limited their freedoms are in contrast” he says.
Yoani is not alone in this fight. Others are quietly fighting by her side. In March of 2003, 75 male dissidents who were speaking out against government corruption, were imprisoned in one-day trials with sentences that ranged from six to 28 years. This became known as the Black Spring. Damas de Blanco, or Ladies in White, is a group of women who had loved ones arrested that day. Each Sunday, they march after Mass at St. Rita’s Church, then walk the streets of Havana. The women wear all white, with clothes bearing the images of their imprisoned loved ones, along with the number of years in their respective prison sentences. Twenty-two of the prisoners have since been released. The Ladies in White are heavily scrutinized for their peaceful protests. Like others who try to speak out against Cuba’s corrupt government, they have been accused of taking money from foreign governments to give Cuba a bad reputation, among other specious claims. Similar accusations have been made against Yoani. The government does what it can to silence the brave voices rising together against the injustice and corruption in Cuba.
Through her fearless, rebellious, diligent efforts, Yoani has garnered an increasingly strong support base in America and the world. Her blog, Generacion Y, has been translated into 17 different languages, attracting 15 million followers worldwide. She was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Time Magazine called her one of the world’s 100 most influential people. Many public figures in America have spoken out to applaud Yoani's efforts, from politicians to celebrities. After many failed attempts, she was finally able to acquire a passport, enabling her to leave Cuba (an opportunity rarely granted to Cuban citizens) to go on an 80-day international tour. Through Kickstarter, a group of filmmakers have exceeded their fundraising goals to create a film about her life.
Bauer says of Yoani, “she represents the courage that a lot of her generation demonstrates of the freedom of thought, the freedom of communication, the freedom of the world.” She and her few brave allies will not stop until people in Cuba can once again live freely and happily, without fear of their government or of confinement merely for speaking out and trying to ensure a better future.
By Lyda Loudon
Yoani posts her writings on her blog, Generacion Y, contributes to Huffington Post, and shares her story in her book, Havana Real: One Woman Fights to Tell the Truth about Cuba Today.
In America, the words “dissident" or "activist" may conjure up images of blogs, rallies, and clever statements on signs. In Cuba, dissidence and freedom activism represent dangerous rebellion against an overreaching government, with exile and other consequences sometimes the result. In America, to some degree, we still have freedom of speech that enables us to speak out against our government when we see injustice. Some would argue that our freedom of expression has been tarnished in the midst of “free speech zones” on campuses, and the eagerness to label unpopular opinions as bigotry, homophobia, or racism. When we post on a blog in America, however, we can generally assume we will not awaken the next morning to federal agents at our door. But in Cuba, voicing or publicizing views that go against the government’s agenda makes you a criminal. Yoani believes that “freedom is fundamentally the possibility of standing on a street corner and shouting ‘There is no freedom here!’” Despite the obstacles, censorship laws, and consequences, Yoani continues to speak out in the name of freedom.
Cuba has three television channels, all owned by the government. This effectively keeps negative news about the government from reaching the Cuban population via television. Getting internet in Cuba is next to impossible. In an interview with The Lede, Yoani said, “I live in a country that has a monopoly on information, so when a Cuban is saying critical things about the government, the biggest challenge is how to get that information out to your compatriots on the island.” In Cuba, it is illegal to have a home wifi connection. In order to run her blog, Yoani must go to tourist destinations, such as hotels and internet cafes to buy wifi hotspot time. A single hour of wifi costs about one third of the average monthly salary in Cuba.
Even when Yoani is able to get her reports, tweets and stories online, getting that information out to other Cubans is an obstacle in itself. Only two percent of the Cuban population has internet access. Her materials and information are sometimes passed around via flash drives, paper, text messages, etc. This is also dangerous, as Cuba has strict laws pertaining to sedition that were passed in 1999. Information and material sharing with international news agencies, telling tales of democracy and the like, was made punishable by up to 20 years in prison. “There is a forced isolation and suppression of free thought, as well as a suppression of the need to communicate and interact with each other, other societies, and other cultures,” says actor and Cuban immigrant, Steven Bauer (formerly Esteban Ernesto Echavarria). “This is motivated by a fear that once Cubans are exposed to the world outside Cuba, they will see how limited their freedoms are in contrast” he says.
Yoani is not alone in this fight. Others are quietly fighting by her side. In March of 2003, 75 male dissidents who were speaking out against government corruption, were imprisoned in one-day trials with sentences that ranged from six to 28 years. This became known as the Black Spring. Damas de Blanco, or Ladies in White, is a group of women who had loved ones arrested that day. Each Sunday, they march after Mass at St. Rita’s Church, then walk the streets of Havana. The women wear all white, with clothes bearing the images of their imprisoned loved ones, along with the number of years in their respective prison sentences. Twenty-two of the prisoners have since been released. The Ladies in White are heavily scrutinized for their peaceful protests. Like others who try to speak out against Cuba’s corrupt government, they have been accused of taking money from foreign governments to give Cuba a bad reputation, among other specious claims. Similar accusations have been made against Yoani. The government does what it can to silence the brave voices rising together against the injustice and corruption in Cuba.
Through her fearless, rebellious, diligent efforts, Yoani has garnered an increasingly strong support base in America and the world. Her blog, Generacion Y, has been translated into 17 different languages, attracting 15 million followers worldwide. She was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. Time Magazine called her one of the world’s 100 most influential people. Many public figures in America have spoken out to applaud Yoani's efforts, from politicians to celebrities. After many failed attempts, she was finally able to acquire a passport, enabling her to leave Cuba (an opportunity rarely granted to Cuban citizens) to go on an 80-day international tour. Through Kickstarter, a group of filmmakers have exceeded their fundraising goals to create a film about her life.
Bauer says of Yoani, “she represents the courage that a lot of her generation demonstrates of the freedom of thought, the freedom of communication, the freedom of the world.” She and her few brave allies will not stop until people in Cuba can once again live freely and happily, without fear of their government or of confinement merely for speaking out and trying to ensure a better future.
By Lyda Loudon
Concealed Carry on Campus: Do you want to stay alive or not?
By John Friedman
Junior – World History Major
Kennesaw State University
11/2/17 Update - CAMPUS CARRY WORKS: Legally armed college student in Texas stops knife rampage! (h/t VCDL)
Among the most heavily contested issues in America today is gun control. In particular, the question of whether to allow college students to carry concealed weapons on their campuses has been quite contentious. Images of the massacre at Virginia Tech and other college shootings have scarred the memories of many people. But one must remember that the mainstream media is overwhelmingly against private gun ownership, much less allowing students to be armed on campus. Therefore, they portray the issue in a skewed light. If you want to properly understand the issue of concealed carry on college campuses, you have to delve deeper than just what the media is telling you.
To see the benefits of concealed carry on college campuses, we must first put several claims about gun control to rest.
