Sunday • November 9 • 2025
Vol.XVII • No.XLV
Manchester, N.H.
Six years ago, following the incident in which a violent mob of Middlebury students chased author and social scientist Charles Murray off the stage, assaulting and injuring a faculty member in the process, I wrote an article titled “Stop Calling Them Snowflakes.”
The piece referenced the parallels between George Orwell’s Animal Farm, where Napoleon (the dictator pig) “educates” in isolation a litter of puppies before unleashing them as his obedient attack dogs, shouting down or viciously suppressing any opposition, and the students on college campuses of the day.
I concluded, “So, let’s stop referring to these students as ‘snowflakes,’ which implies fragility and a certain amount of insignificance, and recognize them for what they are – the isolated, brainwashed, fiercely loyal, and dangerous attack dogs of an aspiring totalitarian regime.”
Sadly, if things have changed at all since then, it’s only for the worse.
What has become undeniably clear since October 7 and the Hamas attack on innocent civilian Israeli families and concert goers is that we are systematically raising a generation of young adults – at great taxpayer expense no less — who are perfectly willing to cheer on an antisemitic, anti-women’s rights, anti-gay rights, overtly genocidal, internationally recognized terrorist organization that is committing crimes against humanity on par with those of the sickest Nazis – Dr. Josef Mengele comes to mind – and they call it social justice!
When I took an introduction to ethics class in college, as well as, come to think of it, Psychology 101, and in several history and political science classes a question routinely came up: how could millions of otherwise normal German citizens simply go along with a plan to commit the industrialized genocide of every Jew in Europe and, presumably, that accomplished, the world? Answer: many were “educated” and propagandized into believing what they were doing was right and just and received the “social proof,” to steal a term from behavioral economics, from enough respected community leaders and authority figures to believe that this was indeed the case.
Nazis didn’t think of themselves as evil. Far from it. As Hitler proclaimed in Mein Kampf, “by defending myself against the Jew, I am fighting for the work of the Lord [p. 60].” They rather saw themselves as oppressed victims who were standing up as the Social Justice Warriors of their day. Jews (in today’s vernacular maybe it would be called “Jew-supremacy”) for the Nazis was essentially what “white-supremacy,” or the “patriarchy,” or “systemic racism” is for today’s Woke: they represented the powerful economic and cultural institutions and conventions controlled by an oppressor class to victimize and exploit the innocent who, absent that corrupting presence, would thrive in peace. So, they justified a solution to this problem. A Final one. And almost everyone went along because everyone was going along.
Those who disagreed were frightened or brutalized into silence, or worse into complicity in the holocaust that sprung from this cancerous state of mind as it gained widespread and then total political power. Better, after all, to be putting others on the trains than to be put on the train yourself.
How all that happened was what we were never supposed to forget. But we are living and watching an alarmingly similar attitude develop today in America.
Our schools, through Critical Race Theory or DEI or Woke – whatever you want to call it – are indoctrinating young people into a dangerously tribalist, grievance dominated world view every bit as toxic as Aryan versus Jew in the 1930s. Be it anti-racist versus racist, white (and white-adjacent) versus BIPOC, or oppressor class versus marginalized class, the adults today are forcing the kids into camps and to choose sides and pick fights in a culture war. This is a twisted recipe for widespread mutual animosity if not outright group on group hatred. It’s the systematic “othering” of those superficially different from you.
Add to this dynamic a rewards structure that incentivizes students to exhibit the greatest amount of intolerance for the ostensibly intolerable “other”, and you can see why we have an increasing intensity toward theatrical and even violent reactions to every perceived offense. It’s what leads the so-assumed best and brightest of the upcoming generation to chant, “F— the Jews,” throughout the quads of our most elite universities, and parrot slogans for genocide with an enthusiasm that would make Joseph Goebbels proud. But this is how our schools, television, news media, and politicians have trained these young people to think and act. It’s not good!
If there is any silver lining to the war between Israel and Hamas, it is that the horrific reaction by these students has awakened (reWoke? unWoke?) at least some on the Left to the youthful monster that they have helped to create. Some are taking steps to reverse the damage by stopping their funding of universities, calling for the removal of teachers and administrators who spew this bile, and blackballing students who march for genocide from future employment.
Vermont’s leaders and parents and education taxpayers need to speak up as well. All of us do if we are to reverse this dangerous trend in education that starts in grade school. It was therefore extremely disheartening to read that amidst this turmoil the Essex-Westford School District released a policy stating, “This nation would not have evolved as it has without the genocide of the indigenous people, nor would the economic infrastructure exist as it does without the enslavement of native African people and their descendants. In an effort to recognize and undo the harm of centuries of systemic inequities and oppression, we begin with this lens and framework.”
This “lens and framework” is the same one that feeds the kind of hatred and justifies violence on the scale of flying in on paragliders and mowing down hundreds of innocent people peacefully dancing in a field because that’s what so-called decolonization looks like.
