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April 19, 2021
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Last week, we talked about the backlash against “cancel culture” that’s starting to happen around the country, as millions of Americans have finally just had enough. Today, I have more good news on that front, concerning the most dangerous manifestation of this poison, in the schools.

First, let’s all bow in homage to Parent Of The Year Andrew Gutmann. Mr. Gutmann is the parent of a 7th grader who until very recently attended an elite private all-girls’ school on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, tuition –- brace yourself –- $54,000 a year. This school, Brearley, is so “woke” that families who send their kids there have to take an “anti-racism” pledge. Bari Weiss on Substack has a great write-up on this story.

Weiss starts with a reference to another story we’ve brought you, about a math teacher from another private Manhattan school, Grace Church High School, who can’t stand by watching his students being indoctrinated with the toxin of of “anti-racism” –- Critical Race Theory –- as it’s being taught there. When the teacher, Paul Rossi, brought up his concerns, he was told he had “created dissonance for vulnerable and uninformed thinkers” and “neurological disturbances in students’ beings and systems.” (I swear I am not making this up.) His contract requires him to “participate in restorative practices designed by the Office of Community Engagement” in order to heal his “relationship with the students of color and other students” in his classes. The nature of these “practices” remains unspecified until he agrees to sign.

Rossi also teaches a class called “Art of Persuasion,” and one of his concerns is that students may never challenge any of the premises of CRT. He notes the irony that being an “anti-racist” requires one to treat individuals differently according to their race. In class, students must stick to “a narrow script of acceptable responses.” There are no questions allowed on any of these teachings; the head of the school told him that “the moment we are in, institutionally and culturally, does not lend itself to dispassionate debate.” Rossi said that a recent faculty email chain “received enthusiastic support for recommending that we ‘officially flag students’ who appear ‘resistant’ to the ‘culture we are trying to establish.’”

If I taught a class called “Art of Persuasion” under these conditions, I certainly would be concerned that what the school was practicing was not persuasion, but force-feeding.

“I know,” he says in his letter, “that by attaching my name to this, I’m risking not only my current job but my career as an educator, since most schools, both public and private, are not captive to this backward ideology. But witnessing the harmful impact it has on children, I can’t stay silent.”

And now, we have what might be the greatest and most articulate letter that has ever been written in the history of public education; Bari Weiss publishes it in full here.

“It cannot be stated strongly enough that Brearley’s obsession with race must stop,” Gutmann writes. “It should be abundantly clear to any thinking parent that Brearley has lost its way.”

Much of what he writes about “anti-racism” echoes what we’ve expressed here. We say that to teach white children to feel guilt and shame for the color of their skin and black children to feel hated for the color of their skin is psychological abuse, pure and simple. Schools are committing CHILD ABUSE, poisoning children’s minds.

In Gutmann’s words, “I object to the view that I should be judged by the color of my skin. I cannot tolerate a school that not only judges my daughter by the color of her skin, but encourages and instructs her to prejudge others by theirs. By viewing every element of education, every askpect of history and every facet of society through the lens of skin color and race, we are desecrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and utterly violating the movement for which such civil rights leaders believed, fought and died.”

Are you standing on your feet and cheering yet?

It goes on, and is similarly brilliant all the way through. As for Black Lives Matter, he has this to say: “I object to Brearley’s advocacy for groups and movements such as Black Lives Matter, A Marxist, anti-family, heterophobic, anti-Asian, and anti-Semitic organization that neither speaks for the majority of the Black community in this country, nor in any way, shape or form, represents their best interests.” Thank God.

And then there’s this: “I object to the gutting of the history, civics, and classical literature curriculums. I object to the censorship of books that have been taught for generations because they contain dated language potentially offensive to the thin-skinned and hypersensitive.” Hallelujah, amen.

On FOX NEWS SUNDAY with Maria Bartiromo, Candace Owens and Charlie Kirk praised the letter and talked about what adults need to do to protect kids’ rights. Bartiromo also spoke with a brave Minnesota parent who faced intimidation after started a Turning Point USA chapter at the local high school.

Anyway, these are great examples of pushback, one from a teacher and the others from parents. This will help weaken the intimidation that has kept a lot of other teachers and parents from rebelling. The threat of being labeled a racist when you are nothing of the kind and being canceled from your entire social and professional life is frightening indeed. It’s even worse when you see that your child might be similarly penalized for what you say. But it just takes a few brave souls to get things rolling. That is happening.

Now, look at this: another comedian has had enough of “cancel culture.” When comedian Chad Prather was booked into a venue near Austin, Texas, he rebuffed attempts to censor his opening act.