One common objection to allowing college students to be armed is that they could suddenly “snap” and start shooting people (http://concealedcampus.org/common-arguments/#5). However, this isn't true: A 2007 Harvard study on gun violence found that “the ‘more guns equal more death’ mantra seems plausible only when viewed through the rubric that murders mostly involve ordinary people who kill because they have access to a firearm when they get angry. If this were true, murder might well increase where people have ready access to firearms, but the available data provides no such correlation.” (http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlpp/Vol30_No2_KatesMauseronline.pdf) (pg. 665)
Armed college age citizens haven’t started an epidemic of killing sprees in other public locations. Why is it they're mistrusted only on college campuses?
Another common claim is that pepper spray is more than enough to ward off an attacker. This isn't true either. According to an article on crimedoctor.com, “Contrary to media advertising, pepper spray does not guarantee stopping power or cause paralysis. An assailant can still grab you, punch you, stab you, or shoot you and will definitely be angrier after being sprayed.” (http://www.crimedoctor.com/self_defense_1.htm) Nothing, not even a taser, rivals the stopping power of a gun, a fact that should interest female students, most of whom simply can't fight off stronger male assailants.
Would guns serve as an effective deterrent to crime? As a matter of fact, yes. “National Institute of Justice surveys among prison inmates find that large percentages report that their fear that a victim might be armed deterred them from confrontation crimes. ‘[T]he felons most frightened ‘about confronting an armed victim’ were those from states with the greatest relative number of privately owned firearms.’ Conversely, robbery is highest in states that most restrict gun ownership.” ( http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlpp/Vol30_No2_KatesMauseronline.pdf)
There's no reason concealed weapons would not also serve as a deterrent on college campuses.
As hard as they may try, the police simply can't prevent every crime. That is a fact of life. In fact, 2013 FBI statistics on active shootings show that “forty-three percent of the time, the crime is over before police arrive. In 57 percent of the shootings, an officer arrives while the shooting is still underway.” (http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/2013/May/active-shooter) Forty-three percent is simply too high to rely solely on the police. The Virginia Tech shooter chained the doors. It took police three minutes to arrive and another five minutes to get through the doors. By that time, the shooter had gotten off 170 rounds and 32 students were dead.
By John Friedman
Junior – World History Major
Kennesaw State University
11/2/17 Update - CAMPUS CARRY WORKS: Legally armed college student in Texas stops knife rampage! (h/t VCDL)
Among the most heavily contested issues in America today is gun control. In particular, the question of whether to allow college students to carry concealed weapons on their campuses has been quite contentious. Images of the massacre at Virginia Tech and other college shootings have scarred the memories of many people. But one must remember that the mainstream media is overwhelmingly against private gun ownership, much less allowing students to be armed on campus. Therefore, they portray the issue in a skewed light. If you want to properly understand the issue of concealed carry on college campuses, you have to delve deeper than just what the media is telling you.
To see the benefits of concealed carry on college campuses, we must first put several claims about gun control to rest.
One common objection to allowing college students to be armed is that they could suddenly “snap” and start shooting people (http://concealedcampus.org/common-arguments/#5). However, this isn't true: A 2007 Harvard study on gun violence found that “the ‘more guns equal more death’ mantra seems plausible only when viewed through the rubric that murders mostly involve ordinary people who kill because they have access to a firearm when they get angry. If this were true, murder might well increase where people have ready access to firearms, but the available data provides no such correlation.” (http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlpp/Vol30_No2_KatesMauseronline.pdf) (pg. 665)
Armed college age citizens haven’t started an epidemic of killing sprees in other public locations. Why is it they're mistrusted only on college campuses?
Another common claim is that pepper spray is more than enough to ward off an attacker. This isn't true either. According to an article on crimedoctor.com, “Contrary to media advertising, pepper spray does not guarantee stopping power or cause paralysis. An assailant can still grab you, punch you, stab you, or shoot you and will definitely be angrier after being sprayed.” (http://www.crimedoctor.com/self_defense_1.htm) Nothing, not even a taser, rivals the stopping power of a gun, a fact that should interest female students, most of whom simply can't fight off stronger male assailants.
Would guns serve as an effective deterrent to crime? As a matter of fact, yes. “National Institute of Justice surveys among prison inmates find that large percentages report that their fear that a victim might be armed deterred them from confrontation crimes. ‘[T]he felons most frightened ‘about confronting an armed victim’ were those from states with the greatest relative number of privately owned firearms.’ Conversely, robbery is highest in states that most restrict gun ownership.” ( http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlpp/Vol30_No2_KatesMauseronline.pdf)
There's no reason concealed weapons would not also serve as a deterrent on college campuses.
As hard as they may try, the police simply can't prevent every crime. That is a fact of life. In fact, 2013 FBI statistics on active shootings show that “forty-three percent of the time, the crime is over before police arrive. In 57 percent of the shootings, an officer arrives while the shooting is still underway.” (http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/2013/May/active-shooter) Forty-three percent is simply too high to rely solely on the police. The Virginia Tech shooter chained the doors. It took police three minutes to arrive and another five minutes to get through the doors. By that time, the shooter had gotten off 170 rounds and 32 students were dead.
Allowing students to be armed on college campuses will not make campuses more dangerous. On the contrary it will make them safer. We already have proof of this. Colorado and Utah already allow college students in their public universities to concealed carry. A 2014 study on the crime rates of Colorado and Utah’s public colleges AFTER CONCEALED CARRY WAS ALLOWED concluded that “we find no evidence that allowing concealed carry of firearms makes campuses less safe. This finding is robust for all examined crime rates.” (http://libertarianpapers.org/wp-content/uploads/articles/2014/lp-6-1-1.pdf) (pg. 18) One notable example is Colorado State University, where the crime rate “has dropped 60 percent” since 2004. (http://www.ctrguns.com/guns-on-college-campus-reduce-crime-in-colorado/)
Besides, self defense is a basic human right. It is a reasonable request to allow students to DEFEND THEIR OWN PERSON. The Colorado and Utah experience shows no credible claim can be made that armed students will turn into vigilantes. The 2014 study on the effects of campus concealed carry in Colorado and Utah supports this notion by stating “no evidence is found that lifting bans on firearms resulted in ‘wild-west’ style shootouts on the college campuses included in this study.” (http://libertarianpapers.org/wp-content/uploads/articles/2014/lp-6-1-1.pdf) (pg. 18)
The 2007 Harvard University study that was cited earlier concludes the following concerning gun violence:
“Reducing gun ownership by the law-abiding citizenry - the only ones who obey gun laws – does not reduce violence or murder. The result is that high crime nations that ban guns to reduce crime end up having both high crime and stringent gun laws, while it appears that low crime nations that do not significantly restrict guns continue to have low violence rates.” (http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlpp/Vol30_No2_KatesMauseronline.pdf) (pg.672)
Regardless of what gun control advocates claim, the question isn’t IF an attempted massacre by an outside shooter on a college campus will occur again, but WHEN. The real question then is this: will YOU be prepared? Will your school allow you to defend yourself? If not, why not? Ask your school administrators to look you in the eye and tell you why not.
