It is that time of the year again! Back to school! Preseason is beginning, and students are readying their supplies for the new year. We’re all thinking about what these students will be learning this year in their respective classrooms and schools – and hopefully, in the school of their choice that best fits their needs.
As the radical gender ideology movement continues to push an anti-parent and pro-woke agenda, we all must do our part to be involved, raise awareness, and say enough is enough. It’s time to put students over systems.
This is the perfect opportunity for placing a Letter to the Editor in your local newspaper!
We know that, as IWN members, you are involved, active, and outspoken in your communities. We know how deeply our IWN members care about educational opportunities and parental rights. While everyone is thinking about back to school and all that comes with it, we recommend that you think about the education issues that impact you, your family, your community, or your state directly, and write about it!
We suggest you read your local paper, respond to what is being written on education, and set the narrative straight. Your views will inspire others, encourage discussion, and cause change!
Here are a few broad issue areas to consider for writing a Letter to the Editor surrounding back to school:
School Choice
Transparency
Radical Ideology
Preseason/School Sports/Title IX
Parental Rights
Parental Empowerment
Education Freedom
Teachers Unions’ REAL Priorities
ESAs
School Boards
Notable State Legislation That Has Been Advanced/Implemented
Remember that each newspaper operates under different guidelines, so please check there first, but here are some tips to keep in mind as you start writing:
Word Count: ~200 words
Short, Sweet, and To The Point!
Requires Local Hook
Great to Respond Directly to Something the Newspaper Covered — article, editorial, or op-ed.
Once you’ve readied your piece, please send to [email protected] so the IW media team can review and offer feedback. Once finalized, the IW media team will help pitch, submit, and place your piece for publication.
Once published, IW media team can use content to garner additional media coverage, and IW social media team can amplify on IWN social channels.
Happy writing! Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions.
Every American should have the right to vote without fear of discrimination, and the federal government has an important role to play in enforcing those privileges.
However, federal attempts to protect voter’s rights actually takes the power away from local governments and citizens.
Here’s the issue of Voting Rights in 60 seconds:
General Principles
Voting rights are protected by the U.S. Constitution and by federal statute
The 15th Amendment prohibits the denial or abridgement of the right to vote “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude”
The Voting Rights Act prohibits discriminatory voting practices and provides strong federal enforcement mechanisms.
Under the U.S. Constitution, American elections are decentralized
As a matter of constitutional design, our elections are state-by-state contests that are administered locally.
This system provides important checks against corruption and fraud.
Only in extreme circumstances can the federal government intrude on local control of elections
The Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a unique exception to our decentralized voting system, made necessary by widespread, deliberate disfranchisement of blacks in the Jim Crow South.
The Voting Rights Act (VRA)
The Voting Rights Act of 1965
was passed to give blacks access to the ballot, which had been unconstitutionally denied them in parts of the country;
empowered the federal government to enforce voting rights nationwide;
and gave the feds temporary power to oversee voting changes in jurisdictions with a history of racist election practices.
Specific provisions
Section 2 permanently outlaws voting procedures that deny or abridge the vote on account of race or color;
Section 5 temporarily requires certain jurisdictions to get federal approval (“pre-clearance”) before making electoral changes;
Section 4 establishes criteria for determining which jurisdictions must seek Section 5 pre-clearance.
The way forward
The federal government has an important role to play in enforcing voting rights nationwide, but it should not micromanage local election procedures in jurisdictions with no recent history of voting discrimination.
Progressives want the Supreme Court to decide cases based on modern notions of fairness and social justice, rather than on the law as written. Because progressives view the Court as a super-legislature, rather than as a neutral arbiter of law, they seek nominees to the Court whom they believe are willing to legislate certain outcomes from the bench.
The president should nominate and the Senate should confirm only those candidates who possess a sound judicial philosophy.
Here’s the issue of judicial philosophy in 60 seconds:
What’s at Stake
Progressives want the Supreme Court to decide cases based on modern notions of fairness and social justice, rather than on the law as written. Because progressives view the Court as a super-legislature, rather than as a neutral arbiter of law, they seek nominees to the Court whom they believe are willing to legislate certain outcomes from the bench.
