One definition of “woke” today, according to Merriam-Webster’s dictionary, is being “aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).”

For the liberal it means seeing the inequities that exist. For the conservative it’s being used as a pejorative (bad) label for liberals/progressives.

What is America all about? Hopefully conservatives and liberals can agree two of the founding principles are equality and liberty.

Yet, it seems like conservatives to the far right are attacking those principles, e.g. passing laws that take away reproductive freedoms or prevent teaching awareness of our Black history or the existence of LGBTQ+ in schools. Certainly these are examples of restricted speech that violate First Amendment principles in the name of religious values imposed through government decree.

The progressive left is not exempt from restricting liberty either, for example forcing colleges to cancel speakers who lecture on conservative principles and discriminating against those who promote a conservative culture without exception. Liberal ideals should take the principles of equality and liberty and make it a living culture.

I’m not sure what conservatives are trying to do right now, but it seems to be in opposition. That’s my woke moment.

Robert Limoges, Poland

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