By warping children’s perceptions of their world by filtering it through this dark and dystopian “lens and framework” we are not really undoing any harm committed in the past, but we are very much sowing the seeds of harms that will be committed in our future, and in many places, our present.
So, let’s get back to teaching kids through a “lens and framework” that we are all created equal, and should be treated so under the law. That each of us has inalienable rights, including those to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. We all have and should respect each other’s rights to free speech, religion, and association. This country, the United States, was founded upon these principles at a time in history when none of them was “self-evident.” That they are today is testimony to how far we have come in living up to those principles, even if we don’t always do so perfectly.
The exceptional ideas that gave birth to this nation are what have attracted people of all races, religions and cultures and allowed us live side by side not just in peace, but to build together the most prosperous and successful nation ever in the history of humanity. It’s an incredibly optimistic story! A bumpy road at times, for sure, but there is much more to be proud of than ashamed. So be proud. Learn from our history and look forward to doing your part to make the next chapter of our nation “more perfect” than the last.
Rob Roper is a freelance writer with 20 years of experience in Vermont politics, including three years of service as chair of the Vermont Republican Party and nine years as President of the Ethan Allen Institute, Vermont’s free-market think tank. He is also a regular contributor to VermontGrok.
The post The Hamas/Israeli Conflict Exposed a Horrible Flaw In How We’re Educating Our Own Kids appeared first on Granite Grok.
The parallel media has been reporting on several instances where adopters of the all-electric future appear to have swallowed a red pill. Net Zero is not so much an emissions goal as a result for investors, so they are talking their green elsewhere.
Just as the quarterly reporting season revealed crippling losses for wind power and EV’s, so it is with Solar energy.
The general US S&P shares index gained 15% this year but The Invesco Solar ETF (Fund) which invests in solar energy stocks around the world — fell by a dire 40%. Even the US “Inflation Reduction Act” couldn’t save the solar sector. As finances tighten with rising interest rates, apparently solar panel orders are among the first to be cancelled.
This collapse is despite the ongoing support of tax dollars from government subsidies, price support, and new project funding: the government’s gold-digging, green-energy trophy wife. At first, she was the darling of Net Zero, but she has maxed out the credit cards and overextended her spending. All while “hubby” was dumping trillions into foreign wars.
The American economy isn’t the only one in the world, but when it struggles, the world feels it and the Bidenistas have been waterboarding Uncle Sam, and it has wide-ranging side effects.
Some of the worst performers in the whole US share market are solar shares, with SolarEdge and Enphase losing 70% each this year. A few weeks ago, the CEO of SolarEdge said revenues this quarter were about half of what was expected. He blamed “unexpected cancellations” from European distributors. But US demand was down too. Indeed, the bad news started in California, the largest market in the US, when the government slashed home solar “net metering” payments in April by about 75%. Suddenly, it was going to take 10 years to pay off the panels. Solar panels were a luxury item.
Inflation is beating the crap out of everyone. Overextended governments are looking for revenue to fill fiscal potholes. Cutting off the trophy wife is easier than making hard decisions about streamlining government. Austerity that is not limited to marketplace meddling. When the economic rubber hits the road, those people fretting about the imagined harms of a government shutdown will be the first to shut down anything and everything to keep their glorious government funded.
At the same time, Middle America’s misguided belief that humans are responsible for climate change is having a collapse of its own.
According to the results of new survey, there’s been a sizeable shift in just the last five years in the percentage of Americans who believe humans are the primary driver of climate change as opposed to natural changes in the environment.
Though three-quarters of Americans believe climate change is happening, only 49% say it’s mostly or entirely precipitated by human activity — an 11% drop since 2018.
Digging into the demographics, the falloff was most pronounced among Democrats and independents. In 2018, 72% of Democrats said climate change is mostly or entirely a result of human activities; in 2023, that figure fell to 60%. For independents, the decline was even steeper: from 61% in 2018 to 42% in 2023.
Creeping doubt about humans’ impact on climate could be affecting the choices people are making, or not making, to reduce their carbon footprint.
The shift is not huge, but it is meaningful, driven by a handful of crap sandwiches. To get there from here, they will have to sacrifice. They will have infrastructure in their backyard. The Green Dream/nightmare requires tens of thousands of acres of “infrastructure” to create intermittent power that needs more infrastructure to get to you.
And you’ll have to pay for it. Or, you can harden the grid and support natural gas, cleaner coal, oil, hydro, and nuclear -almost none of which you will pay and whose generation will save you money compared to so-called green alternatives. A fact that isn’t presumed to have penetrated the collective consciousness but could.
Investors are skittish, EV makers are pausing expansions, and developers are backing out of projects. As the rats jump ship, Mr. Mrs. and Miss America must step up to ensure that the politicians don’t decide to spend even more of your money on a scheme no one else wants. That happens in the voting booth and in numbers sufficient to prevent the vote-by-mail fraudsters from stuffing the ballot box.
