The Peculiar Conformity of Modern Radicals

Commentary The modern “radical” moves in a peculiar microcosm. Ideological bubbles of wokeism have sprung up around the nation—from college campuses and corporations, to Silicon Valley and even some major cities. Inside them is a uniformly staunch sense of radicalism, originality, and non-conformity. For the radical leftist, the surrounding world is a bastion of political assurance. University professors and curricula proselytize their same beliefs. Workplaces enforce training to ensure collective values are upheld. Corporate activism in the form of billboards, commercials, and public statements, toe the same ideological line. Even Ben and Jerry’s ice cream vehemently upholds a political ideology. Public figures, from athletes to movie stars, do the same. Late night television, award shows, sporting events, and the Hollywood machine all concur. These ideologies dominate dialogue on social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram, as Big Tech’s algorithms and oligarchs scramble to fact-check, censor, and squash out dissent. Social …