Besides, self defense is a basic human right. It is a reasonable request to allow students to DEFEND THEIR OWN PERSON. The Colorado and Utah experience shows no credible claim can be made that armed students will turn into vigilantes. The 2014 study on the effects of campus concealed carry in Colorado and Utah supports this notion by stating “no evidence is found that lifting bans on firearms resulted in ‘wild-west’ style shootouts on the college campuses included in this study.” (http://libertarianpapers.org/wp-content/uploads/articles/2014/lp-6-1-1.pdf) (pg. 18)
The 2007 Harvard University study that was cited earlier concludes the following concerning gun violence:
“Reducing gun ownership by the law-abiding citizenry - the only ones who obey gun laws – does not reduce violence or murder. The result is that high crime nations that ban guns to reduce crime end up having both high crime and stringent gun laws, while it appears that low crime nations that do not significantly restrict guns continue to have low violence rates.” (http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlpp/Vol30_No2_KatesMauseronline.pdf) (pg.672)
Regardless of what gun control advocates claim, the question isn’t IF an attempted massacre by an outside shooter on a college campus will occur again, but WHEN. The real question then is this: will YOU be prepared? Will your school allow you to defend yourself? If not, why not? Ask your school administrators to look you in the eye and tell you why not.
UPDATE 8/13/14 - A study of concealed carry permit revocation rates showed that college-age students from 18 to 22 in Michigan and Texas are at least as law-abiding as permit holders from ages 25 to 44. Source: Crime Prevention Research Center
Sidebar – Victims No More
A recent report written for the FBI has found that active shootings “have tripled in recent years.” (http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/3/newtown-type-mass-shootings-tripled-recent-years-r/) However, the report does not come to the same conclusion that so many in the anti-gun mainstream media often do. The report noted that, out of the 110 shootings studied, “potential victims actually stopped the attacker in 17 such cases.” (http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/3/newtown-type-mass-shootings-tripled-recent-years-r/)
Though 17 doesn’t seem to be very many when compared to 110 shootings, it’s a big start:
““This tells us that citizens and bystanders have a very real and active role in stopping these events,” Terry Nichols, a former police officer and an assistance director at ALERRT, told Yahoo News. “If we can properly prepare and educate civilians, maybe we can get to where 90 percent are stopped by civilians long before the police arrive.” ” (http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/3/newtown-type-mass-shootings-tripled-recent-years-r/ )
ALERRT is the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University. It wrote the report for the FBI.
A recent report written for the FBI has found that active shootings “have tripled in recent years.” (http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/3/newtown-type-mass-shootings-tripled-recent-years-r/) However, the report does not come to the same conclusion that so many in the anti-gun mainstream media often do. The report noted that, out of the 110 shootings studied, “potential victims actually stopped the attacker in 17 such cases.” (http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/3/newtown-type-mass-shootings-tripled-recent-years-r/)
Though 17 doesn’t seem to be very many when compared to 110 shootings, it’s a big start:
““This tells us that citizens and bystanders have a very real and active role in stopping these events,” Terry Nichols, a former police officer and an assistance director at ALERRT, told Yahoo News. “If we can properly prepare and educate civilians, maybe we can get to where 90 percent are stopped by civilians long before the police arrive.” ” (http://p.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jan/3/newtown-type-mass-shootings-tripled-recent-years-r/ )
ALERRT is the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State University. It wrote the report for the FBI.
Wanted: Liberty-Minded Students
Be Mentored, Publish and Grow with ISI - $$ Available
By John Friedman
Junior - World History Major
Kennesaw State University
There are a lot of college students who are disgruntled with the liberal establishment and the biased way they're taught in so many college classes. The Intercollegiate Studies Institute is helping to counter that. A conservative educational organization, it is making a difference for conservative college students and faculty across the nation. For example, over 400 professors from across the nation are playing an active role in this great organization. Some of the things that ISI supports are limited government, free market economics, and individual liberty.
An important part of ISI’s educational approach is the extensive training it provides to undergraduate students. Some students in ISI are even selected to be mentored by conservative college faculty, often through ISI's Student Leader Program or Honors Program. ISI's Honors Program is highly selective, with only fifty spots in each conference. But for those who get selected, it's the opportunity of a lifetime.
In addition, ISI has long been spreading the message of conservative ideals to thousands of college students through a variety of publications. These include their flagship publication The Intercollegiate Review, which is published twice a year; The Campus Caller, a daily email newsletter which provides insight on “what's really happening on America's college campuses;” and The Modern Age, a major Conservative journal that's published quarterly. These publications, along with online access to ISI's extensive lecture library, gives members a good foundation to form their own educated opinions on pertinent subjects.
Another great opportunity ISI provides is the Collegiate Network. This is a program that gives financial support, mentoring, and networking to “independent college newspapers, magazines, and journals that serve to focus public awareness on the politicization of American college and university classrooms, curricula, student life, and the resulting decline of educational standards.” Many conservative college students have started their own independent college campus publications thanks to the Collegiate Network. Some of these colleges include Yale University, Harvard University, the University of Chicago, and Princeton University, just to name a few.
As for opportunities, Collegiate Network director Lillian Gerken says, “We are always looking to expand. We have about 60 member papers in the network right now, and that number tends to stay pretty constant, because we’ll have students graduate and sometimes the papers will fall off the radar with us, but then we’ll have a few new ones starting each year as well. So we’re always looking to grow and expand and try to connect with any Conservative or Libertarian college students we hear of who have an interest in journalism.”
ISI also offers numerous fellowship grants to conservative grad students each year. These grants range in scope from $12,000 to full tuition coverage. There's really no reason not to join ISI, since there are so many benefits and membership is free. If you're a college student who wants to make a difference for liberty in American higher education, then the Intercollegiate Studies Institute may just be the ticket for you.
Links to ISI’s programs here.
Be Mentored, Publish and Grow with ISI - $$ Available
By John Friedman
Junior - World History Major
Kennesaw State University
There are a lot of college students who are disgruntled with the liberal establishment and the biased way they're taught in so many college classes. The Intercollegiate Studies Institute is helping to counter that. A conservative educational organization, it is making a difference for conservative college students and faculty across the nation. For example, over 400 professors from across the nation are playing an active role in this great organization. Some of the things that ISI supports are limited government, free market economics, and individual liberty.
An important part of ISI’s educational approach is the extensive training it provides to undergraduate students. Some students in ISI are even selected to be mentored by conservative college faculty, often through ISI's Student Leader Program or Honors Program. ISI's Honors Program is highly selective, with only fifty spots in each conference. But for those who get selected, it's the opportunity of a lifetime.