It is not the job of the Court to set public policy or to create new rights and remedies. Those jobs belong to the political branches of government, which are accountable to the people.
Nor is it the job of the Court to rubber-stamp popular laws that conflict with the Constitution. An unelected justice who is unwilling to enforce the limits of our governing charter puts all of our freedoms at risk.
It is, therefore, critically important that any nominee to the Supreme Court understand the proper role of the judiciary in our democracy.
Qualifications for a Supreme Court Justice
Supreme Court nominees should, of course, possess strong academic and legal credentials. But resumes are only part of the equation. From a diverse pool of many qualified candidates, the president should nominate and the Senate should confirm only those candidates who possess a sound judicial philosophy.
Nominees to the Supreme Court must demonstrate a commitment to:
enforcing the Constitution as written and
applying statutes passed by Congress consistent with their original public meaning
Even when doing so leads to outcomes with which they personally disagree.
A justice who fails to anchor her decisions to constitutional or statutory text is legally adrift, guided only by politics and her own personal morals and worldview.
The Supreme Court search process should be inclusive, not exclusive. Although the role of a judge is apolitical, the process of selecting a nominee to the Supreme Court is a political process in which factors other than qualifications inevitably play a role.
In searching for a Supreme Court nominee, a president should cast a wide net, considering qualified candidates from all walks of life. But, in so doing, a president must not exclude from consideration candidates with certain demographic profiles.
From a diverse pool of qualified candidates, the most important consideration is judicial philosophy.
Here’s the issue of diversity and the Supreme Court in 60 seconds:
What You Should Know
The Supreme Court search process should be inclusive, not exclusive.
Although the role of a judge is apolitical, the process of selecting a nominee to the Supreme Court is a political process in which factors other than qualifications inevitably play a role.
In searching for a Supreme Court nominee, a president should cast a wide net, considering qualified candidates from all walks of life. But, in so doing, a president must not exclude from consideration candidates with certain demographic profiles.
From a diverse pool of qualified candidates, the most important consideration is judicial philosophy.
A sound judicial philosophy is the most important indicator of impartiality.
Judges wear black robes to indicate that justice is blind. When a judge puts on the robe, he must put aside his personal politics and morals and examine a case, not as a female judge or a male judge, not as an Italian American judge or a Puerto Rican judge, but solely as a United States judge.
Diversity Hypocrisy
Progressives are diversity hypocrites.
Although they claim to “celebrate diversity” and value “lived experience,” progressives only care about diversity when it advances their political agenda.
In fact, progressives are utterly contemptuous of women and minorities who dare to think for themselves.
Progressives have made bloodsport out of attacking female and minority nominees who won’t tow their party line.
Progressives launched well-funded campaigns to try to stop the confirmations of Amy Coney Barrett and Clarence Thomas to the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 2003, Democrats blocked the nomination to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia of the eminently qualified Miguel Estrada on the grounds that “he is Latino.”
Progressives also attempted to block the confirmations of Janice Rogers Brown and Neomi Rao, two qualified women of color, to the D.C. Circuit.
In the wake of several hotly debated Supreme Court decisions, a number of commentators have stepped up calls to “res...
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The Woketionary is here to help you! Has a teacher asked for your child’s “preferred pronoun”? Or told him he needs to become an anti-racist? Have you been told you are suffering from “implicit bias” or are living in a “systemically racist” country? Confused?
We were too!
What does the word “woke” mean, you ask? Well, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the slang word “woke,” is really the past tense “wake” and means to be awoken to and then actively attentive to important facts and issues surrounding racial and social justice. But really, the word “woke” is used by the left and by social justice warriors to imply superior knowledge and an ideologically “correct” belief system.
In this Woketionary, we’ve given you the “woke” definition followed by what the word is supposed to convey to those who don’t ascribe to the woke way of thinking. Still confused? Yeah, we are too!
Some say… The 1619 Project is a New York Times series of essays that challenge the heretofore accepted narrative that America was founded in 1776. The Project contends that the American founding dates to 1619, the year slaves first arrived in the colonies.