Prather is a conservative who appears on Blaze TV and FOX NEWS, so one might imagine the Austin crowd would consider itself much too “woke” for his brand of comedy. Why, they'd be offended. Sure enough, before his second show, he was told “We don’t want your opener to tell some of the jokes he told last night.”

Prather refused. “I said, ‘You can’t tell a comic what to say onstage….You can’t ask for a guy to change what he does. Lenny Bruce, George Carlin –- they went to jail for comedy. We’ve not going back to those days when when we tell somebody what they can and cannot do.’”

He went on to explain that mocking and ridicule are the job description. I would add that leftists can't allow ridicule because their views won't stand up to it. Just about any answer Jen Pskai gives the press corps can be blasted into subatomic particles with one satirical headline in THE BABYLON BEE. And we’d like to think we do our part as well!

In an ironic twist, Prather is known for his hilarious song parody about...censorship, called I’ve Got Friends In Safe Spaces.” Don’t miss this!

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Justice and Free Speech

Comments 1-25 of 29

  • Lu Jean Bedard

    05/05/2021 10:26 AM

    Wow, Governor! This newsletter is especially good. Thank you for presenting the real story and not the one the media likes. Bravo for you!!

  • Jim Steven

    04/20/2021 07:34 PM

    This country is just going to have to endure satan's rule till our MESSIAH calls us Home! "For we wrestle no against flesh and blood ...

  • Ruben Simon

    04/20/2021 06:38 PM

    Thanks for typing out the entire Bible verse in today's evening edition of your newsletter. I hope you'll continue to do that, and also in your morning edition.

  • debby morge

    04/20/2021 03:05 PM

    I'm glad the right is finally getting involved before we don't exist anymore

  • Anita M Ayers

    04/20/2021 11:41 AM

    God bless you Gov, for your courageous stand! We the people are with you! God save this great country! We appeal to Heaven!
    Blessings, Anita Ayers

  • Dale Michels

    04/20/2021 10:34 AM

    Years ago, my former physician partner who is now in Heaven, also worked as the head of the Student Health Services at the University of Nebraska. He often gave health talks to student groups and one of his talking points was that in order to avoid a STD or STI was to abstain from sex until marriage and then maintain a monogamous relationship throughout life. The University powers that be asked him to soften the language as it would upset students involved in pre-marital or other sexual relationships. His response fits this article to a tee; "I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT THAN CORRECT!" The university backed down and allowed him to continue his presentation unchanged. I'm not sure that would happen in today's culture but the comment is still appropriate.

  • Linda Sanner

    04/20/2021 08:21 AM

    The Chauvin case will go to the jury this week. I pray that their decision will be based purely on the evidence and NOT on fear. I pray that it is truly a just decision, not as the fear-mongering mob would define “just” but one that meets the legal definition. I pray that the politicians that are stirring up the mobs and inciting violence are held accountable for their actions. I pray the officers and National Guard that will be trying to keep the peace and their families will be protected divinely.

    Like most Americans, I am sick and tired of being verbally defined as racist, based on the color of my skin, just as I am sure the black, brown, yellow and red Americans have felt when they were inappropriately placed in a box that limited where they could live, what jobs they could hold, what education they could obtain or made them targets of misguided law enforcement officers.

    I am a Christian. I do not say that to elevate my standing above anyone else. It just means that I have recognized that I have flaws and actively sin against the laws of God and deserve judgement, but God graciously has forgiven me and placed my judgement upon His Son. I pray that my words and actions reflect the righteousness of Christ and that people will see Him when they evaluate me.

    I worked for whatever I have. Nothing was given to me. I saved. I bought used, not new. If I did not have the money for it, I did not buy it. I sought and paid for (100%) advanced education to increase my earning power. I object to giving the money I have paid in taxes to individuals and countries who have not earned it or who do not have our best interest in mind. I object to opening our borders to all comers and giving them my tax money to live. I object to dumping millions of dollars into Central American countries meant to stem the flow, but only lines the pockets of their corrupt politicians. We have become the laughing-stock of the world. The politicians have mortgaged the future of our children and grandchildren to pay for their pet projects. I am sick and tired of seeing American politicians and their families using inside information about proposed legislation or administrative actions to line their pockets with cash.

    I am sick and tired of athletes and actors using their fame and platform to wipe their dirty feet on our flag and insult our country by kneeling for our national anthem and claim that anyone who opposes their rhetoric is racist, homophobic, xenophobic, or any other “phobic of the month”.

    I am a woman and a nurse. I know the difference between a person born as a man and one born as a woman. There are biological differences based on skeletal structure, muscle mass, and hormones. Men should play men’s sports and women should play women’s sports. Imagining you are the opposite gender does not change biology and should not be a basis for men to compete in women’s sports.