In addition, ISI has long been spreading the message of conservative ideals to thousands of college students through a variety of publications. These include their flagship publication The Intercollegiate Review, which is published twice a year; The Campus Caller, a daily email newsletter which provides insight on “what's really happening on America's college campuses;” and The Modern Age, a major Conservative journal that's published quarterly. These publications, along with online access to ISI's extensive lecture library, gives members a good foundation to form their own educated opinions on pertinent subjects.
Another great opportunity ISI provides is the Collegiate Network. This is a program that gives financial support, mentoring, and networking to “independent college newspapers, magazines, and journals that serve to focus public awareness on the politicization of American college and university classrooms, curricula, student life, and the resulting decline of educational standards.” Many conservative college students have started their own independent college campus publications thanks to the Collegiate Network. Some of these colleges include Yale University, Harvard University, the University of Chicago, and Princeton University, just to name a few.
As for opportunities, Collegiate Network director Lillian Gerken says, “We are always looking to expand. We have about 60 member papers in the network right now, and that number tends to stay pretty constant, because we’ll have students graduate and sometimes the papers will fall off the radar with us, but then we’ll have a few new ones starting each year as well. So we’re always looking to grow and expand and try to connect with any Conservative or Libertarian college students we hear of who have an interest in journalism.”
ISI also offers numerous fellowship grants to conservative grad students each year. These grants range in scope from $12,000 to full tuition coverage. There's really no reason not to join ISI, since there are so many benefits and membership is free. If you're a college student who wants to make a difference for liberty in American higher education, then the Intercollegiate Studies Institute may just be the ticket for you.
Links to ISI’s programs here.
What You Need to Know as a Conservative Student 7/6/13
College life for the average student in the 21st century can be challenging because America is a center-right country, yet colleges tend to lean left. Fortunately, there are some options out there for conservative students seeking a more welcoming environment for their college career.
Numerous conservative organizations and news sources have compiled lists of rightward-leaning colleges based on various criteria to make the search for a more welcoming college easier for young conservatives. The most prominent list of top conservative colleges was compiled by Young America’s Foundation. Their most recent list of top conservative colleges was used by numerous media sources, including Fox News, CBS, and Huffington Post.
Among the numerous lists of top colleges in various categories on the College Xpress website, there are several helpful lists for conservative students: “Top Schools for Conservatives, Old-Fashioned Liberals, and People of Faith,” “Right Wing Colleges,” and “Colleges for the Socially Conservative”.
Not all students are willing to choose their schools based solely on political views. Many students make their college decisions based on the financial, academic, social and location aspects of a school. In some cases, however, this can lead to issues later in their college careers. Many colleges (and high schools, in fact) have been known to be extremely unwelcoming of students who do not lean to the left as the majority of the typical student body does. This can result in social exclusion, verbal bullying, and rejection of a student based only on differing political views. This has become such a prominent issue that fortunately, there are organizations out there combatting this bullying and supporting the students who have fallen victim to extreme criticism and discrimination for their views.
College Conservatives is a group that works to not only help conservatives on campus find each other, but to also utilize them to enhance the conservative movement. The Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute seeks to empower conservative women as a whole, primarily on their campuses; to empower them to stay strong and hold true to their values and beliefs in the midst of the harassment, criticism, and judgment they may receive from those who disagree with them. Additionally, many schools have regular clubs for conservatives on their campuses to serve similar purposes.
The ACLJ (American Center for Law and Justice) is taking part in supporting students who venture into colleges where their peers discriminate against them. In certain instances, they provide counsel on a sliding scale, or for free (via their charity) for those students harassed or discriminated against by their peers. This evens the playing field and allows students to study at the school of their choice regardless of political friction.
Conservative students are in the minority on campuses, but the right resources can help them make their voices heard and their views accepted. The following is a list of colleges that are generally accepting of conservatives, according to Young America Foundation’s (in alphabetical order).
1. Christendom College (Va.)
2. College of the Ozarks (Mo.)
3. Colorado Christian University
4. Grove City College (Pa.)
5. Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio)
6. Harding University (Ark.)
7. Hillsdale College (Mich.)
8. The King's College (N.Y.)
9. Liberty University (Va.)
10. Patrick Henry College (Va.)
11. Regent University (Va.)
12. St. Vincent College (Pa.)
By Lyda Loudon
Numerous conservative organizations and news sources have compiled lists of rightward-leaning colleges based on various criteria to make the search for a more welcoming college easier for young conservatives. The most prominent list of top conservative colleges was compiled by Young America’s Foundation. Their most recent list of top conservative colleges was used by numerous media sources, including Fox News, CBS, and Huffington Post.
Among the numerous lists of top colleges in various categories on the College Xpress website, there are several helpful lists for conservative students: “Top Schools for Conservatives, Old-Fashioned Liberals, and People of Faith,” “Right Wing Colleges,” and “Colleges for the Socially Conservative”.
Not all students are willing to choose their schools based solely on political views. Many students make their college decisions based on the financial, academic, social and location aspects of a school. In some cases, however, this can lead to issues later in their college careers. Many colleges (and high schools, in fact) have been known to be extremely unwelcoming of students who do not lean to the left as the majority of the typical student body does. This can result in social exclusion, verbal bullying, and rejection of a student based only on differing political views. This has become such a prominent issue that fortunately, there are organizations out there combatting this bullying and supporting the students who have fallen victim to extreme criticism and discrimination for their views.
College Conservatives is a group that works to not only help conservatives on campus find each other, but to also utilize them to enhance the conservative movement. The Clare Booth Luce Policy Institute seeks to empower conservative women as a whole, primarily on their campuses; to empower them to stay strong and hold true to their values and beliefs in the midst of the harassment, criticism, and judgment they may receive from those who disagree with them. Additionally, many schools have regular clubs for conservatives on their campuses to serve similar purposes.
The ACLJ (American Center for Law and Justice) is taking part in supporting students who venture into colleges where their peers discriminate against them. In certain instances, they provide counsel on a sliding scale, or for free (via their charity) for those students harassed or discriminated against by their peers. This evens the playing field and allows students to study at the school of their choice regardless of political friction.
Conservative students are in the minority on campuses, but the right resources can help them make their voices heard and their views accepted. The following is a list of colleges that are generally accepting of conservatives, according to Young America Foundation’s (in alphabetical order).
1. Christendom College (Va.)
2. College of the Ozarks (Mo.)
3. Colorado Christian University
4. Grove City College (Pa.)
5. Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio)
6. Harding University (Ark.)
7. Hillsdale College (Mich.)
8. The King's College (N.Y.)
9. Liberty University (Va.)
10. Patrick Henry College (Va.)
11. Regent University (Va.)
12. St. Vincent College (Pa.)
By Lyda Loudon
The Real Che Guevara: Bloodthirsty Cult Figure Exposed
by Caleb Yee
Who was Che Guevara? I’m sure many of us have seen his face on t-shirts worn mostly by young teens. The mysterious and confident bearded face looking off into the horizon. However, who was the real Che and why is he revered or even worshiped by some today?
