Based Underground is now a conservative news aggregator AND curated newsletter.
(DCNF)—Oprah Winfrey’s speech at the Democratic National Convention was widely praised, but her analogy comparing Democrats to firefighters is deeply flawed. The left has often been the arsonist, igniting divisive racial policies that undermine social cohesion and meritocracy.
A look at Vice President Kamala Harris’ record reveals she will be the one holding the metaphorical matches in this dangerous game.
Democrats claim to extinguish the flames of racism, but they are, in fact, stoking the fires of division by perpetuating the very stereotypes they claim to fight against. This is evident in their handling of race and meritocracy.
Michelle Obama’s DNC speech echoed familiar progressive themes about systemic oppression and racial inequality. While these issues — when it comes to our public educational system — are real and need attention, the solutions proposed often exacerbate the problems.
Take, for instance, the fire service, a field where lives are on the line, and the progressive left’s focus on diversity over competence would have dangerous repercussions. When hiring and promotions are based more on skin color than ability, merit is sidelined, and mediocrity is tolerated.
This reflects a troubling notion that minorities require special treatment because they cannot compete on a level playing field. This mindset is not only condescending but also hazardous.
It suggests that minority individuals cannot achieve excellence on their own merits and need lowered standards. This undermines capable individuals and endangers the public, compromising critical services like firefighting, police and the medical profession.
Elon Musk has described the “woke mind virus” as one of the biggest threats to modern civilization, characterizing it as a toxic ideology that undermines merit, divides people by identity and stifles free thought.
The evolution of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) training exemplifies this shift. In the 1990s, diversity training was about following the law, treating each other with respect and building consensus around a shared purpose.
It was about coming together despite differences, understanding proper behavior at work, and advancing together. Today, however, DEI training often emphasizes identity over individuality and grievance over gratitude. It has shifted from fostering inclusion to imposing a Marxist-inspired ideology that divides people into oppressors and oppressed, deepening the very divisions it claims to heal.
- Preserve your retirement with physical precious metals. Receive your free gold guide from Genesis Precious Metals to learn how.
Eric Holder, when serving as U.S. attorney general, once criticized America for being a “nation of cowards” in discussing race. Yet, true cowardice lies in refusing to challenge the progressive orthodoxy that equates race with victimhood and merit with privilege. This narrative brands dissenters as racists or worse and perpetuates a harmful cycle.
The left’s broader agenda also mirrors this flawed approach. They claim to save the “cat” — the vulnerable and marginalized — but their policies often trap these individuals in failed schools controlled by progressive unions. This approach keeps low-income children in failing educational environments, reinforcing dependency and victimhood instead of offering genuine opportunities for success.
Moreover, the civil rights issue of our time is this very failure of our education system, perpetuated by entrenched union control. Breaking the teachers’ union monopoly and providing parents with real choices is essential to offering children the best educational opportunities.
Empowering individuals to rise through merit and personal responsibility, rather than coddling them with the “soft bigotry of low expectations,” is the real path to progress.
The progressive left’s focus on identity over ability is not the solution it claims to be. Instead of extinguishing the flames of racism, it has exacerbated them, creating a society where race often overshadows merit.
To move forward, we must reject this flawed ideology and embrace a future where merit and character define a person’s worth. The real firefighters are those who champion equality, merit and individual responsibility, not those who perpetuate a cycle of dependency and division.
Frank Ricci was the lead plaintiff in the landmark Supreme Court case Ricci v Destefano. He retired as a Battalion Chief in New Haven CT. He has testified before Congress and is the author of the book, Command Presence.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Featured Image: Screen Capture/CSPAN
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact [email protected].
