Dear Editor: Woke

Dear Editor,

In recent online discussions in town regarding policies recently perpetrated by our illustrious school administration, I was accused of being “woke.” I found this to be quite upsetting as, until now, I had subscribed to Hess’s description, “Woke is being the inverse of politically correct and wanting everyone to know just how correct you are.”

I have never in my life striven for political correctness and have rebelled against it. I always regarded “woke” by its current definition and use as “progressive or left-wing attitudes or practices, especially those opposing social injustice or discrimination that are viewed as doctrine, self-righteous, pernicious or insincere. Hence, such attitudes or practices are seen as constituting a collective social movement or agenda.”

While fuming over this, I had a chance to discuss “wokeism” with another member of the community. He described it as just an “awakening,” and I found myself going off on a far-right babble of wokeism that I had gleaned over the years and only half-heartedly believed. We ended the discussion with there being no definitive definition. I set out to prove him wrong.

Surprise, I found no less than five different definitions. It is a noun, used lately “as a disparaging promotion of liberal progressive ideology and policy as an expression of sensitivity to systemic injustices and practices.” Most believe this a phrase recently coined by Elon Musk in 2021; however, this term has been around since the 1930s, with its first recorded use being the protest song “Scarboro Boys” by Lead Belly. Merriam-Webster defines “To be woke” in the Black community as someone who is informed, educated, and conscious of social injustice and racial inequality.”

In that context, and in light of current practices of outright bullying displayed by our school administration and the perpetuation of systemic bullying within Whitehall’s schools, I would like to say, Yes, I am “Woke.” I am aware of their current attempt to cancel a member of this community. A member, I might add, who has had nothing but the best interest in Whitehall’s kids, a person who has done more for this town in the six years I have known her than those attacking her have done in their entire lives.

For this, I will gladly say that I am “woke.” I would also like to say to our Whitehall School Superintendent, Principals, School Board members, and any others who want to pile on the Bully Wagon: Shame on you. You’re not elevating the future of Whitehall’s youth, you’re dragging them back to the dark ages and have created your own Spanish Inquisition. We might want to rename our high school to Torquemada High, with a new motto placed above the doors: “Abandon hope all who enter here.” What a sterling legacy you are building...

Sincerely,

STANLEY OLSEN

Whitehall, Montana