This struck a chord. I’m in full agreement with what you’re aiming at here—there’s something corrosive about sorting people by race and grievance. It may have started as a path to inclusion, but it’s hardened into division, keeping us anchored to old wounds instead of moving forward. Your essay reminds that civic identity—being American—should matter more than skin color or historical grievances. That’s not about erasing the past, but about refusing to be defined by it. We share the same stakes in this country, and we’re at our best when we stand together—not in categories, but in character. Thanks for saying what needed saying.
Thank you, Neil. In my work as a teacher in a school where whites are a minority, I've come to realize that the BIPOC crowd are not in it for reconciliation. They're in it for division and revenge. They do not care about reconciling and healing. They're all about reverting to the old tribalism of the past, this time without white people.
Your reply makes perfect sense given the environment you're working in. What was once a calling—shaping young minds, helping students rise above circumstance—now feels more like ideological triage. These kids show up steeped in cynicism, armed with grievance, and are rewarded for rejecting maturity. You’re not wrong: the system doesn’t just tolerate that—it incentivizes it. No wonder you write From the Cocklebur. Thorny ground, but honest ground. And yet, even in all this, I’d say—don’t underestimate what your voice might mean to people who still value character, clarity, and truth. You’re not alone, and your willingness to call it out gives the rest of us a little more courage. Keep writing. It matters.
This struck a chord. I’m in full agreement with what you’re aiming at here—there’s something corrosive about sorting people by race and grievance. It may have started as a path to inclusion, but it’s hardened into division, keeping us anchored to old wounds instead of moving forward. Your essay reminds that civic identity—being American—should matter more than skin color or historical grievances. That’s not about erasing the past, but about refusing to be defined by it. We share the same stakes in this country, and we’re at our best when we stand together—not in categories, but in character. Thanks for saying what needed saying.
Thank you, Neil. In my work as a teacher in a school where whites are a minority, I've come to realize that the BIPOC crowd are not in it for reconciliation. They're in it for division and revenge. They do not care about reconciling and healing. They're all about reverting to the old tribalism of the past, this time without white people.
Your reply makes perfect sense given the environment you're working in. What was once a calling—shaping young minds, helping students rise above circumstance—now feels more like ideological triage. These kids show up steeped in cynicism, armed with grievance, and are rewarded for rejecting maturity. You’re not wrong: the system doesn’t just tolerate that—it incentivizes it. No wonder you write From the Cocklebur. Thorny ground, but honest ground. And yet, even in all this, I’d say—don’t underestimate what your voice might mean to people who still value character, clarity, and truth. You’re not alone, and your willingness to call it out gives the rest of us a little more courage. Keep writing. It matters.
Thank you for your encouragement, Neil. I appreciate it.