My contempt for my parents’ beliefs caused serious damage to what was once a great relationship. My first two years in college, however, had a transformative effect on my worldview.
Thank you for writing this. As someone who was canceled by his progeny several years ago when he was starting college, I can relate to this phenomenon. I should have known there would be a problem when he started coming home from high school saying that everything was "racist", but I was blind to the brainwashing that was taking place.
This brought tears to my eyes. As a GenX Trumpie, the same exact thing happened with my son in 2020 at college. He never wrote us off, but made us feel irrelevant and was very condescending and mean, as we were paying for his college so he had no debt and believe me when I say, we struggled for years to give that to him. But, I was young once, and I was progressive, so I knew it was a phase. After a year in college, he changed his mind. After his Master's Degree, he is now the most loving, understanding, and moderate adult. Thank you so much for this article. 💗
Well, that was unexpectedly pleasant and hopeful. Thank you for cheering up my day. I’m glad your university at least permitted you to read the classics rather than having sociologists tell you what to think about them.
The leftist indoctrination in public universities is a moral abomination whose threat to America's future is grave. The left, because it cannot defend its world-views, must, by force, silence its opposition.
You are an impressive person for seeing this. No. I am not being condescending about youth - few people at any age have the clarity of vision that you do. Your Opinion Piece reminded me of a somewhat related Mark Twain quote:
When I was 17, my father was so stupid, I didn't want to be seen with him in public. When I was 24, I was amazed at how much the old man had learned in just 7 years.
We all should give our friends and family credit for "how much they have learned."
Great piece Aliza. Praying you are not an outlier but I must admit I am not all that hopeful that there are that many others in or just out of college that have had similar epiphanies ( really not an epiphany since you reached your conclusions by reading, thinking, analyzing and thinking, all in short supply these days). I am guessing you now possess what I call the good "tudes" : attitude and gratitude. Best of luck in all you do. Even if our politics may not be fully aligned. 😉
Good article. I resign myself to the fact that people in Washington can do nothing for me and do not care. Most politicians today can not lead and govern. Demagoguery and tribalism are tools for the weak to impose on the strong. Americans are being pushed closer to violence because these ideas can not with stand heterodox opinions and disagreement. What happens when canceling, censorship, ostracizing, and or lies don’t work anymore? Organized violence with zero solutions- savagery.
Your wonderfully introspective essay came about 60 years too late for my very elderly self.
When I was in my early 20s I was far too self centered to be as able as you to find common ground with my conservative parents. Unfortunately, by the time I actually became fully an adult in my 30s, I had wept at both of their funerals.
To this day, their passing is a scar on my soul.
However, I have learned to live with the immaturity of my younger self, due to the love and devotion of friends and family.
I can argue about all kinds of issues while knowing my love for them will be reciprocated.
I'm a classic libertarian, essentially social liberal and fiscal conservative. Plenty in there for everyone to hate me. I'm a politics junkie and try to ignore issues and focus on decision-making process instead. For example, I supported Obama in 2008 until he reversed his decision on not accepting private donations. He had announced a "principled" decision to accept public funding; when he learned he could raise half a billion in private donations, he changed his mind. I voted for McCain that year.
I find it so interesting what strange things my children believe. But I ask a lot of questions and act interested so they still talk to me even if they think I am lame.
Curious about who do the young folk call if there is actual crime or violence committed against them? Since they hate the police and all?
Beautifully written. You bring me hope. You should be so proud of how much you've grown in such a short period of time. It's a testament to the quality of your mind and character -- and your family's. Thank you for sharing your story.
Good essay for Thanksgiving. I'm curious and have a question for history buffs. Has there been a period in American history with so many cancellations of family and friends? The post-Floyd purges seemed overwhelmingly in one direction.
Glad you acknowledge that your college courses helped you expand your mind. College is NOT “just leftist indoctrination” or “just partying”, for those who make any effort at all to get the most out of it.
This is a refreshing change from the anti-higher education material usually found on conservative sites.
