Now that the case of conservative Arizona State University student Oubai Shahbandar has given this second-rate institution more bad publicity than it bargained for, many people, especially alums, are starting to ask themselves exactly why their tax dollars and donations are being used to support a pathetic culture of monolithic socialistic nihilism.
And, many consumers of popular entertainment are beginning to take umbrage to the nonsensical and seemingly nonstop left-wing pronouncements from the likes of Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Mike Farrell, Barbara Streisand, Ed Asner, Sean Penn, and the rest. To be sure, since there are many factors in play regarding box office success, it is risky to draw too many conclusions, but suffice to say that none of the pictures involving, say, Sarandon, in 2002 broke any records.
Since a disproportionate amount of this misinformed, seditious, and just plain stupid vitriol emanates from the worlds of academia and entertainment, let us consider just how similar these apparently disparate environments actually are.
To those on top–big stars and tenured professors–there is access to a bully pulpit. But more than that, since even dim-witted journalists realize that no one really cares what some zany professor or spaced-out actor has to say, they are seldom challenged in the media. Moreover, within the ivy-covered halls, few students, instructors without tenure, or even less senior tenured faculty would dare challenge the suffocating orthodoxy. Who needs the social stigma or the lowered grades?
The chilling effect within entertainment is similar. What up-and-comer needs to take on the establishment as he claws his own way to the top? The end result, of course, is simply a reinforcement of the tainted beliefs expressed by the alpha group in the first place.
We must now explain how those in the alpha group came to hold their proto-commie positions. The easy answer is to say that they are merely a product of their own environment, but that begs the question. What IS it about these two realms that creates mindless leftists?
The largest factor is guilt. Being a tenured professor or a big star is a very easy job. The money is not comparable, but those in either category should be set for life, barring some catastrophe. The profs are even protected from the indignity of their fading years with emeritus positions. Thus, when obtained, both careers are sinecures.
The key, naturally, is obtaining the status. We can assume that Harvard, for example, gets the pick of the litter with respect to the annual crop of new assistant professors. How much better, ultimately, can Professor Tweedledee be than Professor Tweedledum? By the same token, every pretty high school girl or college drama student who has the slightest inkling, will trek to Hollywood with the big dream. How much better, ultimately, can Marilyn hot bod be than Lana full sweater? How many thousands of would be crusty character types are there who could give Jerry Stiller or Peter Boyle a run for their money?
Indeed. So the one who succeeds has not reached the heights of a meritocracy. He has not necessarily worked harder, or even had more talent than the next guy. Perhaps, he has better social skills, but, mostly, he has been lucky. Haunted forever by the spectre of the one who didn’t make it, who may have been (horrors!) better than he, our hapless actor or academic now views all of mankind through his distorted prism.
He must now assuage his guilt. His public penance is taken in embracing all those unfortunates, who must have been relegated to their situation by mere happenstance, just like those he himself prevailed over, when he was once a new talent or nascent instructor. Having never been inside the real economy, and having no interest in finding out how life works in the real world, he continues to search for his solace everywhere except in religion, and lashes out at whomever (like himself) seems to be on top.
Not surprisingly, his favorite target is his own country. Now you know.