Recently I had the good fortune of attending a presentation by Michael Whatley, national GOP chair. It was held at North Carolina State University in the Talley Center, a huge building devoted to all kinds of student activities. The event, sponsored by Turning Point USA, was well attended, primarily by students, with a handful of adults from the community mixed in.
Chairman Whatley carefully explained Republican positions on crucial issues of the day. While not an extrovert, once he gets rolling and into his presentation, he is quite a compelling speaker, offering excellent logic, coherence, and clarity.
Anything Worthwhile to Contribute?
A small group of students in attendance were present only to protest. They showed no desire to listen to Mr. Whatley. They brought whiny little noisemakers that subtly filled the air when points were made with which they disagreed.
I got up from my seat to speak with the security officer in the room. I asked, “At what point does their disruption cross the line? Because they are making it difficult for me to stay tuned to what Mr. Whatley is saying.” I was told that these students would be given a warning and if they proceeded any further, they would be escorted out of the meeting room.
The overarching observation I have about student protesters, and this goes back to my days as an underclassman at the University of Connecticut, is that they attend with little intention of hearing what the opposing party has to say. This tendency is a fundamental difference between the Left and the Right.
Listen and Learn
As someone who leans right on most issues, if I hear a liberal presenter, I will at least cogitate over what he or she has said, and discern whether or not there is merit to the observation. What I will not do is call out or try to disrupt the proceedings. It was true when I was younger and it’s true now, for me and for the thousands of conservatives I have observed over many decades.
During my days at the UConn and today, as a participant in political discussions in central North Carolina, I have noticed that those on the Left have zero tolerance for even briefly contemplating what is being told to them and in weighing whether or not it has merit.
Leftists generally are firm, often mistakenly, in what they believe to be true. As such, no one can tell them anything because indeed, they already know it all!
Shouting as the Ultimate Recourse
At one point, a pro-Palestinian student posed a question, “Why should some students on campuses be deported?” When I had a chance to speak, I mentioned that the student who had spoken before me failed to include some key fact relating to students being deported: Most of these students were here on student visas, and some were unlawfully occupying areas on campus, blocking other students from getting to class, sometimes engaging in acts of violence, and being intimidating particularly to Jewish students.
When I said this, the protesters in the room howled in disbelief, especially when I cited the intimidation of Jewish students. One proclaimed that this was not happening at all. Maybe she had no time to watch the Congressional hearings on the topic in which well-documented cases of Jewish students being intimidated on campuses across the nation were highlighted.
Perhaps she only reads news sources from the Left. Actually, I’m kidding here, there is no way she reads anything on the Right, and thus has a parallaxed view national and world events.
Worthwhile For Sure
I was pleased to have been invited to this session and felt that Chairman Whatley spoke clearly and convincingly. I had the opportunity to briefly speak with him as he exited the meeting room, and said, “I think you changed some minds tonight, not those protesters in the front row, but many others in attendance.” He gave me a quick smile as he departed.
I didn’t know much about Mr. Whatley prior to attending the session so I looked him up online afterward. He has a JD degree, an MA in theology, an MA in religion, and a BS in history all from top schools. Technically and academically, he is quite sound and he showed it.
Considering all the other places he could have been, the attendees in that session had a rare treat. When else are you able to interact with someone who has had a profound impact on the 2024 election and current national affairs?
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Jeff Davidson is “The Work-Life Balance Expert®” and the premier thought leader on work-life balance, effectiveness, integration, shift, blend, and harmony. Jeff speaks to organizations that seek to enhance their overall productivity by improving the effectiveness of their people. He is the author of Breathing Space, Perfect Timing, Simpler Living, Dial it Down, and Everyday Project Management. Visit BreathingSpace.com or call 919-932-1996 for more information on Jeff’s keynote speeches and seminars.
