OPINION

of social and political unfairness.” e operating principle of the American democratic experiment is to incrementally build upon progress in a social context that allows for growth in our desire to expand freedom, liberty, and human rights. Expanding these rights to all requires the system’s ability to eliminate injustice. We cannot sleepwalk our way through change, rather we must awaken and take action to implement it.

Rockslide causes closure of Malibu Canyon

Authorities responded to the incident before the rockslide occured; no injuries were reported

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. e important thing is not to stop questioning.” —

Albert Einstein

I remember the rst time I heard the word “woke” in a political context and wondered how it di ered from the more traditional de nition of being awake. In researching the historical maturation of this rather awkward-sounding word, I was surprised that while being hip at the current time, it actually has quite an interesting lineage tracing back 100 years.

e Malibu Community Labor Exchange relocates its trailer and receives a restroom facility e City of Malibu, LA County, and SMC worked together to support MCLE

Elijah Watson, senior news and culture reporter for a hip hop Seattle music station, has de ned the Black American colloquialism as follows, “To be woke is to be Black” as he embarked on a journey six years ago to plot its origins. A short timeline traces back to the Roaring ‘20s when philosopher and social activist Marcus Garvey issued a call to Pan Africanism, calling on Blacks to “wake up.”

In 1938, blues musician Huddle Ledbetter, known as Lead Belly, used the phrase “stay woke” in his song about the Scottsboro Boys, which would render two Supreme Court verdicts that would pave the way for the civil rights movement.

Play Ball! Malibu Little League kicks o 2023 spring baseball and softball season

Local baseball legend honored on Opening Day of the 66th Malibu Little League season

In 1940, in West Virginia, the Negro United Mine Workers went on strike for equitable pay when a Black union leader intoned “we were asleep. But we will stay woke from now on.”

In 1962 Harlem-based writer William Melvin Kelly wrote an article in the New York Times entitled “If You’re Woke, You Dig It,” while highlighting the phenomenon of Black American slang being appropriated by white people in the Beat generation. In 1972 author Barry Beckham used the word “woke” in his 1972 play “Garvey Lives.”

Former Webster PTA president sings in the Los Angeles Gay Men’s Chorus

Familiar face in Malibu has upcoming show and performs outreach with the lauded choir e quintessential learning curve towards justice is a seminal hallmark of our democratic system. What distinguishes America is its embrace, even if in a gradual and incremental way, of discovering and propagating growth towards a more equitable society. To be woke, then, in this context would be a willingness of our society to grow and learn to accept the need for tolerance and diversity and to come together in a willing acceptance of the melting pot theory, which has been a feature of our societal growth since the 1780s.

In 2012 #staywoke raised awareness about unjusti ed killings of Black people. In 2014, Black Lives Matter (BLM) used #staywoke as a call to action about police shootings of Blacks. Two years later a BET (Black Entertainment Television) documentary called “Stay Woke” was released and MTV News included “woke” in a list of 10 words teenagers should know.

But what exactly is the de nition for those, particularly those in my aging generation, who may be curious or confused?

Unfortunately, our current political environment is split over this basic proposition. Republican candidate Nikki Haley weighed in at last week’s Conservative Political Action Conference by decrying wokeness as “a virus more dangerous than any pandemic, hands down.”

Potential Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has let it be known that Florida is “where woke goes to die.”

Another potential Republican presidential candidate, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, staked his victory on railing against teaching inclusive history in public schools. Can eliminating curricula that encourages our children to think and exercise their skills at argumentation and debate be a good thing for future generations? Banning books refutes such progress; can burning books be far behind?

A recently released USA TODAY/Ipsos Poll found that 56 percent of Americans say that woke means “to be informed, educated on, and aware of social injustices …yet 39 percent of those surveyed agree with the Republican de nition which asserts wokeness “to be overly politically correct and police others’ words.” e raging battle over cancel culture, critical race theory, transgender rights, human rights, racism (both actual and systematic), worker’s rights, and other injustices will require opening our collective minds to civil debate and vigorous discussion. e dictionary de nition is “aware of social problems such as racism and inequality.” Sounds good! But wait, no one espouses racism or inequality, and the radical left has rede ned what those mean. ey even label the statement “Skin color doesn’t matter. We’re all people.” as a “microinvalidation.” You read that right: stating that race should be irrelevant is itself racist.

What is “socially woke”?

According to Ali Hodge, education and equity writer, a white teacher (only white ones, mind you) making an inadvertent mistake in pronouncing the name of a nonwhite student, is racist. “Microaggressions”, introduced by Dr. Chester Pierce in the 1960s, have evolved into an intimidating litany of forbidden statements.

