The real world isn’t always the nicest place. Or at least, that’s what comic entertainer Adam Carolla tells the House of Representatives’ Oversight Committee in this timely clip.
For years now, American colleges and universities have been insulating students from allegedly offensive and/or politically incorrect viewpoints in the name of shielding them from life’s harsher realities, including prejudice, inequality, sexism and homophobia. Many of these schools have created what are called “safe spaces” — areas on campus or in specific buildings where discussions, media and propaganda about particularly “hot button” issues are not allowed.
But as Carolla argues, this has had the effect of making our nation’s educated youth weaker, not stronger. Instead of shielding our kids from these controversial or taboo subjects, we should be exposing them to them, so they can become familiar with what these potential ills look and feel like, as opposed to trying to pretend they don’t exist.
Although many liberals worry that these students could be vulnerable to being emotionally disturbed by or seduced to “the wrong side” of many of these issues, the fact of the matter is that maturation and critical thinking skills aren’t fostered by handing someone a stuffed animal (which some schools — such as Washington, D.C.’s Georgetown University — have actually supplied to supposedly anxiety-ridden students).
For many schools, administrators have claimed to be worried about offending students or parents who are paying for an increasingly expensive 24/7, all-encompassing experience, but as Carolla claims, a good education means learning that the real world isn’t always a perfect, pretty place.
Watch as the comic radio and TV personality delivers this vital message to our lawmakers.