Some will tell you that he was a freedom fighter, a revolutionary, a leader, a legendary hero, and a champion of liberty. However, do they know the real Che?
Che Guevara, an Argentine guerilla leader and a major figure of the Cuban Revolution, has a lot more blood on his hands than many realize. How can a ruthless executioner who opposed a free economy, killed countless numbers of innocent civilians, viewed blacks as the “inferior race”, and set up the Cuban labor camp system for homosexuals and dissidents be considered a leader of freedom and compassion? [Editor’s Note: Castro’s treatment of homosexuals eventually turned many in the American Left against the Cuban revolution.]
It was interesting to hear what Che fans had to say about the “Great Leader”. I talked to a friend at my school who had idolized the dictator ever since she had watched “Motorcycle Diaries”, a biased documentary about Che throughout his life. Along with my friend, a few other classmates I talked to believed that he represented freedom, revolution, and had a concern for the poor. They simply knew him as the hero who helped the Cubans overthrow the previous Cuban dictator Batista and, therefore, restored peace and liberty in Cuba. However, once Castro came into power, Che helped consolidate the new government in part by getting rid of all political dissidents. Free speech was banned and Che personally presided over multiple executions of people who were against Castro’s policies. Che was in charge of La Cabaña prison where dozens of executions took place. Altogether, in less than two years, Castro’s government executed several hundred people without a fair trial. Che personally supervised many of these executions while running La Cabaña prison.
During a speech in New York in front of the United Nations December 9, 1964, Che proudly stated that his government executed and would continue to execute dissidents. It’s ironic how a dictator who opposed free speech and humanitarian ideals became so popular in America, a country founded on liberty and morality. Not to mention that these anti-capitalist t-shirts became a hot commodity in stores across the nation. Urban Outfitters, a well-known clothing store chain was criticized after offering Che shirts for sale. Besides being on clothing, the Che symbol has been reprinted onto flags, banners, and bumper stickers.
It’s unfortunate that a cult following has formed in America for a mass murderer who helped oppress a nation in much the same way the previous dictator had. It is a paradox that signals the vital need for education and information among the American population, especially the young who are being led astray about Che and communism. Thankfully, organizations like Young America’s Foundation and various humanitarian groups have worked to counter the cult by exposing the real Che Guevara, mass murderer and tyrant.
So remember the real Che and the blood on his hands if you’re ever tempted to wear a t-shirt in his honor. The only thing you will really be displaying is your ignorance.
Who was Che Guevara? I’m sure many of us have seen his face on t-shirts worn mostly by young teens. The mysterious and confident bearded face looking off into the horizon. However, who was the real Che and why is he revered or even worshiped by some today?
Some will tell you that he was a freedom fighter, a revolutionary, a leader, a legendary hero, and a champion of liberty. However, do they know the real Che?
Che Guevara, an Argentine guerilla leader and a major figure of the Cuban Revolution, has a lot more blood on his hands than many realize. How can a ruthless executioner who opposed a free economy, killed countless numbers of innocent civilians, viewed blacks as the “inferior race”, and set up the Cuban labor camp system for homosexuals and dissidents be considered a leader of freedom and compassion? [Editor’s Note: Castro’s treatment of homosexuals eventually turned many in the American Left against the Cuban revolution.]
It was interesting to hear what Che fans had to say about the “Great Leader”. I talked to a friend at my school who had idolized the dictator ever since she had watched “Motorcycle Diaries”, a biased documentary about Che throughout his life. Along with my friend, a few other classmates I talked to believed that he represented freedom, revolution, and had a concern for the poor. They simply knew him as the hero who helped the Cubans overthrow the previous Cuban dictator Batista and, therefore, restored peace and liberty in Cuba. However, once Castro came into power, Che helped consolidate the new government in part by getting rid of all political dissidents. Free speech was banned and Che personally presided over multiple executions of people who were against Castro’s policies. Che was in charge of La Cabaña prison where dozens of executions took place. Altogether, in less than two years, Castro’s government executed several hundred people without a fair trial. Che personally supervised many of these executions while running La Cabaña prison.
During a speech in New York in front of the United Nations December 9, 1964, Che proudly stated that his government executed and would continue to execute dissidents. It’s ironic how a dictator who opposed free speech and humanitarian ideals became so popular in America, a country founded on liberty and morality. Not to mention that these anti-capitalist t-shirts became a hot commodity in stores across the nation. Urban Outfitters, a well-known clothing store chain was criticized after offering Che shirts for sale. Besides being on clothing, the Che symbol has been reprinted onto flags, banners, and bumper stickers.
It’s unfortunate that a cult following has formed in America for a mass murderer who helped oppress a nation in much the same way the previous dictator had. It is a paradox that signals the vital need for education and information among the American population, especially the young who are being led astray about Che and communism. Thankfully, organizations like Young America’s Foundation and various humanitarian groups have worked to counter the cult by exposing the real Che Guevara, mass murderer and tyrant.
So remember the real Che and the blood on his hands if you’re ever tempted to wear a t-shirt in his honor. The only thing you will really be displaying is your ignorance.
U Missouri "Labor Studies" 6/6/11
College student Philip Christofanelli got more than he bargained for when he walked into the University of Missouri's "Introduction to Labor Studies" course. The course was taught by Professors Don Giljum and Judy Ancel. After Christofanelli complained to the administration, the university defended the course content with the mealy-mouth excuse of academic freedom.
In one class, Prof. Giljum explained that he belonged to the Communist Party because it is the only party that focuses on the worker class. One of the goals of the Communist Party is to capture and merge into the Democratic Party, he said. In a later class, Giljum brought in Tony Pecinovsky (formerly of the SEIU), a recruiter for the Communist Party. Pecinovsky extolled the virtues of Communist Party membership for two hours. He gave out his phone number and offered to stay as long as anyone wanted to talk about signing up.
The only textbook for the course was "Why Unions Matter" by Michael Yates, editor of the Monthly Review. The book was put out by the magazine's publishing arm. The magazine expressly states that it speaks for socialism and against capitalism. In one part, the book claims: "An entire television network, Fox, spreads pro-business and anti-labor propaganda twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week." In another, it asserts, " the employer must come to be understood as the class enemy of the workers, one that can only be defeated if workers stick together." This is what passes for a college textbook these days?
The first assignment was to write a letter to Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, asking: “What is it going to take to convince younger, future workers that belonging to and supporting a union’s organizing effort is in their best socio-economic interest?”
During the course, students were taught how to re-frame messages for battles against right-to-work legislation in Missouri and other states. The professors brought in someone from the UAW to help with the instruction Prof. Ancel, who sees no difference between capitalism and fascism, presented a slide with talking points for students to use against right-to-work advocates in debates.
