There is no overstating the influence you've had so far on opening hearts and minds to this pernicious threat. And framing it as fundamentalism is a brilliant insight. We as a society are unintentionally preying on some of our weakest members by allowing this mass psychosis to grow and flourish. We are missing opportunities to help (mostly) young people work through mental anguish to find purpose for their lives. And we are further allowing women to be marginalized by the lie that biological sex is not fixed and differentiating.
I share the grave concern that colleges, medical school, law schools, and corporations are gripped by a fatal capture. So many people I know point to the examples you gave and say "See, the pendulum is shifting!" but I too am not convinced. We have to speak the truth, lovingly and firmly, as often as we can. Thank you for giving us words and resolve to do so.
Today I saw a video of a protest in Maryland in which a LGBTQ+ activist/sympathizer/ally screamed repeatedly into a megaphone “no religion in school!” And yes, the very same ideas you elaborate on here crossed my mind. What this protester couldn’t see is that--in this specific case--it is clear that it is *not* the Maryland Muslim parents who want their religion taught in public schools. Rather, the protest deals with a different secular religion that has been able to disguise itself in order to infiltrate the public school curriculum. Likewise, this religion has been able to duplicitously proselytize by manipulating people’s good intentions, piggybacking on gay rights and setting up false dichotomies. Who is standing up for our and our children’s freedom from this specific religion?
Yes, yes, yes. I too am VERY afraid that today's middle- and high-schoolers will soon be judges, lawyers, professors, legislators . . . Thank you for this piece, and most especially for your book. Talk about brave!!
Very well written. I appreciate your words. I want to add another dimension that rarely is brought up in the discussion about LBGTQ+ advocacy in our schools. Our ed system has limited resources, so all the time, energy and money spent on on these efforts comes at the expense of other things - like teaching K-12 students how to read, write and do math. Before the pandemic America's education system lagged behind most other developed nations, with literacy and math skills near the bottom of the rankings. Since the pandemic things have grown worse and our children's skills have plummeted to alarmingly low levels. This trend should frighten all Americans because this generation will lack the skills to thrive in an information economy. Our school systems are teaching them the skills to be inoffensive Wal-mart greeters and nothing more. The majority of our Children are losing out in life so our schools can engage in virtue signaling about a minority.
There may be a swing of the pendulum because more parents will grow concerned that our under-performing schools are shifting focus from teaching students to indoctrinating them. I expect to see anti-woke private schools popping up to provide alternatives - if we enact voucher systems, then maybe simple economics will stop schools from this insanity.
Attempts to ban "Irreversible Damage" began long before Ron DeSantis forfeited his special pass to Disney World. Abigail is a great writer , and does it with guts and gusto. I would love to see a " bipartisan" book club read her book and have her attend for a "spirited" Q&A.
Well, sure. But funny thing, too--all this nonsense has made me feel a little uncomfortable about my cultural not only acceptance of circumcision, but the distaste I feel for uncircumcised penises. How shall I rationalize my feeling that male circumcision as part of the essential rites of Judaism and Islam is normal, with all of that back-up data supporting the idea that it's healthier and cleaner, but reject FGM and any other mutilations of the natural genitals of boys and girls?
Indeed, indeed--every religion/cult has its foundational beliefs that can't be violated without rage and rejection from the faithful. That slippery slope thing, we find it everywhere.
And that suggestion you'd been given to speak in Jerusalem rather than Tel Aviv? Jerusalem as a normal place? Where abuse verbal and physical is hurled at Sabbath-breakers and little frum girls not sufficiently shrouded in garments of modesty as decreed by the most ultra ultra of cultists?
If we're gonna be frank, let's go all the way, please.
One can similarly view all "narrow" ideologies, whilch even when starting out fine, are taken over by obsessive activist groups fueled by leaders pushing their private agendas.
Well, to me this piece reads like a rally for one aspect of the argument. I am not on board with language of the left or the language of the right. That said, I am sure many on either side are caught up in being "right" in their beliefs and making the other side "wrong" thus they are horrible, terrible and awful. Now, that said I am glad there are people writing books and articles that represent the views Abigail write about. I just did not like the way this one is written. I prefer articles written like this one myself for example: https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/the-queers-versus-the-homosexuals-cfd?utm_source=activity_item
I've seen the product of this 'rainbow acceptance' emerging into the professional world ... "don't punch down" capitalists who take their young kids to drag reads at the library, talk very posititively, are equipped with talking points to shut down contrary opinions and never deviate and will not countenance consideration of anything except their received narrative. They seem frail and without beliefs or a foundation we'd recognize. Unrecognizable to what I've seen in business over the last 40 years. I just don't know anymore. Maybe we are the dinosaurs.
MS. Shrier - Thank you for your courage and your nuanced approach to this issue... It is clearly a religion. I thought we were done with new religions. Hitch must be turning in his grave...
