The West on Trial: Unpacking the Assault on Our Civilization
It has become conventional wisdom in the West that our civilization is the primary villain in a global story of exploitation—a narrative of guilt dating back centuries. But is this accusation justified? Are the nations that birthed the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and modern liberal democracy truly the root of the world’s ills?
We are told the West invented slavery and constructed race as a tool of oppression, concepts that supposedly didn’t exist before. We are encouraged to shoulder a unique burden of guilt for historical injustices. As with many things, the truth has been stretched, exaggerated, or replaced with outright falsehoods. In the rush to atone for the past, we risk smothering the legacies of the great men and women who built a world of unprecedented freedom and prosperity.
So, what is driving this seismic shift in perspective? How have we moved from idolizing the heroes who defended our freedoms to apologizing for our very history? This post is the first in a series that will explore the mechanisms behind this change. We’ll begin by examining the intellectual engine of this movement: Critical Race Theory. Future installments will dissect the role of early childhood education, media, entertainment, and foreign influence in promoting anti-Western ideals.
The Unmatched Legacy of the West
Let’s be clear: Western philosophy has been history’s most powerful beacon for equal rights and human dignity. While no civilization is without sin, the West has consistently worked to rectify its wrongs—abolishing slavery, championing human rights, and defeating totalitarian regimes. Meanwhile, practices like modern-day slavery and genocide persist unabated in many non-Western contexts.
Many of the atrocities still attributed to the West collapse under scrutiny of empirical evidence. Preserving the West’s core ideals—individualism, reason, and liberty—is not just a matter of pride; it is a bulwark against a slide into a new global dark age.
The Ideological Playbook: Critical Race Theory
The primary driver of this cultural shift is the dominance of Marxist-derived ideologies within our most prestigious academic institutions. From this ecosystem, Critical Race Theory (CRT) has emerged as a particularly potent force.
What is CRT? Popularized in the late 20th century, CRT insists that race is the fundamental lens through which all societal power structures must be viewed. It argues that our institutions are not merely flawed, but are inherently and permanently racist, designed to maintain oppression. The system, therefore, must be torn down.
A Rejection of Objective Truth What sets CRT apart from other academic disciplines is its open rejection of evidence and objective truth. It operates on “Constructivist” principles, where “lived experience” and perceived attitudes trump data and reason. To question a personal narrative is itself labeled an act of racism. This is eerily reminiscent of Orwell’s 1984, where the Party declares that 2+2=5. CRT makes similar claims about social reality, dismissing irrefutable facts if they contradict the prescribed narrative.
Furthermore, CRT uniquely boasts of its activist dimension. Its goal is not to understand the world, but to change it by reshaping our very conception of truth.
The Hypocrisy of the Champions
Observe the most vocal proponents of CRT: often, they are upper-class white elites from coastal, gated communities. People like Robin DiAngelo, who capitalized on the tragedy of George Floyd’s death to peddle her book White Fragilityto a privileged audience of weekend activists. For them, “educating yourself” on race became a trendy slogan, even as they mocked others for urging independent research on other issues. The irony of both camps embracing grifter nonsense remains profound.
The success of this narrative is so potent that it leads to uncritical acceptance of hoaxes. When Jussie Smollett concocted a tale of a MAGA-era lynching, prominent figures like Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi immediately validated his story. Their quick belief revealed a disturbing eagerness to see America as a hopelessly racist nation. The truth, of course, was that America is so resistant to such blatant racism that Smollett had to stage the entire incident.
The Way Forward: Reclaiming Our Story
The damage CRT has inflicted on American education is significant. Fortunately, a growing number are recognizing the indoctrination of “higher education” and are opting out. While STEM fields retain value, taking on massive debt for a degree that teaches victimhood is a poor investment. Institutions like Harvard and Columbia are becoming national laughingstocks, seen as playgrounds for trust-fund activists.
So, how do we overcome this?
Reform Education: We must push our institutions, from pre-K to postgraduate levels, to teach the truth: that the West is the pinnacle of human civilization. We should embrace the heroes who fought to free slaves and defeat totalitarians.
Foster Resilience: Teach our children resilience, not victimhood. Encourage them to be proud of their community and country, to celebrate the good while learning from the bad.
Seek Authentic Understanding: Encourage genuine dialogue over reciting talking points. Go outside, “touch grass,” and you’ll find that people of all backgrounds ultimately want the same things: to provide for their families and find happiness.
The path forward lies not in self-flagellation, but in a clear-eyed pride for the civilization that has given more freedom to more people than any other in history.
