Snowflakes or Fascists?

There was a much-beloved quote circulated among leftists, often attributed to Sinclair Lewis, that “when fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.” In light of recent episodes of mob action on American campuses, the quote needs updating: When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in “diversity” and demanding “safe spaces.”

Demand is the key word. It marks the essential authoritarianism at work here. At the University of Missouri, students “demanded” that (now-former) university President Tim Wolfe write a “handwritten” letter of apology acknowledging his “white, male privilege.” Among his alleged sins was apparently not doing enough to shield so-called “marginalized students” from feeling upset after a black criminal, Michael Brown, was killed by the police officer he had assaulted. Another sin was driving away when a mob surrounded Wolfe’s car at homecoming festivities. Wolfe has since apologized, groveled (“my apology is long overdue”) and resigned. Good riddance.

Events at the University of Missouri were a perfect American storm: the confluence of fascistic student and faculty behavior, viral rumors of white racism and the almighty dollar. That’s right, the dollar, because as an American university administrator, you can offend every principle enshrined in the Bible and the U.S. Constitution, you can make a mockery of higher education by offering courses on Martha Stewart’s whiteness or “Fifty Shades of Grey,” but don’t mess with the football team. That’s where the real power resides. When the black football players threatened to boycott this weekend’s game against Brigham Young, the university president had to go.

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