Little Miss Trouble
There is no overstating the influence you've had so far on opening hearts and minds to this pernicious threat. And framing it as fundamentalism is a brilliant insight. We as a society are unintentionally preying on some of our weakest members by allowing this mass psychosis to grow and flourish. We are missing opportunities to help (mostly) young people work through mental anguish to find purpose for their lives. And we are further allowing women to be marginalized by the lie that biological sex is not fixed and differentiating.
I share the grave concern that colleges, medical school, law schools, and corporations are gripped by a fatal capture. So many people I know point to the examples you gave and say "See, the pendulum is shifting!" but I too am not convinced. We have to speak the truth, lovingly and firmly, as often as we can. Thank you for giving us words and resolve to do so.
Today I saw a video of a protest in Maryland in which a LGBTQ+ activist/sympathizer/ally screamed repeatedly into a megaphone “no religion in school!” And yes, the very same ideas you elaborate on here crossed my mind. What this protester couldn’t see is that--in this specific case--it is clear that it is *not* the Maryland Muslim parents who want their religion taught in public schools. Rather, the protest deals with a different secular religion that has been able to disguise itself in order to infiltrate the public school curriculum. Likewise, this religion has been able to duplicitously proselytize by manipulating people’s good intentions, piggybacking on gay rights and setting up false dichotomies. Who is standing up for our and our children’s freedom from this specific religion?
Incredibly well said. I would add another extremely important tenet of this religion: original sin, aka being cis or especially being male.
Trying to do my part, I got my library to order your book (DCPL). Thank you!
Yes, yes, yes. I too am VERY afraid that today's middle- and high-schoolers will soon be judges, lawyers, professors, legislators . . . Thank you for this piece, and most especially for your book. Talk about brave!!
God bless Abigail Shrier
Very well written. I appreciate your words. I want to add another dimension that rarely is brought up in the discussion about LBGTQ+ advocacy in our schools. Our ed system has limited resources, so all the time, energy and money spent on on these efforts comes at the expense of other things - like teaching K-12 students how to read, write and do math. Before the pandemic America's education system lagged behind most other developed nations, with literacy and math skills near the bottom of the rankings. Since the pandemic things have grown worse and our children's skills have plummeted to alarmingly low levels. This trend should frighten all Americans because this generation will lack the skills to thrive in an information economy. Our school systems are teaching them the skills to be inoffensive Wal-mart greeters and nothing more. The majority of our Children are losing out in life so our schools can engage in virtue signaling about a minority.
There may be a swing of the pendulum because more parents will grow concerned that our under-performing schools are shifting focus from teaching students to indoctrinating them. I expect to see anti-woke private schools popping up to provide alternatives - if we enact voucher systems, then maybe simple economics will stop schools from this insanity.
Thank you for continued work in this arena. I bought your book!
Attempts to ban "Irreversible Damage" began long before Ron DeSantis forfeited his special pass to Disney World. Abigail is a great writer , and does it with guts and gusto. I would love to see a " bipartisan" book club read her book and have her attend for a "spirited" Q&A.
Well, sure. But funny thing, too--all this nonsense has made me feel a little uncomfortable about my cultural not only acceptance of circumcision, but the distaste I feel for uncircumcised penises. How shall I rationalize my feeling that male circumcision as part of the essential rites of Judaism and Islam is normal, with all of that back-up data supporting the idea that it's healthier and cleaner, but reject FGM and any other mutilations of the natural genitals of boys and girls?
Indeed, indeed--every religion/cult has its foundational beliefs that can't be violated without rage and rejection from the faithful. That slippery slope thing, we find it everywhere.
And that suggestion you'd been given to speak in Jerusalem rather than Tel Aviv? Jerusalem as a normal place? Where abuse verbal and physical is hurled at Sabbath-breakers and little frum girls not sufficiently shrouded in garments of modesty as decreed by the most ultra ultra of cultists?
If we're gonna be frank, let's go all the way, please.
One can similarly view all "narrow" ideologies, whilch even when starting out fine, are taken over by obsessive activist groups fueled by leaders pushing their private agendas.
Well, to me this piece reads like a rally for one aspect of the argument. I am not on board with language of the left or the language of the right. That said, I am sure many on either side are caught up in being "right" in their beliefs and making the other side "wrong" thus they are horrible, terrible and awful. Now, that said I am glad there are people writing books and articles that represent the views Abigail write about. I just did not like the way this one is written. I prefer articles written like this one myself for example: https://andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/the-queers-versus-the-homosexuals-cfd?utm_source=activity_item
Abigail I am so grateful for your courage and smarts. Thank you for all you do.
I've seen the product of this 'rainbow acceptance' emerging into the professional world ... "don't punch down" capitalists who take their young kids to drag reads at the library, talk very posititively, are equipped with talking points to shut down contrary opinions and never deviate and will not countenance consideration of anything except their received narrative. They seem frail and without beliefs or a foundation we'd recognize. Unrecognizable to what I've seen in business over the last 40 years. I just don't know anymore. Maybe we are the dinosaurs.
MS. Shrier - Thank you for your courage and your nuanced approach to this issue... It is clearly a religion. I thought we were done with new religions. Hitch must be turning in his grave...