    I am a proud American. I stand, place my hand over my heart and sing our national anthem with pride and a lump in my throat while honoring our nation. I display my country’s flag and treat it with respect. I do not let it touch the ground. I try to stay within our laws, respect those who administer those laws and care for my neighbors and friends as if they were my family. I am thankful for our young people who have entered the military, pledging to fight for this nation up to and including placing their lives on the line. I respect and am thankful for our veterans who signed that pledge and returned. I want our nation to give them respect, provide what they need to succeed and to deal with whatever issues that they have after leaving the military.

    So I will conclude my rant with one thought: May God again bless America, but it will take the commitment of His people to do the right things for that to happen.

  • Sherry Glascock aka Sharon

    04/20/2021 07:56 AM

    In God I trust only. Everyone should stand and be a Christian in fellowship with God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. When we stand with them we will be able to fight the evils of this world. No school should teach hate and that is what is going on and it started many years before this, and was ignored by the leaders and parents. It started in my Son's school with one teacher the year was 1972 and she attempted to turn children against the parents and any disciplines given the child for misbehaving like grounding them. These teachers have been tought in their colleges how to dictate evil to the children and the parents must be alert to what is going on, watch and listen to your child, you will soon find the problem then correct it. Rid the school of bad teachings. Watch and learn what your college students are being taught also.

  • ROBERT & EUNICE ALDERMAN

    04/20/2021 01:14 AM

    So happy to see that something false from the left back backlashed!!! Please let us know of all backlashes! What all they get away with I'll never understand!
    "Vengeance is Mine; I will repay" (God). I'm waiting for His perfect timing!

  • Linda Nowell

    04/19/2021 09:59 PM

    Thank you Governor Huckabee for telling it like it is. Thankfully I don’t have any grandchildren still in school. Our country and schools are going to ruin our children.
    I read your emails ever day and shake my head in disgust over so much of it.
    Again, thank you for your honesty. It is truly appreciated

  • Patricia A. Driscoll

    04/19/2021 07:25 PM

    Andrew Guttman definitely deserves a "Parent of the Year" award for having the guts to stand up to his daughter's elitist, poison-filled school. By writing that letter to all the other parents, Mr. Guttman successfully described everything wrong that is happening in our country today. I thank you, Governor, for including the link to it.

  • Julie Detlefsen

    04/19/2021 06:40 PM

    I just finished listening to Gov,. Walz of MN give his "2 cents" on the trial and keeping the peace. He is blaming the way police handle themselves and calling it racist. A white kid who was shooting at officers and had just stolen a car was shot and killed in MN this weekend, but Walz didn't mention him at all. I'm assuming because the kid was white. BTW....he was in the wrong. Instead of making changes to the way the police act, why not use the resources to educate young people on how to respond when the police get involved. What is so hard about following orders? Not one of those persons, including Floyd , would be dead now of they had just done what the cops asked. Stop. Put your hands up. ETC. When will people realize that your actions are the reason cops have to resort to their training. Thanks for letting me vent. I am just so tired of every cop being wrong and every person being a racist if they agree with authority.

  • Jim Arnett

    04/19/2021 06:12 PM

    The only change that can bring permanent change used to be called a revival. But that would involve CHRIST, and LIBS would not want to give up their POWER to the one who had, still has and always will have the POWER and AUTHORITY over all creation. After all AOC and associates have power and dominion over climate change, etc, etc! "To GOD be the GLORY."

  • Leslie Dimmling

    04/19/2021 05:58 PM

    Thank God for people like Andrew Gutmann!! He spoke his mind that the left are nut jobs and the emperor has no clothes. He refuses to be a part of their twisted system and let his child be brain washed with disgusting untruths. Thank God I have no school age children now. I have been engaged in trying to get like minded friends to boycott some of the 'woke" companies who threw conservatives under the bus. I smile every time I buy Pepsi instead of Coke, or an ice tea at my local pizza place rather than Coke. Have been suggesting to the fast food outlets I frequent that maybe they want to switch to Pepsi. Ditto I am not buying from Hallmark or Bed, Bath & Beyond. And moved a chunk of cash out of my "woke" bank who was dropping conservative clients. NEVER fund the people who are oppressing you. Cash is all they understand. Write a civil letter to the corporate CEO explaining why you will no longer patronize them. The issue is to get your friends onboard. We CAN make a difference!!

  • Mike Grayson

    04/19/2021 05:07 PM

    Brilliant!

