We stand transparent about our motivations: we are champions of liberal values and Enlightenment Rationalism. Reason & liberty are paramount-whether threatened ...
"We Are Not Chinese" w/Taiwanese Commentator Lōa Ēng Hôa
In my discussion with the popular Taiwanese figure Lōa Ēng Hôa, we explored various aspects of Taiwan. A key theme for Lōa is the importance of retaining the Taiwanese language, which he sees as vital in the face of Mandarin's dominance. (He views Mandarin as "the language of colonizers.") Lōa emphasizes that language is of ultimate importance and believes that the best way to wage war is through words. We also discussed whether Taiwanese people consider themselves part of China or culturally Chinese, and how this perception impacts traditional Taiwanese culture. During my time in Taiwan, I observed the cleanliness and civility of society, especially in contrast to some leftwing cities in America, like Portland, Oregon and Los Angelos, California. Lōa posed an intriguing question: Is this civility a result of being "well-behaved," or is it a reflection of tyranny? Watch this episode on YouTube.
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"China Will Become the Next Superpower Immediately" | Jesús
Jesús is a prominent cultural commentator and has one of the most popular Youtube Channels in Taiwan. His work includes man on the street interviews and insightful commentary on Taiwanese culture, immigration, and Taiwan's relationship with China. We discussed the troubling phenomenon that I describe as the "epidemic of cowardice," which is affecting not only the United States but the entire Western world—the consequence of this cowardice emboldens tyrants. Every time you fail to stand up you give away freedoms. It is particularly vital to not give into the fear tactics of any regime. Stand up for what is right. This is one reason we went to Taiwan, whose citizens live in fear of a Chinese invasion. Watch this episode on YouTube.
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How ‘Power + Prejudice’ Redefined Racism | Jake Klein
In my interview with Jake Klein, we discuss his book Redefining Racism: How Racism Became Power + Prejudice. I read a pre-release of Jake’s manuscript some time ago, and I was struck by how thorough and well-researched it was. He does a fantastic job of really explaining the genesis of this concept and how it crept into our discourse. Watch this episode on YouTube.
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Is Science a Tool of Colonization? | Kendall Clements
While in New Zealand, I had the opportunity to interview Kendall Clements, a professor of biology at the University of Auckland. His name may sound familiar because, in 2021, Clements was the lead author of a controversial letter titled "In Defence of Science," published in The New Zealand Listener. The letter (commonly referred to as the “Listener Letter”) was a direct response to a proposed curriculum that sought to promote the discussion and analysis of how science has been used to support the dominance of Eurocentric views, including its role in the “colonization” of Māori peoples and the “suppression” of Māori knowledge. The curriculum also proposed that science itself, as a Western European invention, could be viewed as a tool of European dominance over Māori and other indigenous groups. We discussed this and more. Watch this episode on YouTube.
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Ditching Equity and Reclaiming Our Schools with Elizabeth Rata
While in New Zealand, I had the privilege of sitting down with Elizabeth Rata, a sociologist of education at the University of Auckland. Elizabeth is the Director of the Knowledge in Education Research Unit (KERU), within the School of Critical Studies at the Faculty of Education and Social Work—and she is based! Her research includes knowledge in the curriculum, knowledge politics, ethnic revivalism, Māori education, research methods, and the history of New Zealand education. Watch this episode on YouTube.
We stand transparent about our motivations: we are champions of liberal values and Enlightenment Rationalism. Reason & liberty are paramount-whether threatened by tyranny in places like China or elsewhere-because they are essential to human dignity and prosperity. The Enlightenment, with it's emphasis on error-correction, is the philosophical project that has cultivated the wealth & freedom of the modern world. The West has been a custodian of this tradition of criticism, producing societies full rapid, stable, and genuine progress. The clearer people become on this connection, the more they'll recognize that these principles are what enable our civilization to be freer, safer, and more prosperous. This is the set of ideas we are committed to spreading.~ Reid Nicewonder