Barbara Held writes that the woke agenda gets maligned when referred to as “woke ideology” (“Commentary: Why ‘woke ideology’ is an oxymoron – and why that matters,” Feb. 17).

For me, her words were wasted; she appears to be living in her own little world. Typical of the “woke,” particularly those in academia, Dr. Held assumes the woke ideology is a given, fully accepted, a new way to think about everything past, present and future. Get on the wagon, or get out of the way and shut up.

Dr. Held’s purpose is to slam Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential presidential candidate. Her efforts would be much more useful if she bothered to understand that not everyone lives in her little world, and most no longer look to academia for leadership, nor journalism; and that “wokeism” is an entirely new way of thinking. It needs explanation, it needs debate and for sure it needs refinement – like anything new.

Calling out DeSantis for rejecting the woke agenda is typical cancel culture baloney. Dr. Held should understand that the woke are not in charge of the world. If Dr. Held wants to make the world a better place, she should talk with people outside academia and find out what they might want to learn about the woke ideology, agenda or whatever it is called.

Brian C. Jones
Gorham


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