Over Morning Coffee

It’s fair time in Iowa, and all across the Hawkeye State folks are flocking to the fairgrounds. After last summer’s lockdown, they’re looking forward to seeing old friends and neighbors at the exhibits, food stands, shows and carnivals. Excitement is building, and this season is expected to set attendance records.

Over in Politick County, the midway is attracting large crowds and creating quite a stir. Unusual merchandise is on display, and new games offer challenging ways to win prizes. Fairgoers are skeptical as they stroll down the dusty aisles, but many grow interested in the sales pitch and move closer to the front.

Here, they find the mysterious Land of Wokeness. Carnival barkers at the gate make startling claims that seduce the curious. “Step right up! “Learn about social justice and racial inequities!” “Hear the untold truth about American history!” “Find Utopia!” Infatuated with promises of a perfect world, customers plunk down the price of admission – every last ounce of common sense – and step behind the curtain.

Once inside, they are greeted by an array of colorful tents, booths and games beckoning them to try a variety of shows and challenging competitions. Before venturing further, however, they must get their identity stickers and privilege cards.

The first stop is the Identity Politics booth. Here, players throw darts at balloons labeled with descriptors that categorize them, such as Race, Ethnicity, Gender, Religion and Family. If the balloon pops, and the sticker inside describes them, they get to keep it. For example, stickers inside “Family” balloons might read “single-parent,” “two-parent,” or “foster care” – experiences that made life more difficult for some than others.

Next, players walk through the Intersectionality maze where they meet up with other players wearing the same stickers. They then form identity groups and move on to the Life Experiences Obstacle Course.

It is here that players get their privilege cards. The obstacle course is filled with challenges to be overcome as one moves through life, such as Race, Sexuality, Education, Ability, Class and Culture. If participants are able to clear an obstacle without any problem, they receive a privilege card.

White contestants, for example, will easily clear the Race obstacle and receive a “White Privilege” card. Racial minorities, on the other hand, will have difficulty surmounting this obstacle because it is assumed they struggled in life. They will not receive a privilege card here.

While people with the most stickers won at the Intersectionality maze, the opposite happens at the Life Experiences Obstacle Course where those with the most privilege cards lose. Those with fewer cards have a better chance of winning in the next booth. Folks caught using privilege cards to take unfair advantage in the games will be escorted from the midway by Cancel Culture security officers.

With identity stickers on clothes and privilege cards in hand, fairgoers are now ready for the Critical Race Theory tent. Upon entering, they are labeled and divided into groups. All players with White Privilege cards are sent to the “Oppressor” group. Those without White Privilege cards – racial minorities – go to the “Oppressed” group. A third group, smaller than the others, is called the “Allies.” Oppressor group members may be allowed to move here if they show genuine empathy toward the Oppressed players.

All groups listen to a version of American History that is a sordid tale of slavery, discrimination and cruelty dating back to 1619. America, they are told, is systemically racist and has been since its founding. The White Oppressors are blamed and made to feel guilty. At the same time, minorities are reminded of the suffering their ancestors experienced, and begin to believe they, too, are victims. Animosity builds between groups.

The audience is in shock, having never heard any of this before. However, questions are not allowed. There is no discussion of the progress made in racial equality over our 250-year history. No credit is given to the work of the Abolitionists, the sacrifices of Union soldiers who fought to end slavery, or the advances made by Civil Rights marchers. With Cancel Culture security guards standing ready to deal with folks who trigger the audience by opposing CRT, players leave the tent in silence.

Exiting the midway, they regain a grip on reality and realize they are the same people who entered the fairgrounds earlier – friends, neighbors and co-workers. They tear off the stickers and throw away the privilege cards. They have all faced challenges in life, and some have had more difficulties than others, but they are neither oppressors nor oppressed.

Politick County fairgoers were not hoodwinked by the provocateurs of Wokeism. They know the quest for racial equality is ongoing. It cannot be fixed by further dividing the country. It can only be resolved through mutual respect and a willingness to work together toward a more just America.

Bonnie Ewoldt, of rural Milford, is a retired teacher, news junkie and freelance writer. Her opinion pieces have appeared online and in newspapers across Iowa and neighboring states. Visit her blog at http://www.bonniesblogbox.wordpress.com.