Episode 5: A Force Of Nature: one Gen Y-er's brave stand against wokeism in education

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Transcript

Episode 5

Mizzy M 00:00

Welcome to another episode of Podcast From the Edge, talking Common Sense. This is your host Manju, and thank you so much for tuning in. In today's episode, I'll be speaking with Esther, who is the Northeast representative for Turning Point USA. I hope you get inspired by her just listening to what she has to say.

She's truly a force of nature in her generation, so sit back and enjoy the show. Hi Esther.

Esther 00:34

Hi Manju. How are you?

Mizzy M 00:34

Good, good. How are you doing?

Esther 00:36

I'm well. Thank you so much for having me on your podcast.

Mizzy M 00:40

Oh, this is gonna be so exciting.

Esther 00:43

I'm so excited as well to share my experiences and, um,

Mizzy M 00:47

Okay, so why don't we get started and why don't you tell the listeners something about yourself briefly and how you got yourself involved in Turning Point.

Esther 00:57

Yeah, so I actually just recently got involved with Turning Point and in the political arena this year. Um, I started off going to UConn and, um, doing a major that I'm, I'm completely in a different, um, direction from. Um, mainly because I, I saw that the younger generation really needed, needed, um, mentors and leaders.

Um, so I started with Turning Point in August after I, um, briefly, um, stopped working on a campaign and, um, I think it's been so beneficial, um, working with the younger generation, um, in the climate that we're seeing in the US right now for sure.

Mizzy M 01:43

Okay. And what have you found so far when, uh, since you started working?

Esther 01:50

Yeah, so I, I really started to dig deep. Um, when I got to know students, we work, uh, with ages between 14 and 18. We are in over 3,500 campuses across the US college campuses, but we just launched a high school department. Um, that I feel is, is so essential and important to work with because, you know, the younger generation in high school, their sponges, um.

Yeah. They're just, they're soaking up, um, whatever the teachers tell them, whatever their friends tell them, whatever the TV tells them. And so I think it's, it's amazing that we were open, we were able to pioneer this department in August.

Mizzy M 02:33

Oh, wow. Yeah. And so when you started with Turning Point, what really, um, attracted you to that?

Yeah. Can you explain that?

Esther 02:46

Okay, sure. I, I saw that, um, obviously being from New England or any place where there's not like a conservative majority, um, students have been very ostracized. Um, students have been, um, fearful of voicing their opinion. And, um, I'm just gonna start with a story. From a experience I had in, at a school I went to, I set up a turning point table and that, what that looks like is we set up a table outside the school on a public sidewalk with all of our materials.

They're all high school friendly, um, mainly patriotic materials. We give out copies of the Constitution and, uh, we, we are known to set up these tables on public sidewalks so that students can find interest and, um, ask questions at our tables. So, um, at this one particular town, that I went to, um, has population of 11,000 people and an 87%, um, voting record Democrat in that town.

Um, the students came out and, and started treating, started harassing me. It was, and, and we're talking like students between like 14, 15. They, they don't, they're, they're so young. And, um, I started to question why these students were reacting to me this kind of way. It's, you know, if it, they have to be being taught to, to, to react this kind of way to something they, they don't know.

And so, yeah, I just, I just saw this, um, this behavior coming from students mainly because people criticize what they don't understand, but. . It was just something I, I thought that shocked me.

Mizzy M 0 4:36

Yeah, of course. Are they, um, afraid of, when you say ostracized, I mean, do they get, um, doxed, bullied in their school? Does this administration do anything to protect them at all?

Esther 04:51

Uh, so when I, when I went outside the school, The students who, there were a few students who were conservatives that came up to me and they were like, Hey, please don't tell anybody, but I'm a conservative. You know, I was, I was being flooded by all these students.

But they, the ones that were actually conservative, which was only really about three, they, they wore fear all over their faces. They were extremely. And not to mention in that same experience, um, a board member had come out and saw my table on the public sidewalk with which disclaimer, it's, it's not illegal to set up a table on a, on a public sidewalk, you know, that's taxpayer money.

So, um, I, there was a board member that came up to me and was kind of interrogating me and, um, asking me who I was, where I was from, what I was doing, and she was extremely passive aggressive. Um, the materials on my table and, um, that makes me think that, you know, obviously admin and teachers in have been biased.

You know, they, they've been teaching only one side of the spectrum to the students. And, um, if that was one board member, I can't imagine multiple others and other schools that, um, are also not receptive to the conservative message.

