One of the most perverse political gambits this year has been pushed by foam-at-the-mouth, right-wing extremists. They’ve been trying to convince Americans to close their minds to all efforts promoting our society’s democratic goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion. “Don’t Be Woke,” they bark.

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Hello, numbskulls! From 1776 forward, being wide awake to oppressors and exploiters is literally what made America… and continues to advance it. Our diversity, our national striving for equity, and our persistent struggle to include all in our historic democratic experiment are three core pillars that sustain the USA. My workaday father expressed this unifying reality to me in these profound words: “Everybody does better, when everybody does better.”

But a group of self-proclaimed “Anti-Woke” crusaders has surged from the fringes of autocratic, xenophobic, racists politics, demanding that schools, corporations, churches, and families shut our eyes, ears, and minds to our own DEI values.

All this would be a depressing end to this political year, EXCEPT that people across the country are rebelling, openly scoffing at the “Don’t Be Woke” hokum. Even the petty autocrats governing states like Florida and Texas can’t stop local school officials from looping around official “bans” against teaching the obvious virtues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Also, while a few corporations have bowed to the right-wing drumbeat, nearly all have continued their DEI programs this year… or even increased them. Why? Because the programs make sense, their workers and shareholders support DEI values, and not all CEOs are suck-ups to right-wing goofiness.

So let us not head into 2025 with political fear, but with a recommitment to the persuasive power of democratic ideals.

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