This Is What MAGA Fears Most | Opinion

Why are right-wingers so scared of ideas?

Could their minds be so fragile that simply reading specific books might expose them to what Elon Musk refers to as "the woke mindset virus"?

They aren't interested in protecting you from measles, but they're working hard to vaccinate Americans against knowledge.

Novels upset them; poetry disturbs them; science disturbs them; history disturbs them; art disturbs them; challenging authority disturbs them.

Universities truly, truly bother them — all that questioning of norms; all that confronting established beliefs; all that critical examination.

As such, Donald Trump is set to war With Harvard, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, even Penn, his old school.

Ron DeSantis got ahead of him: The governor has been attempting to control speech and enforce regulations for many years. restrictions about what teachers are permitted to teach and which books the state of Florida deems "acceptable."

Although he has achieved certain successes in K-12 education, his support for groups like Moms for Liberty in their campaign against banned books and his threats towards educators—warning them about severe repercussions should they acknowledge the presence of LGBTQ+ individuals—has not gone unchallenged. Not surprisingly, several judges who uphold the principles of the First Amendment have rebuked him.

DeSantis, undeniably driven by his anger, is now set on protecting our valued college students from Harmful Ideas.

Choose the administrators. Choose the presidents. Control the universities.

The University of Florida requires a new dean for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, which boasts over 40 majors and encompasses more than 10,000 students, making it the biggest college within UF.

They progressed with interviews for four exceptionally well-qualified applicants: two mathematicians—UF’s very own Kevin P. Knudson and Maggy Tomova, who serves as the dean of UCF’s College of Science; Ryan Schroeder, dean of Georgia Southern’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences; and Robert Brinkmann, a geology professor and dean of Liberal Arts and Science at Northern Illinois University.

‘Radical DEI progressives’

However, two weeks back, the governor exploded at the search. Ordered UF to halt it.

It appears the finalists—esteemed academics and experienced leaders—are crypto-Marxists who despise Trump and are intent on dismantling America.

A mysterious social media profile known as "Commies on Campus" alerted Bryan Griffin, who is DeSantis' communications director, about this issue concerning all four individuals. radical DEI progressives .”

The Communists shared smooth, carefully curated video clips from candidate interviews. slamming Brinkmann for pointing out the evident: "In our nation, we have individuals overseeing matters who frankly shouldn't be in such positions," and Knudson for expressing pride that as director of UF’s Honors Program they managed to boost the count of African American and Hispanic students within the program.

It's as though that seems embarrassing.

Kent Fuchs, who served as UF’s temporary president for invertebrates, issued a memo claiming that "ending the search" was the sole option, considering the university was simultaneously looking for a permanent replacement.

Fuchs has always said yes to DeSantis.

He follows instructions, helping with the recruitment of our data-deficient Surgeon General at UF's medical school and attempting to stop professors from speaking about voting rights.

Academic freedom isn't important because the professors' knowledge could create a "conflict of interest with the executive branch of Florida."

It seems like the purpose of a university ought to be aligned with serving the executive branch’s interests.

UF remains a distinguished institution, though slipping in national rankings of public universities. It was No. 5 a couple of years ago but is now No. 7.

It’s still quite solid, particularly considering DeSantis' relentless assaults on tertiary education within the state.

However, permitting a minor X account to set policies at Florida’s leading university isn’t likely to enhance UF’s standing.

All-purpose insult

No matter who these "Commies on Campus" are, they apparently skipped their political science lesson.

They call anything they don’t like “communist:” LGBTQ, feminism, secularism, programs for the poor, addressing the climate crisis, taxing the rich, giving anyone without one of those useful White Man Cards a fair shot in life.

"Commie" is MAGA's catch-all invective.

Kids, read a book: Real-life communists such as those found in North Korea, Cuba, or China might believe that religion dulls the minds of common folk and that wealth inequality should be eradicated—unless you're one of their elite leaders. They aren't big fans of movements for gender equality either; instead, they often target LGBTQ+ individuals. Moreover, initiatives promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are definitely not high on their list of priorities.

Ask the Uighurs .

Still, DeSantis, who has received an education surpassing his true intellect, accepts without question what these anonymous buffoons claim.

In reality, there are several respected Marxist scholars at American universities. Yale, the governor’s alma mater, hosts a reading group focused on this subject. Marxism and Cultural Theory .

Despite this, DeSantis came out of the Red Menace of New Haven unscathed.

He also lacks an understanding of what universities are meant to accomplish.

An academic’s job is to research everything from the Roman Republic to astrophysics to Norse sagas to gene structure to the ideology of slavery to economic and political systems, which requires reading across the spectrum from “Das Kapital” to “ The Road to Serfdom “ and presenting their data and knowledge to students.

We call this “education.”

