The Irony of Liberalism

As a student in college back in the 1990s I had the experience of being a "closet conservative" in an environment where liberals outnumbered me. Now depending on what department a student spent time for their major, could quite possibly have an effect on what that experience could be like. I was in the Visual and Performing Arts program, so you can guess how mine was. For anyone who has taken an art, film, or creative writing course, it doesn't take long for the class to be a platform for students to wear their political beliefs on their chests (sometimes foreheads). This, in itself, is what being a student in college is about; being able to freely express oneself in a safe, educational atmosphere. That's really what being an American is about. I will share with you a little piece of my college experience, and how it prepared me for what is happening today.

Looking back on my years spent in the the Visual Art department I remember cringing when I would watch as a group of students, sometimes joined by the professor, would pounce on a fellow student as they shared their project with the class. This was critique day, a day where your classmates, along with the professor, would look at your work and give instructive criticism. The key word here is "instructive". The student being being "pounced" on, though not physically, had just shown her art project. It dealt with a pro-life theme. It wasn't judgmental towards people who had abortion, nor did it cast judgment on those who were pro-abortion. This student's belief and opinions should not have been the topic of their critique. A proper critique would have been how she executed her project, the process, the visuals, the way she communicated- not her beliefs. But instead, the majority of students spent most of the critique time casting shame, doubt, and judgment on her as a person based on her beliefs. When the professor jumped in, I felt sick. Here I was in a "liberal arts" program, where students were supposed to be free to express their views without judgment, and these liberals were exhibiting the most close minded behavior I had ever witnessed in my several years in college.

Unfortunately, the experienced I shared was one of many, too many, that I experienced in my years spent working, studying, and living among outspoken liberals in college. The majority of these people not only wore their views on their arms, but they made sure everyone around them knew how they felt, and if anyone expressed anything remotely conservative, they were thrown to their wolves. What became of this environment was that people felt like they were walking on egg shells within this department. The arts department that proudly touted itself as a place for free expression had a little footnote that said, "Except if you disagree with our views".

But their was another ironic thing that would happen, other then their actual close mindedness. There was a hierarchy within the liberal social structure. No one really knew what the structure was, nor who was at the top- because everyone thought "they" were at the top. But when together, one might need a special "politically correct" translator because everyone was afraid of offending eachother. The liberal students would actually self destruct from within. Liberal minded meant putting a gag in their mouths- unless you were a conservative. Then you were open season.

This is happening today in our workplace, schools, and politics. The most close minded groups of people are indeed the people who label themselves as liberal thinkers. Karl Marx was considered a liberal thinker. He helped give birth to one of the most dangerous, and deadly, forms of government that has been responsible for censoring citizens at any cost, even death. Beware of people who claim to be liberal thinkers. Watch them and how they interact with people. See if they really are open to other views, even if they don't agree. Sure, not all liberal people engage in trying to censor conservative people because of their beliefs. But Nancy Pelosi, along with many Democrats are trying to censor talk radio (in the name of "fairness"). This should send chills up the spines of any free thinking American. In the end, I am glad I had the chance to thicken my skin up a bit. My experience in college gave me more faith in my beliefs, and reason to keep up the good fight.