There was extensive discussion of the illegal strike tactic known as a lock-in. Drawing on his own experience while on strike against the utility company Ameren, Prof. Giljum described how workers should bring in food, bedding, TVs and other supplies and lock themselves in the plant, denying the owners any use of it. When asked whether this tactic is legal, Giljum laughed and averred that not all of labor's achievements have been legal. Ancel added approvingly that cats were set loose in a utility plant in Peru to short out and bring down the electrical grid.
Fear and intimidation tactics were also discussed, such as leaving articles describing equipment sabotage around the workplace for management to find, and confronting executives at church with seemingly innocuous questions like 'how are negotiations going, not too well, huh?' One CEO felt the need to wear body armor to work after being subjected to such tactics. These tactics were discussed in the context of the history of violence in the labor movement, with the professors opining how industrial sabotage has its place in contract negotiations.
Yo, Missouri, what's wrong with you? You got budget problems? Don't ask us to feel sorry for your state. Why are you paying for this garbage? Why are you funding the Left? Why are you subsidizing your own demise? Why are you using tax money to fund political propaganda, recruitment efforts for the Communist Party, and training in illegal strike tactics? Get a grip and demand that your public universities stop using public money to proselytize impressionable young minds in doctrines that avowedly seek to destroy the country.
Academic freedom? What about the students' right to receive something other than worthless political indoctrination for their tuition dollar? Academic freedom is not the issue. The misuse of public funds to spew political propaganda and the attempt to turn a public university into an arm of the avowedly communist labor movement, THOSE are the issues. Professors, you want total academic freedom? Start your own universities. Don't expect us to keep giving you access to ours.
- CampusTown.US
In one class, Prof. Giljum explained that he belonged to the Communist Party because it is the only party that focuses on the worker class. One of the goals of the Communist Party is to capture and merge into the Democratic Party, he said. In a later class, Giljum brought in Tony Pecinovsky (formerly of the SEIU), a recruiter for the Communist Party. Pecinovsky extolled the virtues of Communist Party membership for two hours. He gave out his phone number and offered to stay as long as anyone wanted to talk about signing up.
The only textbook for the course was "Why Unions Matter" by Michael Yates, editor of the Monthly Review. The book was put out by the magazine's publishing arm. The magazine expressly states that it speaks for socialism and against capitalism. In one part, the book claims: "An entire television network, Fox, spreads pro-business and anti-labor propaganda twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week." In another, it asserts, " the employer must come to be understood as the class enemy of the workers, one that can only be defeated if workers stick together." This is what passes for a college textbook these days?
The first assignment was to write a letter to Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, asking: “What is it going to take to convince younger, future workers that belonging to and supporting a union’s organizing effort is in their best socio-economic interest?”
During the course, students were taught how to re-frame messages for battles against right-to-work legislation in Missouri and other states. The professors brought in someone from the UAW to help with the instruction Prof. Ancel, who sees no difference between capitalism and fascism, presented a slide with talking points for students to use against right-to-work advocates in debates.
There was extensive discussion of the illegal strike tactic known as a lock-in. Drawing on his own experience while on strike against the utility company Ameren, Prof. Giljum described how workers should bring in food, bedding, TVs and other supplies and lock themselves in the plant, denying the owners any use of it. When asked whether this tactic is legal, Giljum laughed and averred that not all of labor's achievements have been legal. Ancel added approvingly that cats were set loose in a utility plant in Peru to short out and bring down the electrical grid.
Fear and intimidation tactics were also discussed, such as leaving articles describing equipment sabotage around the workplace for management to find, and confronting executives at church with seemingly innocuous questions like 'how are negotiations going, not too well, huh?' One CEO felt the need to wear body armor to work after being subjected to such tactics. These tactics were discussed in the context of the history of violence in the labor movement, with the professors opining how industrial sabotage has its place in contract negotiations.
Yo, Missouri, what's wrong with you? You got budget problems? Don't ask us to feel sorry for your state. Why are you paying for this garbage? Why are you funding the Left? Why are you subsidizing your own demise? Why are you using tax money to fund political propaganda, recruitment efforts for the Communist Party, and training in illegal strike tactics? Get a grip and demand that your public universities stop using public money to proselytize impressionable young minds in doctrines that avowedly seek to destroy the country.
Academic freedom? What about the students' right to receive something other than worthless political indoctrination for their tuition dollar? Academic freedom is not the issue. The misuse of public funds to spew political propaganda and the attempt to turn a public university into an arm of the avowedly communist labor movement, THOSE are the issues. Professors, you want total academic freedom? Start your own universities. Don't expect us to keep giving you access to ours.
- CampusTown.US
Transgender Activist and Political Polymorph Midge Potts
9/26/11
9/26/11
Midge Potts is a sweet individual and a complex mix of both genders and multiple political philosophies. A Navy veteran who fathered a child, Potts now lives as a woman raising her daughter near Springfield, Missouri. Potts ran as a Republican in the GOP primary for Missouri's 7th District Congressional seat in 2006. She also ran as a Progressive Party (Green Party) candidate in the 2010 Missouri Senate election. She has been arrested several times at anti-war protests. In this interview, Potts discusses her often surprising views on the national debt, corporate taxes, and President Obama.
What is the biggest misconception about transgender people you want to clear up?
Potts: The biggest misconception is that gender identity has anything to do with sexual orientation. Trans people were not necessarily gay or lesbian when they were in their former bodies. Me, personally, I've always been attracted to women more than men. I'd say I'm bisexual. Most people, though, think that, if you're a trans woman, you like men and, if you're a trans man you like women, and that's not always the case. In fact, I've met a wide variety of trans people from being asexual, to bisexual, and everything else in between.
You're all over the map politically, but you are concerned about the national debt. Why?
Potts: Here's what I've been telling people about the debt, especially people on the liberal side who say we can keep funding programs and it doesn't matter how much debt we rack up. I believe the debt matters because anyone who can do simple math can see that, if you continue to raise the debt year after year, a bigger piece of the fiscal pie goes to paying interest. That's completely economically unfeasible by any standard, in your own household or in government. Interest will eventually swallow up the whole pie. If we don't do something about it soon, America is going to fall and not be able to afford to pay for anything. College kids today will never see their Social Security benefits. We could very quickly become a third world country. We have to find a way to reduce the debt by having surplus budgets. Republicans say we need to cut social programs, but the thing we need to cut first is military spending. We shouldn't be maintaining 800 military bases in 150 countries to maintain a global empire. Bring the troops home. Also, I've sat in a lot of congressional appropriations hearings and a lot of times I would hear generals tell the senators or representatives that the military didn't need a lot of the hardware that was being built, but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle would vote for it anyway just to protect jobs in their districts.
You also say that corporate taxes are too high. That's pretty surprising coming from someone associated with the Green Party who believes that America's "corporatist culture" warps our minds, skews our politics, and reduces us to crass commercialism.