Mizzy M 06:12

 That's right. And unfortunately that little, um, window into what you just told about the administration or this particular administrator, um, when she came up to you and was being passive aggressive, that just, I mean, can you imagine what she must be like, um, let's say if she was a professor in a classroom? and she could really intimidate someone and use grades as leverage, um, you know, can ostracize them in class.

I mean, it, it just shows how much, um, you know, that these child, these children, I should say are young adults, um, really have some sort of, uh, fear. And they're afraid. So they sort of self censor themselves it seems, right

Esther 07:05

 Exactly. Exactly. And um, I think that one thing I wanted to focus on, which I hope this is serves of encouragement um, to whoever's listening, regardless of whether you're a student or a parent, I think it's amazing that you're doing this Manju because it's so bold of you to, um, be able to vocalize your opinions to people across the country today and let them know that they're not alone. And, um, and, and I just kind of wanted to touch base, like what boldness looks like., what boldness sounds like and how we can apply it, you know, being a parent or being a student. Um, in, in difficult climates too.

Mizzy M 07:46

Well, yeah, because, you know, growing up is already hard as it is, you know? Dealing with just the academic issues. Um, dating issues, like personal issues, like everything, you know, and then to have this added stress now of being bullied or doxed, um, is, I can't even imagine being a student at this day and age, you know, with all the pressures that you have, is there anything, um, any words of encouragement or resources that you can think of where, um, these students can go to, to, um, raise their voices? You know, they're just starting to really become their own and finding their voice. So how can you cultivate that even more?

Esther 08:39

Yeah, so I think there is so much power, um, in asking questions, right? We can ask questions to understand or we can ask questions to, to confront. And I encourage students to ask questions to their teachers. They should be critically thinking curriculum that doesn't make sense to them, you know?

Um, we find that when we ask questions and we confront these leftist ideologies, most of these, um, most of them don't even know why they believe what they do. And with a simple question, um, you can dismantle a whole argument that has absolutely no backbone. Unfortunately, most of these ideologies are, are very flawed.

And, um, and, and it, what we really have to do is bring common sense back to the table, which, which I love the name of your podcast, common Talking Common Sense. Um, so asking questions like why, what, for example, why do you think, um, white men have more privileges than others? Why are you, why, where does, what are the statistics for this?

Or what is the definition of misogyny? Why do you think that we live in an unequal society? Um, when. It, there is no sign of, of, of female oppression or, um, seeing it in our day and age. So it's like asking questions I think is super important, and that's a form of being, of being bold, but not only asking questions to under, uh, to understand, but asking questions to confront as well.

I know sometimes we're scared of. You know, um, voicing our opinions, but people's true colors come out when we step out of our comfort zone. We can only see change, uh, when we step out of that comfort zone.

Mizzy M 10:25

That's true. But I think, um, another factor is, you know, as soon as someone. Um, makes their opinion. You have some students that will say, oh, you're a racist, you're a white supremacist, because that's their way of shutting down an ar, an argument, you know? Mm-hmm. . Um, and I think at that point, once that is already out there, it's mm-hmm. , you know, I can see why it would be twice as hard than to come out.

You know, and, um, keep at it, you know, with your, um, stand and with your viewpoints and everything.

Esther 11:06

Right. And even if the reception from the other person that you asked the question isn't the best. Um, asking why questions also allows students and parents to understand. It's, if it, most of them might be defensive and confrontational and angry, but at least we can understand to an extent why or where they're coming from.

And if there is no answer, then we understand. We understand that they don't really have, um, the, the knowledge for a good argument, you know? Um, and which kind of builds us to, to be able to. More when we know where people are coming from.

Mizzy M 11:47

Right. And it seems that, um, if parents and students are concerned, especially um, for students, if they're like-minded students, um, who are conservative or who have, you don't even have to be a conservative. I mean, even from all different political ideologies, if you see censorship, you know, most people are kind of uncomfortable with. You know. And there would be, I'm sure other students who may not see the same politics in a classroom, but if they see someone being intimidated, um, by a professor, you know, they're not gonna really appreciate that. And they probably would take the side of the conservative student, let's say, who is vocal, you know? Right. And um, But what I was thinking is, um, and I want to bounce this off of you cuz I don't know how much is being talked about with Turning Point, but it seems to me that a lot of these issues can be dealt with by really putting pressure on the administration of the college to protect these kids.

Esther 13:01

Right. No, I agree a hundred percent. I think that parents need to show, show up at board meetings. I think that, um, parents need to go out of their way to, um, stand up for their kids and, and this looks like going to the board meetings every month, like you can notice that many board members behave differently when people are in the public.