But really… The 1619 Project is an academically challenged attempt to repackage the United States as a congenitally and endemically racist country, the very founding of which was based on the desire to preserve slavery. The project ignores centuries of scholarship in an effort to convince Americans—particularly young Americans—to hate their country, their history, and their governing institutions.
Anti-racism ˈan-ˌtī – ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm noun:
Some say…Anti-racism is the opposite of racism and that anti-racist policies, training, and curricula are needed to combat white supremacy in America.
But really… “Anti-racism” is not what it sounds like. It does NOT refer to general efforts to combat prejudice, promote equal opportunity, or foster greater racial understanding. To the contrary, anti-racism is a radical ideology based on “Critical Race Theory” that was popularized recently by Ibram X. Kendi. It takes as its starting point the idea that it is impossible for people, laws, policies, or practices to ever be race-neutral. Anti-racism presumes that all white people are privileged and biased against people of color, and it demands that whites admit their racism and atone for it by challenging and opposing America’s founding principles. In addition, anti-racism calls for the creation of a government agency to ensure that anti-racist measures are built into all laws and government regulations.
BIPOC ˈbī-ˌpok noun:
Some say…BIPOC is an acronym that means Black, Indigenous, People of Color.
But really… The term BIPOC is a deliberate attempt to cut out Asians and light-skinned Hispanics, redefining them as “white-adjacent.” The term marginalizes people by classifying them on the basis of skin color.
Cisgender sis-ˈjen-dər noun:
Some say…A cisgender person is one whose sense of personal identity and gender correspond with the sex they were “assigned” at birth.
But really… The word cisgender is a made up word created and used by gender activists to refer to people who don’t identify as transgender—so, the 99 percent of the population who identify as the sex they were born.
Climate Change ˈklī-mət – ˈchānj noun:
Some say… Climate change is a man-made global crisis that imperils all living things on earth and which the government has the power and authority to halt.
But really… The climate has been changing ever since the earth was formed and will continue to change in the future. While climate change, both natural and man-made, poses some challenges, many proposed solutions are ineffectual and come at significant cost. Opportunistic anti-free market activists and politicians often use climate change as an excuse to push a radical regulatory agenda that would redistribute American’s wealth, leaving everyone less prosperous.
Some say…Climate change has become a global emergency that threatens human and animal extinction within the decade and, ultimately, the total destruction of the planet.
But really… “Climate emergency” is an alarmist phrase, not based on legitimate science, that is used by radical activists to scare the public into acquiescing to policies that will harm the economies and lives of those in Western nations. Child climate activist Greta Thunburg, who has been exploited by adult green activists, often uses this tactic by falsely suggesting humans have a very limited time left on the earth due to a looming climate disaster.
Critical Race Theory ˈkri-ti-kəl – ˈrās – ˈthē-ə-rē noun:
Some say…Critical Race Theory (CRT) is a philosophical framework for understanding racism and power dynamics in society.
But really…CRT is an academic discipline that starts from the premise that almost all of our current laws and institutions perpetuate white supremacy. While the American civil rights movement was premised on the quest for equal treatment, irrespective of race, CRT argues that equal treatment is itself discriminatory and eschews color-blindness as a form of oppression. Critical Race theorists view racial power as the driving force behind all behavior and seek to disrupt and destroy society’s primary institutions. CRT holds that America’s liberal constitutional order is a mere smokescreen for racial oppression and that the country’s race relations have not advanced at all in the last 75 years. In recent years, Ibram X. Kendi has repackaged and popularized this academic theory as “anti-racism.”
Cultural Appropriation ˈkəlch-rəl – ə-ˌprō-prē-ˈā-shən noun:
Some say…Cultural appropriation refers to the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of a culture’s customs, practices and/or ideas by members of other cultures, typically those who are part of more dominant cultural groups in society.
But really… Cultural appropriation is a woke creation designed to shame and punish people for showing interest in others or for emulating the traditions or practices of another culture. According to wokeism’s strict rules, people who are not members of a certain race or culture are not allowed to adopt that culture’s style or participate in its traditions and should be shunned or cancelled for doing so.
