2021 | Week of June 21 | Radio Transcript #1417

In the book and film, The Wizard of Oz, we meet a tin man without a heart, a scarecrow without a brain and a lion without courage. Author Frank Baum was onto something in these characters.

About a month ago I addressed some basic ideas regarding Critical Race Theory as explained by Christopher Rufo in a lecture he delivered at Hillsdale College earlier this year.^[1] I’m returning to this lecture for this commentary. After he explains what Critical Race Theory is and how pervasive it has become in our country, Rufo gives three components of a successful strategy to defeat the forces that are attempting to make this heretical ideology the law of the land. In Rufo’s components, I think we see the importance of using our brains, having a heart, and exercising courage.

Rufo posits that governmental action is a key component to pushing back successfully against CRT. Creating and implementing legislation requires brains; bad legislation is often worse than no legislation. Good legislation is not easy in the best of situations and with CRT, it’s especially challenging, which means we need bright, sharp legal brains—even borrowed ones, if necessary—to be involved in making sure that we aren’t creating loopholes that can be easily exploited.

We have three bills dealing with CRT currently in our state legislature. From what I can tell, these proposals have been carefully thought through and appear to have been vetted by some legal experts. Some communities are beginning to work on government action against CRT at the local level; these efforts will require the same brain power as required at the state and federal levels.

Rufo’s next component is a grassroots pushback. My experience with this type of effort is that it requires heart—a lot of heart from at least a few key people. By heart, I’m talking about passion—passion to stop evil, to protect people, passion to make a real and positive difference. A person with heart will be appropriately outraged by what is happening in our schools, our communities, our government and will be compelled to go find others who share his or her concern, will stop at nothing to get to the truth, and will organize and mobilize with seemingly boundless enthusiasm.

Without people with heart, typically grassroots efforts fizzle quickly; with such people, well, look out world, because you are about to experience a force that will require you to deal with it.

And finally, Rufo says thwarting the CRT onslaught requires an appeal to principles. He talks in terms of using our own, as he says, “moral language rather than allow ourselves to be confined by the categories of critical race theory.” For instance, Rufo asserts that instead of talking about “diversity,” we should be talking about and working for “excellence”; we should be promoting the truth about our American history and not allow the lies to continue.

As I think about this appeal to principles, I think it fits two of our categories—both brains and courage. We have to know the facts, know the truth before we wade in—and that’s where courage comes in. Courage isn’t the lack of fear; it’s doing what needs to be done even in the face of fear.

Here’s what Rufo says on this matter of courage: “Above all, we must have courage—the fundamental virtue required in our time. Courage to stand and speak the truth. Courage to withstand epithets. Courage to face the mob. Courage to shrug off the scorn of the elites.” He continues, “When enough of us overcome the fear that currently prevents so many from speaking out, the hold of critical race theory will begin to slip. And courage begets courage….” Rufo closes with, “Truth and justice are on our side. If we can muster the courage, we will win.”

My sense is now more than ever we need the tin men out there to go find a brain or borrow one, the scarecrows to embrace a heart and the lions to exercise courage even when they may not feel courageous.

CRT isn’t ultimately about race or racism; hiding behind the curtain are those who think they are wizards and whose goal is to destroy our nation. Exposing and fighting against this effort will require all the brains, heart, and courage we can muster. But it can done.

This is Julaine Appling for Wisconsin Family Council reminding you the prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”

^[1]https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/critical-race-theory-fight/