Smoke And Mirrors: What Happens After Biden’s Economic Manipulations Disappear?
by Brandon Smith
There is a popular school of thought that believes most economic stability is purely psychological; that the health of the economy relies on the population NOT knowing the true state of things. In other words, “ignorance is bliss.” I partially agree with the premise but only under certain conditions. If…
Kamala Harris Has a ‘Conversation’ With the National Association of Black Journalists
by Red State
Vice President and selected Democrat nominee Kamala Harris did not have to wait like former President and GOP nominee Donald Trump for the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) to get their technology together on Tuesday. They were right on time for this “Conversation with Vice President Kamala Harris” in…
Vaccine-Injured Americans Fight to Hold Biden-Harris Admin Accountable Over Censorship Campaign
by The Blaze
Novel COVID-19 vaccines advertised as “safe and effective” left multitudes of Americans injured or worse during the pandemic. Some of those individuals still physically capable went online to express their concerns, share their life-changing experiences, and engage with others medically compromised by government mandates and experimental science. However, in many…
Newsletter Sponsor
Concerns about the economy and the upcoming elections have prompted many Americans to seek the economic “higher ground” of physical precious metals to protect their retirement.
Do NOT fall for the gimmicks like “free silver” or “top secret IRS loopholes.”
Work with a faith-driven company to secure your wealth or retirement with physical gold and silver.
Contact Genesis Gold Group today and receive a free, definitive gold guide.
ABC News Hits the Panic Button After Sworn Statement Proving the Debate Was Rigged, David Muir Does Damage Control
by Joe Kovacs, WND
(WND News Center)—ABC News is apparently pressing the panic button in the wake of fierce criticism of its Sept. 10 presidential debate between former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. A sworn statement by an ABC News whistleblower exposing network bias favoring Harris continues to be in focus regarding…
The FBI Should Visit the New York Times About Instigating More Anti-Trump Violence
by The Federalist
If the price to pay as a Republican running for president is the media blaming you for being nearly assassinated, they are culpable. The FBI should consider stopping by the homes of New York Times reporters Michael Barbaro and Peter Baker after their slew of public remarks about Donald Trump…
IT NEVER ENDS! Soros-Funded Group Doubling Down on Censorship Efforts Ahead of 2024 Election
by Newsbusters
A radical censorship-obsessed group financed by leftist billionaire George Soros is doubling down on efforts to interfere in the 2024 election by turning the screws on Big Tech to censor speech and by manipulating journalists. Free Press, fueled with at least $2 million by Soros between 2017 and 2021, announced…
NYPD: 81-Year-Old Woman Knocked Unconscious in Random Attack, Suspect on the Loose
by Breitbart
An elderly New York City woman was injured in an unprovoked attack when a random man sucker punched her in the head while she was walking her dog, surveillance footage shows. The victim, 81, was out with her dog on Friday just after 7:00 p.m. near W. 66th St. and…
Wi-Fi Routers Are ‘Significant EMF Emitters’ and ‘Should Be Away From Livingrooms/Bedrooms’ — Study
by Infowars
A recent scientific study on the specific absorption rate (SAR) values in the brain and body from electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) emitted by modern electronic devices indicate that certain tech devices, such as Wi-Fi routers, should not be in the same rooms that people spend much of their time in, such…
America First Legal Investigates Biden Admin’s Potential Knowledge of Second Trump Shooter
by Daily Caller
The conservative group America First Legal (AFL) is investigating whether the Biden-Harris administration was monitoring Ryan Wesley Routh, the suspect who allegedly attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump on Sunday. AFL announced Tuesday it was launching a “multi-front” investigation into any records the Biden-Harris administration may possess on Routh….