Diversity də-ˈvər-sə-tē noun:
Some say…Improving diversity means creating a space where people of all backgrounds and cultures feel welcome, safe, and respected. All institutions can benefit from diverse voices that may bring concepts to the table that were previously ignored or shut out.
But really… The woke want to impose quotas to ensure proportional representation of various groups in every facet of American life. They are not interested in creating genuinely inclusive and diverse environments, which would include a variety of viewpoints and room for disagreement. The woke claim that members of minority groups are actively harmed and made “unsafe” by certain (usually conservative) viewpoints. Creating a “diverse” space, therefore, often paradoxically means less diversity.
Diversity Training də-ˈvər-sə-tē – ˈtrā-niŋ noun:
Some say…Diversity training is intended to help employees become more culturally competent in order to better collaborate with colleagues, manage employers, and serve their customers.
But really… Diversity training is designed to indoctrinate people into woke thinking, make certain people feel guilty about their so-called “privilege,” and stoke racial and economic resentment and division among colleagues.
Equity ˈe-kwə-tē noun:
Some say…Equity recognizes each person’s unique advantages and disadvantages and takes affirmative steps to level the playing field.
But really… Equity is a race to the bottom for ALL. Equity rejects the concept of equal opportunity and, instead, demands equal outcomes. In education, this often means eliminating any indices of merit, such as class rank, grades, AP courses, or ability-level groupings for math. An equity approach assumes that any discrepancies in outcome are the result of discrimination—discrimination that needs to be countered by more discrimination of a different type.
Gender Identity ˈjen-dər – ī-ˈden-tə-tē noun:
Some say…The distinction between male and female is a social construct. Instead of classifying people by “arbitrary” markers (such as biology!), we should defer to an individual’s own internal sense of self.
But really… Biological sex differences are real and significant. Denying this scientific reality harms women and girls (particularly those who participate in female sports.)
Gender Binary ˈjen-dər – ˈbī-nə-rē noun:
Some say…“Gender binary” is outdated and that gender exists on a spectrum.
But really… Binary notions of sex are based on biology. Over 99 percent of humans are born either male or female. Even transgender individuals are attempting to transition from one side of the sex binary to the other—otherwise, what’s the point in transition? While it’s true that a boy may express feminine characteristics or vice versa, this does not disprove the existence of the sex binary, but rather highlights that there are multiple ways to be a boy or a girl.
Hate Group ˈhāt – ˈgrüp noun:
Some say…Conservative and libertarian policy groups are “hate groups.”
But really… Hate groups are small, often unorganized groups of people who seek to harm a demographic of individuals based on an immutable quality—race, gender, etc.—or due to a person’s political or religious beliefs. You can disagree with someone without being a hater or a member of a hate group.
Heteronormative ˌhē-tə-rō-ˈnȯr-mə-tiv adjective:
Some say…Heteronormative is a word that is used to express the notion that society has artificially conditioned people to believe that heterosexuality is the norm, and that heterosexuals are treated better in society at the expense of those who are either homosexual or who exist on a spectrum of attractions.
But really… The term “heteronormative” is used to criticize society for recognizing that the majority of humans are attracted to the opposite sex.
Some say…People behave according to unconscious stereotypes about different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
But really… The concept of implicit bias is used to suggest that your good intentions don’t matter. Even if you treat people equally, and even if you reject prejudice, you are nevertheless a racist, you just don’t realize it.
Inclusive in-ˈklü-siv adjective:
Some say… Inclusivity means ensuring that all parties or groups are involved in a process.
But really… Inclusivity rarely includes anyone who suffers from “wrongthink.”
Some say… A person’s identity is determined by the number of categories of oppression they belong to, such as race, sex, sexual orientation, and class, whether as oppressor or oppressed. For example, a black man may be subject to anti-black bias, but still benefit from his male privilege.