It’s embarrassing how MAGAs deem Hungarian (or Putinist) authoritarianism OK, even admirable, while “communist” is the gravest of insults and socialism is a mortal sin.

Perhaps they’re unaware socialism is viewed favorably by around 36% of Americans.

That's nearly the same amount as those who express strong support for Donald Trump.

Ideas are not viruses

The idea is, thoughts aren't like viruses; simply being exposed to communist ideology won't make you a communist anymore than just reading James Baldwin’s “Giovanni’s Room” will make you gay, or how reading “The Wealth of Nations” guarantees you'll embrace capitalism with fervor.

However, those who wear MAGA hats don’t engage in deep thought; it gives them a headache. Instead, they just respond impulsively.

Loudly. Ignorantly. Irrationally.

Commies on Campus now has a fresh initiative: aiming to sway the selection of the next University of Florida president.

UF has declared a final participant.

A single finalist. Selected in private.

He is Dr. Santa Ono, a Canadian-American immunologist.

The Communists claim he's some sort of social justice icon who, during his tenure as president of the University of Michigan, built "THE BIGGEST #DEI ESTABLISHMENT in the nation."

Their evidence? Christopher Rufo, the febrile New College trustee last heard claiming immigrants were eating cats and dogs , labels Ono as "left-wing" and highlights a 2023 commencement speech where he asserted, "Climate change poses the ultimate challenge for our era."

Florida gubernatorial candidate and Trump acolyte U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, never losing a chance to ingratiate himself with MAGA voters, demands UF “ go back to the drawing board .”

Donalds’ hair is on fire because Ono once said, “Racism is one of America’s original sins.”

Take a deep breath, everyone: 1. Both of Ono’s statements are entirely accurate; and 2. Rufo, Donalds, and the Communists should refresh their information.

Ono has shifted his stance. He no longer promotes diversity and is now echoing the sentiments of the DeSantis playbook, stating he is "completely aligned" with the governor’s campaign against so-called wokeness.

Ono stated that he shares the same viewpoints as this governor.

Bend the knee

Over his three-year term at Michigan — which marked the briefest presidential stint in the institution’s timeline — Ono first garnered acclaim for emphasizing sustainability and anti-racism initiatives. According to students, he was approachable and friendly.

Following Trump's rise, numerous university leaders, including those at UM, capitulated. They closed the DEI office, restricted students' ability to protest, and, according to one professor, established " a surveillance state .”

It appears he sent undercover cops to follow and take pictures of individuals at UM’s campus.

It’s not surprising that DeSantis approves of this fellow.

Santa is indeed a genuine intellectual, possessing scientific credentials along with solid administrative experience that would make him well-suited for a role at UF. He significantly outpaces Governor DeSantis' previous appointee, the inept and overwhelmed Ben Sasse, who barely demonstrated any notable skills. spending other people’s money.

In a world without Trump, Ono may have emerged as the leader capable of safeguarding the institution. He might have resisted the governor's resolve to transform Florida’s universities into mere sports hubs, complete with libraries managed by individuals like Christopher Rufo and classes promoting the notion of America's sacred supremacy.

Alas, Ono has made clear that’s not him, not anymore.

This is what you get when one incurious, anti-intellectual, and perpetually angry man chooses university presidents in secret.

Here's what happens with just one finalist.

Indeed, the trustees formally extend the job offer, yet there’s essentially zero possibility they would appoint someone whom DeSantis doesn’t approve of.

This reflects the truth of higher education in Florida nowadays.

FIU has a single finalist for the presidential position. It comes as no surprise that she is Jeannette Nuñez, who previously served as both Lieutenant Governor under DeSantis and interim president.

During its presidential search, FAU revealed three shortlisted candidates. Perhaps this could actually turn into a competitive process?

Two possessed Ph.D.s and substantial experience in higher education. The other one was a Republican political operative.

You might have an idea about who landed the job.

A ‘plant’ at FAMU?

Florida A&M, which is currently in the midst of selecting a new president, has narrowed down the candidates to four finalists.

Promising, right?

Initially, there were three candidates on the shortlist, each boasting significant university experience. A fourth contender then emerged: a woman connected to prominent Republican figures.

Marva Johnson, who serves as an executive at a communications firm, was selected by former Gov. Rick Scott to be part of the Florida Board of Education and has now been picked by Governor Ron DeSantis for the Florida Scholars Academy Board of Trustees.

Commies on Campus have not yet weighed in on this one.

FAMU alumni say she’d be a terrible choice, calling her “ a plant And comparing her to a Trojan Horse, which is antagonistic towards the university’s mission.

However, what the graduates desire and what the university desires likely won't make a difference.

What DeSantis wants matters.

Like everyone in the unfree state of Florida understands, all animals are supposed to be equal, yet certain animals hold more power than their peers.

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