The West on Trial: Unpacking the Assault on Our Civilization
It has become conventional wisdom in the West that our civilization is the primary villain in a global story of exploitation—a narrative of guilt dating back centuries. But is this accusation justified? Are the nations that birthed the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and modern liberal democracy truly the root of the world’s ills?
We are told the West invented slavery and constructed race as a tool of oppression, concepts that supposedly didn’t exist before. We are encouraged to shoulder a unique burden of guilt for historical injustices. As with many things, the truth has been stretched, exaggerated, or replaced with outright falsehoods. In the rush to atone for the past, we risk smothering the legacies of the great men and women who built a world of unprecedented freedom and prosperity.
So, what is driving this seismic shift in perspective? How have we moved from idolizing the heroes who defended our freedoms to apologizing for our very history? This post is the first in a series that will explore the mechanisms behind this change. We’ll begin by examining the intellectual engine of this movement: Critical Race Theory. Future installments will dissect the role of early childhood education, media, entertainment, and foreign influence in promoting anti-Western ideals.
The Unmatched Legacy of the West
Let’s be clear: Western philosophy has been history’s most powerful beacon for equal rights and human dignity. While no civilization is without sin, the West has consistently worked to rectify its wrongs—abolishing slavery, championing human rights, and defeating totalitarian regimes. Meanwhile, practices like modern-day slavery and genocide persist unabated in many non-Western contexts.
Many of the atrocities still attributed to the West collapse under scrutiny of empirical evidence. Preserving the West’s core ideals—individualism, reason, and liberty—is not just a matter of pride; it is a bulwark against a slide into a new global dark age.
The Ideological Playbook: Critical Race Theory
The primary driver of this cultural shift is the dominance of Marxist-derived ideologies within our most prestigious academic institutions. From this ecosystem, Critical Race Theory (CRT) has emerged as a particularly potent force.
What is CRT? Popularized in the late 20th century, CRT insists that race is the fundamental lens through which all societal power structures must be viewed. It argues that our institutions are not merely flawed, but are inherently and permanently racist, designed to maintain oppression. The system, therefore, must be torn down.
A Rejection of Objective Truth What sets CRT apart from other academic disciplines is its open rejection of evidence and objective truth. It operates on “Constructivist” principles, where “lived experience” and perceived attitudes trump data and reason. To question a personal narrative is itself labeled an act of racism. This is eerily reminiscent of Orwell’s 1984, where the Party declares that 2+2=5. CRT makes similar claims about social reality, dismissing irrefutable facts if they contradict the prescribed narrative.
Furthermore, CRT uniquely boasts of its activist dimension. Its goal is not to understand the world, but to change it by reshaping our very conception of truth.
The Hypocrisy of the Champions
Observe the most vocal proponents of CRT: often, they are upper-class white elites from coastal, gated communities. People like Robin DiAngelo, who capitalized on the tragedy of George Floyd’s death to peddle her book White Fragility to a privileged audience of weekend activists. For them, “educating yourself” on race became a trendy slogan, even as they mocked others for urging independent research on other issues. The irony of both camps embracing grifter nonsense remains profound.
The success of this narrative is so potent that it leads to uncritical acceptance of hoaxes. When Jussie Smollett concocted a tale of a MAGA-era lynching, prominent figures like Kamala Harris and Nancy Pelosi immediately validated his story. Their quick belief revealed a disturbing eagerness to see America as a hopelessly racist nation. The truth, of course, was that America is so resistant to such blatant racism that Smollett had to stage the entire incident.
The Way Forward: Reclaiming Our Story
The damage CRT has inflicted on American education is significant. Fortunately, a growing number are recognizing the indoctrination of “higher education” and are opting out. While STEM fields retain value, taking on massive debt for a degree that teaches victimhood is a poor investment. Institutions like Harvard and Columbia are becoming national laughingstocks, seen as playgrounds for trust-fund activists.
So, how do we overcome this?
Reform Education: We must push our institutions, from pre-K to postgraduate levels, to teach the truth: that the West is the pinnacle of human civilization. We should embrace the heroes who fought to free slaves and defeat totalitarians.
Foster Resilience: Teach our children resilience, not victimhood. Encourage them to be proud of their community and country, to celebrate the good while learning from the bad.
Seek Authentic Understanding: Encourage genuine dialogue over reciting talking points. Go outside, “touch grass,” and you’ll find that people of all backgrounds ultimately want the same things: to provide for their families and find happiness.
The path forward lies not in self-flagellation, but in a clear-eyed pride for the civilization that has given more freedom to more people than any other in history.