But really… A person’s experiences and views cannot be plotted on a graph of oppression and privilege. Intersectionality claims it recognizes the complexity of the individual but, in practice, it does not. It assumes that all blacks are same, all women are same, all gay people are same, and so on. It puts people into various “buckets,” typically focusing on victimization and division.
Some say…Racism is everywhere, even when you can’t see it, and even when you cannot identify a particular discriminatory practice or a particular racist person. It is all around you, all the time, in every organization to which you belong. Institutional racism is another way of saying “systemic racism.”
But really… Claims of institutional (or systemic) racism are a way to claim racism without having to provide evidence of discrimination.
Some say…People of color internalize society’s racist beliefs without even realizing it. Like a fish that doesn’t know it’s in water, people of color sometimes do not even realize that they are surrounded by racism.
But really… The concept of internalized racism serves to silence the views of those racial minorities who deny that racism has fundamentally shaped their lives or challenges in life. Additionally, “internalized racism” provides an explanation for why people of color don’t hold lockstep experiences or worldviews, but in doing so, denies them individualism and agency in shaping their own beliefs.
Male Privilege ˈmāl – ˈpriv-lij noun:
Some say…Male privilege refers to the many benefits that boys and men enjoy in society by virtue of being male.
But really… Male privilege is a woke term used to shut men down and make them feel ineligible to comment on certain topics.
Mansplaining ˈman-ˌsplān-niŋ verb:
Some say…Mansplaining is the patronizing way a man always explains things to a woman that makes her feel stupid or debased.
But really… The term “mansplaining” negates the incredible success of American women and is commonly used to silence men and avoid engaging in conversation or debate.
Microaggression ˌmī-krō-ə-ˈgre-shən noun:
Some say…People of color experience, on a daily basis, numerous indignities that add up over time to systemic oppression.
But really… Microaggression is a term used to convince people to look at everything through the lens of victimhood and reinterpret everyday words, images, or behaviors as harmful to them when, in fact, they are not.
Patriarchy ˈpā-trē-ˌär-kē noun:
Some say…American society is a patriarchy in which men control and dominate women.
But really… America is a society in which men and women are legally equal and women are free to determine their own destinies. In fact, in America today, women comprise a majority of the electorate, hold the majority of wealth, and earn the majority of advanced degrees.
Preferred Pronouns pri-ˈfərd – ˈprō-ˌnau̇ns noun:
Some say… Preferred pronouns are the pronoun an individual chooses rather than having a pronoun (he, she, her, him) assigned based on sex.
But really… Asking people for their “preferred pronouns” is a tactic used by gender activists to bully people into accepting gender ideology and abandoning the heretofore accepted rules of English grammar. Attempts to require people to use preferred pronouns often violate our right to free speech.
Racism ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm noun:
Some say…Racism is anything that harms, upsets, or offends someone who is a member of a minority group.
But really… Racism refers to the act of treating people unequally, judging people unfairly, or wishing people ill will because of the color of their skin, their ethnic background, or heritage. Unfortunately, people today use the term “racism” as a catch-all phrase for anything the Left disagrees with. The overuse of the terms is a tactic used to marginalize and demonize others.
Restorative Justice (in schools) ri-ˈstȯr-ə-tiv – ˈjə-stəs noun:
Some say… Restorative justice is more fair than traditional disciplinary systems that may disproportionately punish students of color. Restorative justice between perpetrator and victim after disciplinary incidents can be a learning experience for all involved.
But really… Restorative justice programs remove the traditional discipline practices that have been employed for generations in schools (detention, expulsion) and replace them with practices such as talk therapy and mediation sessions between victim and perpetrator. Districts with restorative justice programs have increased rates of in-school violence and fewer students reporting that they feel safe at school in surveys. In some tragic cases, restorative justice programs have played a role in allowing violent students to remain in the traditional school setting where they have harmed other students. That is NOT FAIR.
Safe Space ˈsāf – ˈspās noun:
Some say…It is necessary to set aside separate spaces where people can avoid engaging with those who are different from them or with whom they disagree. In these spaces, they are free from “harm.” A safe space can also refer to a space where someone can “recover” from the “trauma” they experienced listening to speech with which they disagree.