Potts: I'm definitely anti-corporate. But it does concern me that some people think the solution to our budget problems is to raise taxes on corporations. The bottom line on that is that corporations never really pay tax. They simply raise the prices on goods and services and the tax is really paid by us. The people who say we should raise corporate taxes are really saying let's just raise prices on consumers. My solution would be, not just cut corporate taxes, but eliminate them entirely and at the same time eliminate all corporate tax credits and all corporate welfare. Big corporations get subsidies that small businesses don't.
Do you want to eliminate private business altogether and have the government take over all economic activity - every factory, every farm, every job? Should all goods and services be provided by government entities? Is complete socialism or communism your goal?
Potts: No. I fight tooth and nail to expose the damage corporations are doing to the American political system. I don't think corporations should have rights as "persons" under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, and I wouldn't have bailed out the big dinosaurs in the auto and financial industries. I also don't like the global companies that pretend they're still American or how corporate executives are given high positions in government regulatory agencies. But I'm not anti-business. I'd rather give money to innovative start-up companies and find a way for America to transition to locally-owned business and locally-produced goods. I'm fine with regional companies with 100-500 employees. I'm for policies that help local and regional businesses and farmers. I'm a green libertarian. I'm definitely not for complete government control of all business.
That makes you like a lot of people, then. You like free markets but not everything business does. You've lectured on several college campuses about "Transcending Traditional Politics". What do you try to get across to your students?
Potts: Transcending traditional politics goes hand-in-hand for me with transcending stereotypes. I ran for Congress as a Republican in 2006 partly because the media and other people try to say Missouri is a red state with the implication being that everyone in southwest Missouri would hate me as a transgender woman and nobody would vote for me. I wanted to prove them wrong because I grew up here and I know that most people everywhere truly want to live and let live. It's usually the haters who are the loudest, so they get the most attention. When I was campaigning, I went to town festivals and 4th of July celebrations and talked to regular people. I was actually quite accepted. I got 7 percent of the vote in the Republican primary in one of the most conservative parts of the country and came in third out of four candidates. So basically I go into colleges now and teach college students to overcome their stereotypes so they can have a dialogue and build bridges with people instead of keeping the same old adversarial attitudes. We need to meet each other and see who we really are instead of just accepting the stereotypical frames the media gives us, that it's red versus blue or everyone who's a Republican hates gays, etc. Traditional politics keeps us penned in to this language, but Republicans and Democrats don't even agree amongst themselves. We're all independents. Most people do not fit snugly into any one political stereotype, so I try to shatter those stereotypes just as I try to do on gender variance. It's time to get past all the slurs, like tea-bagger, so we can get to the real issues.
How does the libertarian diamond [World's Smallest Political Quiz - link] fit into this? The diamond shows that politics does not fall neatly along a liberal versus conservative, left-right spectrum. I've seen email threads from people who thought they were liberals but were floored to find out they're libertarian after taking the quiz.
Potts: I took the quiz again recently and came out right on the line for libertarian-left. I scored 100 for personal freedom and 50 for economic freedom. I hand out the quiz and suggest people take it. It's definitely an effective tool.
When you look at the tea party, what do you see?
Potts: That's another misconception being put forward, especially by the left-wing media - that tea party people are all fascists, or all of one mind. That's so far from the truth because what I've seen here in southwest Missouri when I've gone to tea party events is a wide variety of people who are just disgusted by the current U.S. government. I believe the tea party can be part of a peaceful Ghandian or Martin Luther King-style people power revolution to break down the current government we have, which is obviously corrupt and out-of-control with spending. The federal government should be the smallest part of all our government. The largest part of our government should be citizen participation on a local level.
Local control over local issues - education didn't start out as a function of the federal government. What would you do with the federal Department of Education?
Potts: Personally, I home-school my daughter. She was totally left behind by the public education system. She was bullied, spit on, and beat up, but the school had a dogmatic zero-tolerance policy so they punished her. She couldn't do her multiplication tables even in 5th grade. The public school kept passing her with D's and even F's a lot of the time when they should have held her back. It's complicated, but I would audit the Department of Education and initiate a serious discussion in America about dismantling parts of it. The Department of Education’s biggest failures are forcing dogmatic federal mandates on communities, and allowing a teacher "tenure" to be a barrier in holding educators accountable. The root reason we have public education is to turn people into automatons that can make change and work at fast food places, or enlist in the military and follow orders like robotic clones. I would find ways locally to involve parents more and look at what children really need. People don't all learn the same way; they're individuals.
Who will you vote for in the 2012 presidential election?
Potts: I voted for Ron Paul in the 2008 Republican primary and wrote in [Green Party candidate] Cynthia McKinney in the general election. I'll vote for Ron Paul again in the Republican primary this time, but I'm not backing anyone at the moment for next November. I'll vote for the candidate I see embracing global empire the least, but I don't know who that is, yet.
Why aren't you an automatic vote for Barack Obama?
Potts: [laughs] If anybody knows anything about me, they know I've protested the policies of Barack Obama as much as anybody in this entire country. I'm libertarian-left but Barack Obama is neither libertarian nor liberal. He does not represent me. His health fix is just an insurance subsidy program and has nothing to do with healthcare. He kept the military budget at record levels and is clearly a global imperialist. He lied about the financial meltdown and wanted to do all those corporate bailouts. I considered running for the Democratic nomination for Congress but I just can't because Obama has so straight-up lied to the American people so many times about so many things. He's not what he appears to be at all. Martin Luther King would be appalled.
How would you sum up your politics?
Potts: I consider myself an independent. That's why I'm OK with running in different parties. In fact, next year I'm going to file in the Libertarian Party primary. I have differences of opinion with probably most of the groups on the left and the right. I disagree with any group that says 'we're going to tell you how it is and we're not interested in what you have to say.' I always have something to learn and I'm willing to change my opinion. Even when I have a belief I've held for years, if somebody shows me valid evidence, I search a little deeper and try to find the truth. I embrace pretty much all philosophies as a way that I can get more information to find what the real truth is. The media and the politicians of this country have made a concentrated effort to hold back any alternative thinking and any third-party participation in the political debate. But one size does not fit all. People are individuals.
What is the biggest misconception about transgender people you want to clear up?
Potts: The biggest misconception is that gender identity has anything to do with sexual orientation. Trans people were not necessarily gay or lesbian when they were in their former bodies. Me, personally, I've always been attracted to women more than men. I'd say I'm bisexual. Most people, though, think that, if you're a trans woman, you like men and, if you're a trans man you like women, and that's not always the case. In fact, I've met a wide variety of trans people from being asexual, to bisexual, and everything else in between.
You're all over the map politically, but you are concerned about the national debt. Why?