With a Male Player, San Jose State University Women’s Volleyball Is Having Its Best Season Ever
by The Blaze
The women’s volleyball team at San Jose State University remained undefeated and is now 6-0 following its latest victory. The team is off to its best start in program history, according to OutKick, and continued its hot streak with a 3-2 win over fellow NCAA Division I Santa Clara. The…
Klaus Schwab Calls for “Global Collaboration” to Combat “Misinformation”
by Reclaim the Net
It will take serious research and serious access to information ever to figure out which came first, the WEF chicken, or the WEF egg. But this unelected, informal group of highly influential global elites has often been able to either seemingly predict, or seemingly help make happen – some major…
‘I Reached Out’: Chris Cuomo Reveals What He Told Trump After Second Assassination Attempt
by Daily Caller
NewsNation host Chris Cuomo on Monday said he expressed condolences to Donald Trump after the second attempt on his life on Sunday, saying the former president “doesn’t deserve” to face assassination attempts. Federal and local officials confirmed Sunday the arrest of 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh for allegedly attempting to assassinate…
ABC’s ‘World News Tonight’ Ratings Tank After Hosts’ ‘One-Sided’ Moderating of Trump-Harris Debate
by Harold Hutchison, Daily Caller News Foundation
(DCNF)—Ratings for ABC’s “World News Tonight” fell by over 10% since the Sept. 10 debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris hosted by ABC News hosts David Muir and Linsey Davis. The Disney-owned network’s broadcast news program hosted by Muir that airs at 6:30 p.m. EDT…
Federal Loopholes Allow China to Buy Land Near Sensitive Ports, Labs, and Coast Guard Facilities, Prompting Congressional Concern
by Free Beacon
China and other foreign adversaries are still permitted to purchase U.S. land near sensitive Coast Guard facilities, ports, and Energy Department labs, exposing national security gaps that lawmakers say enable hostile regimes to conduct espionage operations on American soil. The Treasury Department’s Committee of Foreign Investment in the United States…
Iran’s Ambassador to Lebanon Reportedly Injured by Exploding Pager
by Red State
I’m not sure who had exploding pagers on their Bingo cards for 2024, but why not? As Bonchie reported earlier: In one of the most unbelievable developments of 2024, Israel somehow hacked into the pagers and cell phones of Hezbollah fighters and caused them to explode. News of hundreds of…
Trump Issues a “Cease and Desist” to Election Cheaters, Promises Retribution for Those Who Don’t Heed the Warning
by Fred Lucas
(The Daily Signal)—As early voting begins this week in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, former President Donald Trump posted another warning to cheaters on Truth Social. “CEASE & DESIST,” the 45th president posted Tuesday. “I, together with many Attorneys and Legal Scholars, am watching the Sanctity of the 2024 Presidential…
Lawmaker Warns of Rising Trend of ‘Hostage Diplomacy’ After China Releases Us Citizen
by The Epoch Times
The top Republican on the Foreign Affairs Committee said “hostage diplomacy” is on the rise, a day after the Chinese regime released an American citizen and pastor who had been detained for nearly 20 years. The State Department announced on Sept. 15 that David Lin, who was on a missionary…
Hillary Clinton Calls for Americans Who Disagree With Democrat Narratives to Be Imprisoned
by Cindy Harper, Reclaim The Net
(Reclaim The Net)—Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has has decided to ignore the First Amendment and has advocated for punitive measures aimed at Americans who contribute to the spread of what she calls “propaganda.” Speaking to MSNBC on Tuesday, Clinton suggested that holding American individuals accountable through civil…
CBS Ties 2nd Trump Assassination Attempt to Springfield, Buries Threat Hoaxes
by Newsbusters
With the aftermath of the second assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump drawing significant coverage, the Springfield “dogs and cats” story is beginning to recede from view- except on CBS, which chose to flog the story for at least one more night. Watch CBS Evening News anchor Norah O’Donnell’s…
Exposing the Lethal Fraud of Gender Ideology: Dr. Ann Gillies’ Documentary Unmasks the SOGI Agenda in Schools
by RAIR Foundation
Dr. Ann Gillies, who was featured in a RAIR Dr. Ann Gillies, who RAIR featured in an article on July 3rd, has created a 45-minute documentary exposing the dangerous and sometimes lethal fraud of SOGI (Sexual Orientation and Gender Ideology), which is being promoted in both Canadian public and Catholic…