But really… Safe spaces are places for snowflakes who cannot deal with differing opinions or challenges to their groupthink. Rather than protect people, “safe spaces” actually cause harm by creating unhealthy fear, isolation, and division.
Sex ˈseks noun:
Some say… Sex is a social convention imposed by the medical establishment at birth.
But really… Sex refers to either of the two main categories (male and female) into which humans and most other living things are divided on the basis of genetics and biology.
Systemic Racism si-ˈste-mik – ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm noun:
Some say…Racism is woven into the fabric of America. “Systemic racism” refers to the idea that all of our most basic institutions oppress non-whites.
But really… Systemic racism is a way to suggest that there has been no improvement in American society and in the condition of black Americans in the past century. Like “institutional racism,” the concept of “systemic racism” presumes that racism is everywhere, even where you can’t see it. This provides the Left a never-ending stream of grievances and justification for new benefits and programs.
Triggered ˈtri-gərd adjective:
Some say… Being triggered is the state of panic or fear induced upon a person when they hear discussions of something that unearths stressful or upsetting memories.
But really… It’s an excuse used for acting like a toddler when you hear someone say something with which you disagree.
Some say…Cultural masculine norms are harmful to society.
But really… Toxic masculinity refers to any and all male attributes and is used to demonize men and promote the image of males as victimizers.
Whitesplaining ˈ(h)wīt – ˈsplān-niŋ verb:
Some say… Whitesplaining is the patronizing way in which white people explain things to a person of color.
But really… Whitesplaining is a woke phrase used to make people feel that they are racist even when they are not. It is a way to marginalize those who disagree and silence voices.
White-Adjacent ˈ(h)wīt – ə-ˈjā-sᵊnt adjective:
Some say… White-Adjacent refers to members of a minority group who ascribe to or parrot white supremacist messages and support white supremacist policies or who deny that systemic racism exists.
But really… White-Adjacent is a phrase utilized by Critical Race theorists to marginalize members of minority groups who have a light skin complexion or who disagree with radical leftist messaging on race, the Black Lives Matter organization, Critical Race Theory, or victimology. It is often used to describe Asians and light-skinned Hispanics.
White Fragility ˈ(h)wīt – ˈfra-jəl-ə-dē noun:
Some say… White people exhibit “white fragility” (or discomfort) when they object to the characterization of all whites as privileged.
But really… White fragility is a term, coined by writer Robin DiAngelo, that is used to shut down, silence and marginalize people who disagree with Critical Race Theory and notions of white privilege. If you express disagreement, you are really indicating that you are too fragile to accept your own racism. White fragility, like many other woke concepts, is an Orwellian concept that is impossible to disprove. Indeed, any pushback about the concept is considered proof that it exists. DiAngelo has made millions from the sales of her 2018 book, White Fragility, and from speaking fees and corporate training sessions that pressure white people to admit their privilege and racism.
White Privilege ˈ(h)wīt – ˈpriv-lij noun:
Some say…White people enjoy many benefits and privileges in society by virtue of their skin color.
But really…Charges of “white privilege” are designed to shut down and marginalize people by making them feel guilty, unwelcome, and ineligible to comment on certain topics. The constant drumbeat of white privilege can create a feeling of hopelessness in non-white individuals who are told the deck is always stacked against them when, in fact, it is not.
White Supremacy ˈ(h)wīt – sə-ˈpre-mə-sē noun:
Some say…Any culturally insensitive remark or politically incorrect viewpoint is an act of “white supremacy.” They further contend that white supremacy is imprinted on all of our nation’s institutions and that these institutions, thus, protect white people’s power at the expense of people of color.
But really… White supremacy refers to a pernicious and discredited belief that white people are genetically superior to people of other races. Woke ideologues overuse the term “white supremacy” to suggest that even well-intentioned Americans are part of a cabal of Klansmen, determined to oppress people of color. The overuse of the term trivializes the despicable nature of white supremacy in an attempt to inflate the minuscule number of Americans who actually harbor such views. Too often, it’s just a way to shut down open discussion and debate.