Thank you for writing this. As someone who was canceled by his progeny several years ago when he was starting college, I can relate to this phenomenon. I should have known there would be a problem when he started coming home from high school saying that everything was "racist", but I was blind to the brainwashing that was taking place.
This brought tears to my eyes. As a GenX Trumpie, the same exact thing happened with my son in 2020 at college. He never wrote us off, but made us feel irrelevant and was very condescending and mean, as we were paying for his college so he had no debt and believe me when I say, we struggled for years to give that to him. But, I was young once, and I was progressive, so I knew it was a phase. After a year in college, he changed his mind. After his Master's Degree, he is now the most loving, understanding, and moderate adult. Thank you so much for this article. 💗
I find "cancelling" friends or family to be an extreme sign of shallowness.
Well, that was unexpectedly pleasant and hopeful. Thank you for cheering up my day. I’m glad your university at least permitted you to read the classics rather than having sociologists tell you what to think about them.
The leftist indoctrination in public universities is a moral abomination whose threat to America's future is grave. The left, because it cannot defend its world-views, must, by force, silence its opposition.
You are an impressive person for seeing this. No. I am not being condescending about youth - few people at any age have the clarity of vision that you do. Your Opinion Piece reminded me of a somewhat related Mark Twain quote:
When I was 17, my father was so stupid, I didn't want to be seen with him in public. When I was 24, I was amazed at how much the old man had learned in just 7 years.
We all should give our friends and family credit for "how much they have learned."
Great piece Aliza. Praying you are not an outlier but I must admit I am not all that hopeful that there are that many others in or just out of college that have had similar epiphanies ( really not an epiphany since you reached your conclusions by reading, thinking, analyzing and thinking, all in short supply these days). I am guessing you now possess what I call the good "tudes" : attitude and gratitude. Best of luck in all you do. Even if our politics may not be fully aligned. 😉
Good article. I resign myself to the fact that people in Washington can do nothing for me and do not care. Most politicians today can not lead and govern. Demagoguery and tribalism are tools for the weak to impose on the strong. Americans are being pushed closer to violence because these ideas can not with stand heterodox opinions and disagreement. What happens when canceling, censorship, ostracizing, and or lies don’t work anymore? Organized violence with zero solutions- savagery.
There is hope!
And proof of why the left doesn’t want our kids to hear different views... it changes their forced perspective.
Your wonderfully introspective essay came about 60 years too late for my very elderly self.
When I was in my early 20s I was far too self centered to be as able as you to find common ground with my conservative parents. Unfortunately, by the time I actually became fully an adult in my 30s, I had wept at both of their funerals.
To this day, their passing is a scar on my soul.
However, I have learned to live with the immaturity of my younger self, due to the love and devotion of friends and family.
I can argue about all kinds of issues while knowing my love for them will be reciprocated.
Thank you Aliza for sharing your journey with us.
I'm a classic libertarian, essentially social liberal and fiscal conservative. Plenty in there for everyone to hate me. I'm a politics junkie and try to ignore issues and focus on decision-making process instead. For example, I supported Obama in 2008 until he reversed his decision on not accepting private donations. He had announced a "principled" decision to accept public funding; when he learned he could raise half a billion in private donations, he changed his mind. I voted for McCain that year.
I find it so interesting what strange things my children believe. But I ask a lot of questions and act interested so they still talk to me even if they think I am lame.
Curious about who do the young folk call if there is actual crime or violence committed against them? Since they hate the police and all?
Beautifully written. You bring me hope. You should be so proud of how much you've grown in such a short period of time. It's a testament to the quality of your mind and character -- and your family's. Thank you for sharing your story.
Good essay for Thanksgiving. I'm curious and have a question for history buffs. Has there been a period in American history with so many cancellations of family and friends? The post-Floyd purges seemed overwhelmingly in one direction.
Glad you acknowledge that your college courses helped you expand your mind. College is NOT “just leftist indoctrination” or “just partying”, for those who make any effort at all to get the most out of it.
This is a refreshing change from the anti-higher education material usually found on conservative sites.
I've seen too many of these forums on college campuses: a liberal squared off against a fake conservative.