Attacks on Turning Point unfounded
As a 15-year-old student and someone who loves America, I am concerned that the media and a society that is more focused on being politically correct than being truthful are radicalizing our impressionable youth. These ideas will have a calamitous effect on our upcoming generations.
To stem the flow of these extreme ideas, I am attempting to start a chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA) at Whitefish High School. Recently, there have been attacks on the Whitefish chapter and the new Glacier High School chapter of TPUSA. These attacks are completely unfounded, and I am writing this with the goal of educating our community about these chapters and this organization.
These attacks have come with claims that Turning Point USA is “known for promoting misinformation, attacks on college professors, and racist stereotypes.” Although there is no factual evidence that misinformation and racist stereotypes are being promoted through the organization, there are people that understand the power (especially in today’s culture) of simply stating these things. These attacks are a blatant attempt to remove any opposition to their beliefs without having to provide proof that it is true.
Another organization, “Love Lives Here,” has also deemed that TPUSA is promoting racism. They did this without providing any evidence other than racist comments by people that supposedly ascribe to the organization. They could not find a shred of evidence that even remotely suggests any of TPUSA’s policies, or anything that they have done, is racist.
One of the main points of contention that people have with TPUSA is with its founder, Charlie Kirk. People continue to push that he dangerously spreads misinformation about a variety of things, but can then never actually find something he says that is inaccurate.
An example of this occurs on his podcast, The Charlie Kirk Show, which I highly suggest for anyone interested in the politics of today, regardless of opinions. There have been recent claims that he is “virulently anti-mask,” but, by actually listening to him, it is evident that this is not the case. On his show, he discusses how he is against the forcing of civilians to wear masks by the federal government. He never states that he is against masks as a whole and even believes that if you have comorbidities, then it would be prudent to wear one. Saying that he is anti-mask is not only telling part of the truth, it is a blatant lie.
In saying this, I believe it is fine to disagree with Charlie, but to slander his name and the name of his organization through false claims is dishonest, unacceptable, and, in my mind, un-American. In Patience Burns’ letter (Sept. 3) and in the attempts on social media by Love Lives Here supposedly “warning” parents and students about the danger of these clubs, it seems evident that they are attempting to stifle any opinion that differs from their own to the point of actually sabotaging these high school clubs. Is this inclusivity? Tolerance?
I believe it is important for American freedom to be respected regardless of political beliefs. As president of the Whitefish chapter of TPUSA, I believe that the suppression of thoughts other than one’s own is an Orwellian tactic that will lead to the death of America. I am dedicated to spreading the truth about the political and societal aspects of today.
In order to form any sort of opinion, it is mandatory to have knowledge of both sides of the story. With the undeniable bias in the media and our public school system, one is hard pressed to hear an accurate representation of both sides, especially at a young age. My goal is to not only provide students with this knowledge, but to instill a love of America in them that surpasses partisan loyalty.
—Kiefer Adams, Whitefish