They won't say things that they wouldn't say if nobody was. Um, so it pushes them to follow the rules and it feels like, um, they're being held accountable. So, um, I I, I encourage people to go to the board meetings, to go to your elected officials and, and to bring these things up. That's what they're there for.

They're there to serve the people. So if there's something that's not right in the school system and that's making parents and students uncomfortable, then we, we have to show up and hold people accountable. Um, I think that's super.

Mizzy M 13:54

I, yeah, and I think it's important if you have a, a child in college, that alumni also get involved, you know, with their, with how they donate to the school.

I mean, stop funding the school. You know, if, if you have to go to that extreme and if no one's paying attention or listening to you, you know, that's one way to do it too. Um, for high school, I mean, I really feel for these young high school kids, because I mean, like you said, you can go to these Board of Ed meetings and you could be able to get change out of that, but usually most of that change is done at the ballot box.

You know, so that's another thing. Um, you need to support candidates who at least see like you and it doesn't mean you have to be a certain political party, you know, it can just be anyone can have this. I mean, no, no one wants to have their child, you know, be called a racist or a white supremacist or, you know, um, or for a kindergartner to be taught certain things at school about their gender.

I mean, they're so young, you know?

Esther 15:07

Right. No, they're, they're not deserving of this at all. And I know that the elections just passed too. So, I mean, conservatives were expecting, um, a red wave as, as we say, and, and now that we don't have that, it's kind of like, what do we do now? And it's, I think now it's, it's time we have to work with what we, we got, you know, if, if those elected candidates aren't there, what do we do now?

You know? Do we monitor the teachers more? Um, do we, do we look through, um, our, our CH children's homework? You know, when Covid happened, parents started realizing that everything, everything that was being taught in the school, because they were able to listen into the Zoom calls, since it was, it was remote.

So that was almost a blessing in disguise. Um, electing candidates is, is, is certainly what we need to do. Now that it hasn't happened, it's like how can we come up with different ways to protect our children at like all costs, you know?

Mizzy M 16:06

That's right. Just like the way we did with, um, fraternities and that whole thing with rush week, you know, for them.

I mean, there is a huge outcry and a push to stop, you know, um, these, you know, deaths that would occur. Mm-hmm. , you know, when you are rushing a fraternity, you know, and it was really based on pushing the administration and there were a lot of legal changes that happened with the law and and so I think with that, um, it something like that can maybe be done in this area too.

You know, it all comes down to holding people accountable.

Esther 16:47

Right, right. Because at the end of the day, I mean the, they're either, they don't, I don't know if they even want the best for our kids, you. I, it's, it's, it's just ridiculous. It's, it's, it's become an extreme. Um, it's become too extreme and, It's either listening to it's, it's either asking questions to confront or asking questions to understand.

Um, and, and now I think it's, it's at the, the point where, um, we have to rise up. You, you know, we, you can't be passive. We can't be passive conservatives. We have to be bold, um, in our day and age, especially in, in, in the New England climate where, um, it's, it's solid blue, you know? Um, or in, in, we just have to, we have to learn to be bold and, and, um, vocalize what we believe, um, in, in a way that challenges other perspectives for sure.

Mizzy M 17:46

Yeah. But, um, and that is totally true. I agree. Um, but I also think that, um, You know, when you're dealing with parents of different political backgrounds or ideologies, I mean parents are parents, they were, I mean, love is any, you know, it transcends anything. You know, it transcends politics and your ideology, you know, the love for your child. And so I, I think that, um, when you deal these types of issues. I mean, no parent, I don't care if you're a Democrat or Republican or an independent, they don't want to have puberty blockers, you know, being given to their children without their consent. You know, they don't want the school system making judgements on their kids without their input. They want, you know, they're the parent. They have parental rights, you know. If you're gonna do things like, if the school system is gonna do things like that, um, don't you think that they should then take care of college tuition costs and all their healthcare costs and give them a roof over their heads and, you know, so it, it gets to a certain point where I think common sense just comes into play.

Esther 19:01

Right, exactly. Exactly. I I agree a hundred percent. I mean, regardless of political affiliation, this is just wrong. At least they're minors and they shouldn't, and, and they parents should most definitely be involved in their education and I, I, it doesn't take a Democrat or a Republican to, to agree on that I don't think

Mizzy M 19:19

That's right. Exactly. So the other thing I wanted to ask you also is you had, um, when we had spoken a little bit briefly, um, before you had said something about what does boldness look like, you know, for students, you know, and can you elaborate a little bit more on that?