Potts: Here's what I've been telling people about the debt, especially people on the liberal side who say we can keep funding programs and it doesn't matter how much debt we rack up. I believe the debt matters because anyone who can do simple math can see that, if you continue to raise the debt year after year, a bigger piece of the fiscal pie goes to paying interest. That's completely economically unfeasible by any standard, in your own household or in government. Interest will eventually swallow up the whole pie. If we don't do something about it soon, America is going to fall and not be able to afford to pay for anything. College kids today will never see their Social Security benefits. We could very quickly become a third world country. We have to find a way to reduce the debt by having surplus budgets. Republicans say we need to cut social programs, but the thing we need to cut first is military spending. We shouldn't be maintaining 800 military bases in 150 countries to maintain a global empire. Bring the troops home. Also, I've sat in a lot of congressional appropriations hearings and a lot of times I would hear generals tell the senators or representatives that the military didn't need a lot of the hardware that was being built, but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle would vote for it anyway just to protect jobs in their districts.
You also say that corporate taxes are too high. That's pretty surprising coming from someone associated with the Green Party who believes that America's "corporatist culture" warps our minds, skews our politics, and reduces us to crass commercialism.
Potts: I'm definitely anti-corporate. But it does concern me that some people think the solution to our budget problems is to raise taxes on corporations. The bottom line on that is that corporations never really pay tax. They simply raise the prices on goods and services and the tax is really paid by us. The people who say we should raise corporate taxes are really saying let's just raise prices on consumers. My solution would be, not just cut corporate taxes, but eliminate them entirely and at the same time eliminate all corporate tax credits and all corporate welfare. Big corporations get subsidies that small businesses don't.
Do you want to eliminate private business altogether and have the government take over all economic activity - every factory, every farm, every job? Should all goods and services be provided by government entities? Is complete socialism or communism your goal?
Potts: No. I fight tooth and nail to expose the damage corporations are doing to the American political system. I don't think corporations should have rights as "persons" under the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, and I wouldn't have bailed out the big dinosaurs in the auto and financial industries. I also don't like the global companies that pretend they're still American or how corporate executives are given high positions in government regulatory agencies. But I'm not anti-business. I'd rather give money to innovative start-up companies and find a way for America to transition to locally-owned business and locally-produced goods. I'm fine with regional companies with 100-500 employees. I'm for policies that help local and regional businesses and farmers. I'm a green libertarian. I'm definitely not for complete government control of all business.
That makes you like a lot of people, then. You like free markets but not everything business does. You've lectured on several college campuses about "Transcending Traditional Politics". What do you try to get across to your students?
Potts: Transcending traditional politics goes hand-in-hand for me with transcending stereotypes. I ran for Congress as a Republican in 2006 partly because the media and other people try to say Missouri is a red state with the implication being that everyone in southwest Missouri would hate me as a transgender woman and nobody would vote for me. I wanted to prove them wrong because I grew up here and I know that most people everywhere truly want to live and let live. It's usually the haters who are the loudest, so they get the most attention. When I was campaigning, I went to town festivals and 4th of July celebrations and talked to regular people. I was actually quite accepted. I got 7 percent of the vote in the Republican primary in one of the most conservative parts of the country and came in third out of four candidates. So basically I go into colleges now and teach college students to overcome their stereotypes so they can have a dialogue and build bridges with people instead of keeping the same old adversarial attitudes. We need to meet each other and see who we really are instead of just accepting the stereotypical frames the media gives us, that it's red versus blue or everyone who's a Republican hates gays, etc. Traditional politics keeps us penned in to this language, but Republicans and Democrats don't even agree amongst themselves. We're all independents. Most people do not fit snugly into any one political stereotype, so I try to shatter those stereotypes just as I try to do on gender variance. It's time to get past all the slurs, like tea-bagger, so we can get to the real issues.
How does the libertarian diamond [World's Smallest Political Quiz - link] fit into this? The diamond shows that politics does not fall neatly along a liberal versus conservative, left-right spectrum. I've seen email threads from people who thought they were liberals but were floored to find out they're libertarian after taking the quiz.
Potts: I took the quiz again recently and came out right on the line for libertarian-left. I scored 100 for personal freedom and 50 for economic freedom. I hand out the quiz and suggest people take it. It's definitely an effective tool.
When you look at the tea party, what do you see?
Potts: That's another misconception being put forward, especially by the left-wing media - that tea party people are all fascists, or all of one mind. That's so far from the truth because what I've seen here in southwest Missouri when I've gone to tea party events is a wide variety of people who are just disgusted by the current U.S. government. I believe the tea party can be part of a peaceful Ghandian or Martin Luther King-style people power revolution to break down the current government we have, which is obviously corrupt and out-of-control with spending. The federal government should be the smallest part of all our government. The largest part of our government should be citizen participation on a local level.
Local control over local issues - education didn't start out as a function of the federal government. What would you do with the federal Department of Education?
Potts: Personally, I home-school my daughter. She was totally left behind by the public education system. She was bullied, spit on, and beat up, but the school had a dogmatic zero-tolerance policy so they punished her. She couldn't do her multiplication tables even in 5th grade. The public school kept passing her with D's and even F's a lot of the time when they should have held her back. It's complicated, but I would audit the Department of Education and initiate a serious discussion in America about dismantling parts of it. The Department of Education’s biggest failures are forcing dogmatic federal mandates on communities, and allowing a teacher "tenure" to be a barrier in holding educators accountable. The root reason we have public education is to turn people into automatons that can make change and work at fast food places, or enlist in the military and follow orders like robotic clones. I would find ways locally to involve parents more and look at what children really need. People don't all learn the same way; they're individuals.
Who will you vote for in the 2012 presidential election?
Potts: I voted for Ron Paul in the 2008 Republican primary and wrote in [Green Party candidate] Cynthia McKinney in the general election. I'll vote for Ron Paul again in the Republican primary this time, but I'm not backing anyone at the moment for next November. I'll vote for the candidate I see embracing global empire the least, but I don't know who that is, yet.
Why aren't you an automatic vote for Barack Obama?
Potts: [laughs] If anybody knows anything about me, they know I've protested the policies of Barack Obama as much as anybody in this entire country. I'm libertarian-left but Barack Obama is neither libertarian nor liberal. He does not represent me. His health fix is just an insurance subsidy program and has nothing to do with healthcare. He kept the military budget at record levels and is clearly a global imperialist. He lied about the financial meltdown and wanted to do all those corporate bailouts. I considered running for the Democratic nomination for Congress but I just can't because Obama has so straight-up lied to the American people so many times about so many things. He's not what he appears to be at all. Martin Luther King would be appalled.
How would you sum up your politics?
Potts: I consider myself an independent. That's why I'm OK with running in different parties. In fact, next year I'm going to file in the Libertarian Party primary. I have differences of opinion with probably most of the groups on the left and the right. I disagree with any group that says 'we're going to tell you how it is and we're not interested in what you have to say.' I always have something to learn and I'm willing to change my opinion. Even when I have a belief I've held for years, if somebody shows me valid evidence, I search a little deeper and try to find the truth. I embrace pretty much all philosophies as a way that I can get more information to find what the real truth is. The media and the politicians of this country have made a concentrated effort to hold back any alternative thinking and any third-party participation in the political debate. But one size does not fit all. People are individuals.