Don’t ask someone where they are from, that’s racist. A teacher saying, “If you want to succeed, all you have to do is make an e ort,” is racist according to leftists, because the teacher isn’t “acknowledging the inherent privileges of white students” according to Healthline Magazine.

Apparently the “woke” crowd wants us to revisit that famous “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. King, where he envisioned a society that was colorblind and all children would be judged by the content of their character, as opposed to the color of their skin. is January, after being rightfully mocked and ridiculed, Stanford University took down its “Elimination of Harmful Language” website. Pity, it had so many insights to the madness of the ultra-sensitive; for example, don’t say

“American” but rather “U.S. citizen,” to avoid insinuating we are the most important country in the Americas. Don’t say “master list” because masters enslaved people. Don’t write a “white paper” because that term is subconsciously racialized.

In July 2022, Berkeley Law professor Khiara Bridges chastised Senator Josh Hawley at a judiciary hearing as “transphobic” because he stated that only women can have babies. ink it’s just semantics? Last year Senate Democrats rejected verbiage in maternal and infant-related programs that only women can get pregnant. Gender uidity refers to a person changing over time their “gender expression.” Biological males, for instance can identify as female. If you are “woke” you must accept that declaration as a scienti c fact.

Accordingly, if your daughter, who has trained since early childhood as, say, a swimmer or runner, has to compete against a biological male for a college scholarship, you are “transphobic” should you complain. It begs the question; why have women’s/men’s sports at all? If biological gender is a cultural myth subject to the whim of an individual’s decision, why di erentiate?

It’s all very confusing. Washington state decided to allow people to choose which locker room to shower in based on what gender they had decided on. Yet, locally, Darren Merager, a registered sex o ender, was charged with indecent exposure for exposing his male genitalia in the Wi Spa in Westlake. e Los Angeles Times reported that “she” was being charged with felonies. e “woke” demand compliance.

Fifth Circuit appellate Judge Stuart Duncan refused to use a transgender’s preferred pronouns in a child-pornography case in 2020. Accordingly, last week, he was shouted down by 100 woke activists during an invitation speech at Stanford and had to be escorted o campus by federal marshals. ese thought and speech police are having real e ects. is year, 26-yearold James Tubbs pleaded guilty of molesting a 10-year-old girl two weeks before he was 18. Tubbs began identifying as female after being taken into custody, and leftist District Attorney George Gascon refused to try Tubbs as an adult. Judge Mario Barrera had no choice but to sentence Tubbs to only two years, in juvenile hall. is 26-year-old convicted child molester with a beard was sent to a facility full of juvenile girls. ink about it. Once radicals embrace the premise that we are hopelessly, systemically racist, anything can be justied, including reverse overt racist policies. Congressional Democrats wrote a clause in the “American Rescue Plan” providing debt relief to farmers based on their ethnicity. Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf guaranteed COVID relief money to “people of color” but impoverished whites don’t qualify. Coca-Cola required diversity training demanding employees be “less white.” Colleges now have racially segregated dorms. Critical Race eory is taught to third-grade children, designating white people as inherent oppressors. Math, English grammar, and science courses are labeled racist by the woke crowd. e Oregon Department of Education states “White supremacy manifests itself in a focus on nding the right answer and demanding students show their work.” e California Department of Education wants to eliminate high school gifted programs because Asian students are over-represented. e examples of overt rampant discrimination could ll pages. Our dream of a colorblind meritocracy is withering, dying under the loving yoke of American’s commitment to right the wrongs of the past, while ironically creating new social wrongs of today.

Don Schmitz is an independent columnist for e Malibu Times, he along with Lance Simmens write a bi-weekly column on national topics from the perspective of their political leanings you can forward any comments you have to editorial@ malibutimes.com.

Student Art Exhibit celebrates community of young artists

Merriam-Webster dictionary de nes “woke” as “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).” Cambridge Dictionary de nes woke as being “aware, especially of social problems such as racism and social inequality.” Collins English Dictionary o ers

“someone who is woke is very aware

We shall either teach our children to be empathetic, understanding, and open to change which embraces diversity and di erences of opinion, or stoke the res of hatred that will further divide us to the detriment of not only this nation but the world. Wokeness should not be viewed as dangerous but rather as a healthy appreciation of the need to accept di erences among us.

Lance Simmens is an independent columnist for The Malibu Times, he along with Don Schmitz write a bi-weekly column on national topics from the perspective of their political leanings you can forward any comments you have to editorial @malibutimes.com.

Hayley

Hayley Mattson

Nic Mattson

Cami Martin

Samantha Bravo

Malibu’s Dick van Dyke

Dear Editor,

Letters to the Editor

Community Services Department event showcases the creativity and expressions of Malibu children *Letters to the Editor may not re ect the view, opinion and/or ethics of the e Malibu Times. ey are however, letters from the people of Malibu. We support your right to express your opinion. Read "Write to Us" to submit your letter today.