Esther 19:41

Sure. Um, I mean, being in college and, and, and I work with high schoolers, but for my personal experience, I obviously had situations where I had to be bold, um, in classes that we were required to take, like women's gender and sexuality courses. Um, To, to fulfill our major. So, I mean, in my regard, I might be a little extreme because I'm, I'm the over assertive person with a backbone who says something that nobody else will say.

But I, I did, I would go up in front of the class and I would argue the like the opposing point to what, um, everybody else would disagree with. For instance, putting together, um, possibly a pro. Uh, presentation when we were asked to write an essay on, you know, maybe abortion. And, um, that might be a little extreme, but it just, when you're, when you're the one person in the room that's not complying, I, I think that people won't say it, but there's definitely a curiosity that strikes up in people. Like, how can she be the only one in the room who disagrees and. That's what it kind of looked like in, in my own life. And back to the New Hampshire story, I think that the, the few students who saw my table sat up outside the school were, were, were emboldened by the fact that I was out there. You know, how can, how can she be the only one out here? Um, but everybody else is telling her like F America and they're throwing acorns at her, which did happen for the, for the record . Um, but that's a little bit. Well, I, I, it looked like for me, um, it's just being the black sheep and being okay with that, um, in a weird way. Right?

Mizzy M 21:36

Yeah. Well, what gives you the motivation to get out there and, and deal with these types of, um, circumstances where you really don't know what the outcome is gonna be,

Esther 21:48

the motivation?

Mizzy M 21:50

for you?

Esther 21:52

Yeah, so I think. Really being an inspiration. I think I want to be a role model because, you know, um, there are conservatives everywhere who are who, who feel silenced and if, uh, a conservative sees another conservative who is emboldened, I think that, um, My motivation is just to bring the best and, and the best out of students and to push them to become leaders and push them to step out of their comfort zone. If I'm able to inspire one student in a setting, um, then I feel like I've, I've fulfilled my mission. Um, and, and it's really my motivation is for the students. I think that it's not easy being, A conservative in school today. You know, I, I also went to another fair because we're known to set up tables at fairs to find high school students. And, um, one of them also came up to me and was like, don't tell. I, I, I love what you're doing, but don't tell my teachers I'm conservative. And it's like, these, these guys believe what they believe, but they're just scared to, to come outta that shell. So if I'm able to help one student, Be who they are and, and not be afraid of that. I think that's what my motivation is.

Mizzy M 23:15

Okay. That's really good. That's a, a great way to look at things. Um, what advice would you give someone who wanted to do what you're doing?

Esther 23:30

Uh, advice that I would give, um, you know, I. Boldness is like one of the rarest traits in human beings. It's, I think that many other traits and qualities flourish from becoming bold and, and the world demands boldness.

So I think, um, accepting what you believe and becoming knowledgeable about the issues, um, and more comfort. In what you believe, whether it's reading books or listening to podcasts so you can solidify an argument. I think that would be, um, my advice, become a master in, in what you believe if, if become a master, um, seek knowledge.

Um, and so you can clearly communicate and, um, make a difference through the. you com. You, you, you learned the content, you know, just, um, yeah. My advice would just seek out knowledge and become knowledgeable, dig deep, and then, and do your research.

Mizzy M 24:34

Okay. So now as we wind down, um, what is the one piece of common sense you would like to share with the listeners?

Esther 24:43

Some common sense. Mm. could you repeat that?

Mizzy M 24:49

Oh, I was asking like what is the one piece of common sense you would like to share with the listeners?

Esther 24:55

Oh, a hundred percent. Critically, think , critically, think everything. You know, we're just, we're just a society that's succumbed to a lot of deception. and people don't critically think anymore.

And we know this through the younger generation who has a attention span of eight seconds. You know, people can only listen to something for eight seconds and then lose attention of something. So I think we should critically think, and, and, and common sense is to, to seek out knowledge. You know, don't just believe something because somebody told you.

Do your research. And, um, I think. That's as common sense as it, it gets Oh. Um, enough of like the social emotional learning. What are the facts? Right? It's what's the statistics, what are, what is the logic placed before me?

Mizzy M 25:48

That's right. That's right. Exactly. Mm-hmm. . Well, thank you so much, Esther, for this great conversation.

And, um, I hope to have you back again. I know you and I will be meeting up shortly because, um, you know, um, we've really hit it off so . Right.

Esther 26:08

No, I love talking about this. It was, it's so, yeah. I had a great time. Thank you so much for having me.

Mizzy M 26:14

Oh, you're so welcome. And, um, I'll speak to you later.

Esther 26:18

Yep. Catch you with you later.

Mizzy M 26:20

Okay. Bye.

Esther 26:22

Bye.