What I Saw in These Cities Shocked Me | Peter Boghossian
Apr 28, 2024
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Peter Boghossian and Dave Rubin discuss combating woke ideology, the impact of identitarian leftism, consequences of woke policies in cities like Portland, ideological indoctrination in universities, challenges facing remaining liberals, societal attitudes towards immigration and Islam, and more.
Woke ideology has led to urban decay contrasting cities like Portland with Miami.
Ideological indoctrination in universities hinders critical thinking and scientific evidence-based care.
Liberals are considering shifting Right due to dissatisfaction with Leftist policies and societal attitudes.
Deep dives
Maintaining Health and Friendship
The podcast episode delves into a long-standing friendship and journey towards health. Acknowledging their progress in weight management and discussing dietary changes, the hosts recall numerous collaborative appearances in events like street epistemology sessions. Reflecting on early involvements in confronting woke ideologies, they recount experiences at a Portland university event amidst Antifa protests. Expressing disappointment at the deeper entrenchment of extreme ideologies over time, they highlight challenges in awakening others to compromised institutional values.
Exploring Ideological Shifts
The conversation navigates through evolving ideological perspectives, distinguishing between traditional left-leaning economics-focused beliefs and modern identity-driven ideological trends. They analyze how identity politics have reshaped societal outlooks, emphasizing the prioritization of identity factors like race and gender in policymaking. Labeling this fusion of Marxism with identity issues as the essence of the woke movement, they discuss the challenges of challenging these prevailing beliefs.
Contemplating Institutional Corruption
The discussion transitions to the theme of institutional integrity and accountability. Narrated experiences of facing investigations, administrative pressures, and ideological enforcement within academic settings shed light on institutional decay and ethical compromises. The hosts scrutinize the erosion of meritocratic values in academia, raising concerns about institutional capture and the replication of ideological doctrines at the cost of critical thinking.
Navigating Cultural Polarization
Reflecting on cultural divisions and ideological polarization, the hosts explore the erosion of friendships due to ideological disagreements. They lament the societal trend of prioritizing ideological adherence over genuine relationships, expressing concerns about the loss of friendship bonds over differing beliefs. Emphasizing the need for sincere conversations and openness to diverse viewpoints, they recognize the importance of personal connections in healing societal divides.
Hope Amidst Uncertainty
In the face of societal challenges and cultural turmoil, the hosts exhibit a blend of concern and determination towards the future. Acknowledging the complexities of contemporary issues and the looming threat of further societal decay, they grapple with a lack of optimism while striving to find solutions. From reevaluating foreign policy stances to reassessing moral beliefs on topics like abortion, they underscore the need for honest dialogues, personal responsibility, and an unwavering commitment to principled actions.
Dave Rubin of “The Rubin Report” talks to Peter Boghossian about the cost of combating woke ideology, including facing protests and investigations for discussing free speech at his former university; how the rise of identitarian leftism destroyed the Left’s concerns with economics and the class struggle; his disappointment in the lack of pushback from colleagues in academia; the consequences of woke policies, contrasting cities like Portland with Miami; whether leftist leaders in blue cities understand the effects of their policies or use their failures to justify radical agendas; why he finally left teaching at Portland State University; the rationale that leftist mayors use to explain why their policies lead to urban decay; how their prioritization of compassion over law and order exacerbates societal problems; the impact of ideological indoctrination in universities; his inability to challenge students' thinking; the lack of scientific evidence behind gender-affirming care for minors; the erosion of medical ethics; how he was wrong about how our society would adapt to a secular belief system; the dilemma facing remaining liberals concerning their political choices; the possibility of liberals moving Right due to dissatisfaction with the Left; the need for non-Trump alternatives; the shift in societal attitudes concerning immigration and Islam; and much more.