The post As EV Makers Discover There is No There There Solar Stocks are Crashing appeared first on Granite Grok.
It is a distinct honor to recognize my dear friend, a West Point graduate who received a Silver Star for Gallantry and heroism in Action, a Purple Heart for his wounds, an Air Medal, and a Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Honorable Captain Allen Clark.
“There are a host of heroes to whom this country owes a debt it can never repay. Allen Clark lost both his legs while serving his country in Vietnam. When he came home, his body was broken, but his spirit never faltered. He went back to school. He earned his master’s degree in business administration. He served his state in a high government post and is now a successful businessman. He’s an inspiration to all who know him.” – President Ronald Reagan.
His service as a Special Forces officer in the heart of Vietnam marked the beginning of an intense transformation. Allen served as a U.S. Army Special Forces captain in Vietnam when he was wounded. He lost both his legs to a mortar shell. On his encampment, he exhibited incredible bravery, even as he endured severe injuries and the loss of friends and fellow officers. His life was saved by the heroic actions of a young medic, and from that moment on, Allen’s path took an unexpected turn.
Allen authored several books, an autobiography, Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior, “Foreword by Ross Perot. Valor in Vietnam, “Foreword by LTG Dave Palmer, former Superintendent U.S. Military Academy at West Point.” Soldiers, Blood and Bloodied Money Wars, and the Ruling Elites, Foreword by LTC Allen West. Chronicles of Honor, Courage, and Sacrifice (http://www.valorinvietnam.com, (http://www.woundedsoldierhealingwarrior.com)
“Allen’s passionate commitment to public service and to helping veterans began with an appointment in 1979 as the Special Assistant for Administration to Texas Governor William P. Clements, Jr. In 1981, Allen was President Ronald Reagan’s selection to be Deputy Administrator for the Veterans Administration (now the Department of Veterans Affairs). However, he chose to remain in Texas, where in 1982, he received the Texas Republican Party’s nomination to run for State Treasurer in a race that former Texas State Governor Ann Richards won. In 1989, he was nominated by President George H.W. Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate as Assistant Secretary for Veterans Liaison and Program Coordination at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In 1991, he received his second VA confirmation as Director of the National Cemetery System. He served until the end of the President George H. W. Bush administration.”
In a distant time and a distant land, a war was fought that forever altered the course of many lives. Allen’s story, both then and now, is about duty, honor, integrity, and love of country. It is also a story of valor, endurance, and faith. Allen has faced immense challenges and overcome them with unwavering determination, and his journey from wounded soldier to healing warrior is nothing short of inspiring. Allen often speaks of his profound faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Multiple surgeries and months of physical and psychological therapy followed, and he found himself grappling with the profound emotional depths of trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder. But he didn’t give up. He persevered through these challenging times, seeking healing and recovery with unyielding resolve.
His journey from a healthy, self-assured officer to a man with a broken body is a testament to his strength and resilience. He faced worries about whether he would ever walk again and confronted the consequences of the choices he made to serve his country in Vietnam.
Despite the adversity Allen faced, he discovered a deeper well of strength and courage within himself, and he found a new purpose in life. He achieved success in both the realms of public service and business, earning the admiration and respect of internationally respected political, business, and journalistic leaders.
Allen founded his lay ministry Combat Faith, where he visited Warrior Transition Battalions at all the major Army bases. He shares his healing story and mentors individual veterans and active military members. His own healing process is a testament to his enduring commitment to those who serve. Allen’s ministry offers hope and guidance to those struggling with the scars of war, giving them the tools to find peace and personal victory.
Allen is a devout Christian and a staunch follower of Lord Jesus Christ. Allen often speaks about the importance of traditional values in America, which resonates with many Americans who value these principles as essential to the nation’s moral fabric.
Allen shares his insights through his books, offering guidance and support to others who face extraordinary life challenges. Through his experience, he has developed a unique perspective on addressing unhealed hurts, unmet needs, and unresolved issues. His approach is a beacon of hope for those who carry the weight of past traumas and seek a path toward healing.
His book, “Wounded Soldier, Healing Warrior,” is a tribute to his remarkable journey, inspiring and guiding others on their recovery paths. Allen’s public speaking and sharing his story of victory over adversity has touched the hearts of countless audiences.
Allen’s dedication to helping veterans and his unwavering support for those who have served their country is truly commendable. His beautiful wife, Linda, is a living example of the resilience of the human spirit and the ability to overcome even the most challenging obstacles.
While we honor him, let us thank him for his service, sacrifices, and commitment to making his beloved America and the world a better place for all. He is a hero in every sense of the word, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations. I am honored to call him my friend.
The post Honoring Captain Allen Clark: A Wounded Hero appeared first on Granite Grok.