  • Tammie Neace

    04/19/2021 05:04 PM

    My Grandkids every day are faced with commercials on Nick Jr and Jr Disney. The messages sent out in a nut shell is you only matter if black. No commercial for any other race no commercial that your a beautiful little girl period just a black girl. I usually mute and put the TV Guide up because I don't want them to look at anyone any different because they don't have the same skin color as us. I have never been a parent who believed that homeschooling was good I for any child since those children who were homeschool lacked social skills for others their age or even younger than they. But faced with today's issues homeschooling is looking mighty good, and I have told our 3 adult children this. One of our kids are already studying schools in the area and their child is 4 yr old. It's a sad state when we have to be concerned not just about public schools but private as well. I know you'll appreciate this I was raised as were our children in a Southern Baptist Church, I'm a Chairman of the Deacon kid, for them to not rule out the Catholic school system to protect my grandkids. I feel it's this serious. Thank you

  • Bob DeLacy Jr

    04/19/2021 05:03 PM

    Glad to hear this. Pray God will wake more people up.

  • Penny Seliger

    04/19/2021 04:49 PM

    As a former Special Needs Teacher for 35 years I am VERY angry and frustrated by what is happening in the country today. When I started my teaching career in 1983 on the Navajo Indian Reservation, I remember being thrilled about being able to put up the Nativity during the Christmas Season. Needless to say this quickly changed in 35 years. Instead of Christmas Break, it’s now Winter Break. I have several Public School Teacher friends who are ABSOLUTELY FED UP with the public schools they are teaching in today and are either retiring this year or taking a leave of absence! A life skills teacher I know is required to use pronouns ( K-2nd grade) in paperwork or in their classroom. These children have significant delays in learning! ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS. If I had children in public schools today I would pull them out and put them in a well grounded Christian School. I would also teach there. I didn’t get into teaching to be a destroyer of free, creative thinking, but to encourage freedom in thinking and about what a great Country we live in. I am also proud to say my grandfather, father and late husband all served in the military. Thank you to all who served or are serving. Thank you Governor Huckabee for our freedom of speech on your newsletter.

  • Joseph Healy

    04/19/2021 04:34 PM

    Regarding Chad Prather and leftist intolerance for being (justifiably) mocked, Mel Brooks was once asked why he often included German Nazi's in his films (they were even in a scene in the western "Blazing Saddles"). He said he did it because the best way to attack evil is to ridicule it.

  • Jayne Hampton

    04/19/2021 04:18 PM

    Thank you for linking to "I've Got Friends in Safe Spaces." I had a good laugh, and so needed one! I really like to say what I think--I cannot be fake to save myself. I appreciate your work to bring us perspective, and I read what you send every day--one of the highlights of my day.

  • Judith H timothy

    04/19/2021 03:44 PM

    My grandson’s Elementary/Middle school, St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Palm Bay, FL has a strict mask policy for students which includes giving students after school detention for “Mask Infractions”, things as simple as letting your mask slip down under your nose while seated behind a Plexiglas shield at your desk while doing your work. After my 12 year old grandson incurred three of these detentions, my daughter wrote an email to the school telling them she was no longer going to allow her son to stay in detention for such infractions. She made several cogent arguments against such inflexibility with regard to masks and as a result, the school is no longer assigning detention for mask infractions.

    It’s a small thing I know, but if people would only realize that pushback, no matter how small, can be effective! I firmly believe this political correctness nonsense would be short lived if only more people had the courage to push back.

    My grandson did his own small part to push back.

    The following poem was written in response to a homework assignment by his teacher at St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Palm Bay, FL. They were instructed to write a poem with the rhythm, meter, etc. of “Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue”. They were to choose their own subject. I believe his poem quite clearly expresses the damage being done to young children in the name of political correctness as it concerns wearing masks.

    Masks
    By William Hold
    Age 12, March 23, 2021

    All smiles are covered,
    Joyful learning is lost.
    Our laughter is smothered
    And this is the cost.

    The most fearful among us
    Make all the rules.
    But why, why…
    Do we follow these fools?

    Expressionless faces,
    So hard to read.
    Escaping sickness is
    Not our only need.

    I don’t think they see,
    This causes us stress.
    I pray for an end
    To all of this mess.


  • Gail Denham

    04/19/2021 03:06 PM

    Hooray and best wishes and prayers for this brave parent who saw through what his school was trying to do to his child. And further - contacted other parents to stand up for their rights to expect proper education for their kids. Hip Hooray - may his tribe increase.

  • Veda Connolly

    04/19/2021 03:01 PM

    It's about time all this "woke" stuff was stopped! I'm so happy and grateful to have sites like this to encourage me! Long live the Constitution as our Forefathers envisioned!

  • HelenC

    04/19/2021 02:14 PM

    Oh for the days of Bob Hope, Danny Thomas, Sammi Davis, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, Eddie Murphy, Flip Wilson, Steve Allen....

  • Charles Walter

    04/19/2021 02:00 PM

    Morgan Freeman said it best as as cure about race tensions,
    STOP TALKING ABOUT IT!!!