In “Malibu’s Dick van Dyke stuns audience …” [Malibu Times article on Feb. 23], Judy Abel gives the impression that Dick Van Dyke is “ever-entertaining,” cheerful, and a kind person with a wonderful sense of humor. I have met Dick Van Dyke, and I can tell you what he is really like: It’s all true.

I met Dick Van Dyke about 10 years ago at a Starbucks in Malibu. I was waiting in line and overheard a conversation between Mr. Van Dyke and his friends seated at a nearby table. Van Dyke was commenting on how di cult the dance scenes were in the lms he did and how much work they took. I was close enough to make a comment: “Mr. Van Dyke, yes, they were hard work, but it was worth it. You were magni cent. e big dance scene from ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ was the best dancing I have ever seen in my life.”

Van Dyke got up from his seat, came up next to me, put his hand on my shoulder, and said, “I like you. Tell me more. Come sit with us.” After a very pleasant few minutes of conversation, I decided not to overstay my welcome and left, feeling acknowledged and wonderful. e best “thank you” I have ever experienced.

Stephen Krashen, Malibu

Michael Chaldu

Evan Rodda, Neil Schumaker, Jen Rodman, Anthony Atkins

Devon Meyers, Julie Ellerton

Jimy Tallal, Judy Abel, McKenzie Jackson, Burt Ross, and Emmanuel Luissi

Mary Abbott, Anthony McDemas, Dorie Leo, and

Kaleb Rich-Harris

Sirens

The following incidents were reported between:

FEB 16 - FEB 22

2/16 | Petty eft

A package was stolen from a property on Mansie Road and a rst edition of a Dr. Seuss book worth $1,086 was stolen. ere were no security cameras available for evidence.

2/17 | Grand eft

A pair of golf clubs worth $3,000 was stolen from a vehicle parked on Paci c Coast Highway. e victim said they left their vehicle unlocked. ere were no security cameras available for evidence.

2/17 | Grand eft

Two electric bicycles worth $1,500 each were stolen from a property on Tuna Canyon. ere were no security cameras available for evidence. e victim believed he saw the bicycles on sale on Craigslist and sent the website to the deputies to further investigate.

2/19 | Grand eft

A vehicle parked near Malibu Lagoon was broken into and ransacked. e victim said she went sur ng and forgot she left her Tesla unlocked and upon return, two iPhones, a wallet, and $400 in cash was stolen from the vehicle. ere were no security cameras available for evidence.

2/22 | Grand eft

A vehicle parked near Carbon Beach was broken into and a catalytic converter worth $1,500 was stolen. ere were no security cameras available for evidence.

Explore the City of Malibu’s spring recreation o erings in the Recreation Guide and Newsletter

The City of Malibu’s Spring 2023 Recreation Guide and City Newsletter is available on malibucity.org and was mailed to Malibu residents the week of Feb. 6. e guide features the city’s many excellent programs and parks, and includes informative articles and contact information for city departments and services.

“ e educational, sports, artistic and cultural programs, camps, and other events the City o ers to the public are a bene t to the health and well-being of our community,” said Mayor Bruce Silverstein.

“I encourage all our residents to review the Recreation Guide and join one or more of our varied programs this spring.”

Residents can nd information for upcoming spring programs offered March through May, including afterschool programs, aquatics, outdoor recreation at Charmlee Wilderness Park, Parent and Me programs, senior programs and excursions, Spring Break Surf and Skate Camp, youth sports, Park Tales, and the 23rd Annual Chumash Day Native American Powwow and Intertribal Gathering.

For ongoing, up-to-date information on Community Services programs, visit http://www.malibucity.org/aquatics, http://www. malibucity.org/daycamps, https:// malibucity.org/337/Community-Programs, and http://www. malibucity.org/sports.

Malibu Library Speaker Series with Dr. Ian Jukes on March 21 is month’s Malibu Library Speaker Series features Dr. Ian Jukes discussing the core learning attributes of digital learners. Dr. Jukes is a former classroom teacher who has written or co-written 27 books and educational lectures. His talk, “Reinventing Learning for the Always-on Generation,” examines the new entry skills students need to succeed in a digitally infused working environment. An RSVP is required to attend the free event at the Malibu Library on March 21 at 7 p.m. For more information and to RSVP, call the Malibu Library at (310) 4566438 or visit the Speaker Series webpage at malibucity.org/722/ Malibu-Library-Speaker-Series.

City receives three interim shelter beds to help e orts to address homelessness in Malibu