Concord Bridge, 1775
U.S. University, 2019
“Safe spaces” are places in American universities where students and professors can go to be sure they will not hear any ideas that contradict progressive dogma. Universities used to be places where young people were exposed to all sorts of ideas, and thus developed the ability to choose between them. But no more.
There were no “safe spaces” at Concord Bridge, or at Gettysburg, or at Belleau Wood, or at Omaha Beach, or on Iwo Jima, or at the Chosin Reservoir, or in the Ia Drang Valley, or at Mazar-i-Sharif, or at Fallujah. And there surely were no “safe spaces” in the Twin Towers or on United 93. In fact, there are no “safe spaces” anywhere in real life. When young people reach college age, it is long past time they should have learned this basic fact.
The prototypical American in 1775 was the Minuteman, the farmer who left his plow, grabbed his rifle at a minute’s notice, and rushed to repel troops who were coming to disarm the people.
But who is the prototypical American in 2019? Is it the unemployed 30-year-old whose parents had to go to court to force him to move out of their home? Is it the university student who needs “safe spaces” to protect her from unfamiliar ideas?
Now Independence Day is here. But in order to observe a holiday celebrating our independence, we need to recall what the word means. Do we?
Some parts of America, especially its “progressive” half, have been described as infantile. Many people regard the federal government as their parent. They expect it to provide for the needs of their young children, their elderly parents, and sometimes themselves. In these respects, many Americans − and most Western Europeans − act like children.
Children recognize that they need their parents to protect them, provide for them, and make important decisions for them. But then they become teenagers. Many Americans resemble teenagers. They depend on their “parent,” the government, to protect and provide for them – but they resent their dependence:
They want to spend their money on cars, clothes, electronic toys, and entertainment – but they want “mom” to provide health care.
They want their own house or apartment – but they want “dad” to help with the payments.
They want to be safe – but they resent rules and look down on our police and military.
They insist on being treated as adults, but they do silly and sometimes dangerous things – then expect real adults to clean up the mess they made.
They want to drive without seatbelts while talking on cell phones or texting. But if they have a crash, they sue the other driver and the car maker – while lawyers profit from their irresponsible behavior.
They want to drive wherever they please – then blame others for traffic jams and air pollution.
They want to be safe on the streets, but they hobble police with unrealistic restrictions – then complain about violent crime.
They want to be safe in their homes, but they push laws to disarm law-abiding citizens – then complain about home invasions.
They want to be safe from foreign threats, but they oppose appropriations for new weapons, better training, or adequate pay for our troops – then grumble when the troops don’t perform difficult, dangerous duty with perfection.
They want to be safe from terrorism, but they oppose searching for terrorists as “profiling,” and oppose security measures as “shredding the Constitution.”
They want terrorists defeated – but without casualties. They point to the deaths of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and want us to abandon the area. There have been 17 U.S. and Coalition deaths thus far this year. Granted, that is 17 too many. But there have been 217 homicides in Chicago thus far this year – 13 times more. Should we abandon our own large cities?
They want relationships without commitment, sex without consequences, and fun without strings attached – then whine about feeling lonely.
They want to plunge into careers – then whimper about lack of family or friends when they hit 40.
They want to spend their money on anything but health insurance – then weep and wail about lack of coverage.
They want to eat and drink to excess and exercise little – then moan and groan about health care when they get sick.
They want to spend their time watching TV sitcoms – then complain when politicians pick their pockets.
They want more government benefits – then are shocked when the deficit balloons to colossal proportions.
They want the government to make important decisions for them – then complain that things aren’t going their way.
They want unelected judges with lifetime jobs to decide vital issues – then gripe that no one consulted them.
They want to attend church rarely if ever – then criticize mercilessly when the church runs into trouble.
They want to give little to charity – then claim to be kindhearted because they vote Democratic.
They want to bask in the phony warmth of pacifism and nonviolence – then expect others to defend them from fanatics who want to behead them.
They want to “love all humanity” – then belittle their own country.
They want to be “multicultural” − then disdain their own culture.
They want to be “citizens of the world,” which requires nothing but breathing. Being an American citizen, on the other hand, requires supporting our country, and if necessary fighting for it.
They want to excuse their own failure to serve in the military by belittling the service of those who risk their lives for us.
They want to eat hot dogs and watch fireworks on July Fourth − but dislike parades because they are “too patriotic.”
They want to “support our troops” – then express contempt for the troops and for what the troops are doing. That’s support?
They want to “love America” – then make excuses for its enemies. That’s love?
They want to be off work on Independence Day – then insist that we must pass a “global test” and can’t act without permission of the “international community.” That’s independence?
They “see the viewpoint” of terrorists. Really? If my mind worked like that of mass murderers, I wouldn’t boast about it.
They block drilling or fracking for oil and gas, mining coal, or building nuclear power plants, leaving us dependent on Middle East oil. But when oil prices rise, they blame oil companies. Intentionally or not, they are enriching the oil sheiks and impoverishing Americans.
They elect avowed socialists to Congress ‒ then wonder why people accuse them of not understanding how the American system works.
They want to abolish immigration enforcement and chant, “No ban, no wall, no borders at all” ‒ then keep their own doors locked at night.
They confuse feeling good with doing good. They “visualize world peace,” then do nothing to achieve it. They condemn terrorism, then obstruct those who fight terrorists.
They can’t believe there are people bent on world domination and killing “infidels.” In effect, they say, “Who could want to kill me?”
They want adults to do the difficult, dangerous work. But they are the adults.
They want freedom without the risk and pain of fighting for it.
They want security without the trouble and expense of providing it.
They want justice without the difficulty of making moral judgments.
They want to be independent while piling up enormous debt in the hands of foreigners who do not wish us well.
They want to live on money borrowed from our children and grandchildren – then claim to be “pro-child.”
They ignore “honor” killings and female genital mutilation – then claim to be “pro-woman.”
They want blessings without being grateful.
They want more “free stuff” from the government – and vote accordingly.
They want “free health care and free college for all” – but they also want open borders. So who are “all”? All the tens of millions who will come for free health care and free college? As Nobel Prize economist Milton Friedman observed, “It’s just obvious you can’t have free immigration and a welfare state.” But it’s not obvious to “progressives.” They imagine it; therefore, it must be so.
They want to be free – then have government bureaucrats make life-and-death health-care decisions for them and their loved ones. The massive contradiction escapes them.
They want to choose their own doctor – then have the government pay. They never heard the proverb, “He who pays the piper calls the tune.” But if the government pays, the tune may be, “So Long, It’s Been Good To Know You.”
They want ObamaCare to be Medicare for everyone. They never imagine that it would be Veterans Affairs health care for everyone.
They want to be free without being responsible. How’s that working out?
Eating hot dogs and watching fireworks are pleasant pastimes. But if we really want to observe Independence Day, we might try to be a bit less dependent. “Independence” was meant to describe our nation. But more deeply, it was meant to describe our people.
U.S. Constitution © 1787, all rights reserved
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