But it's not suppression when you're protecting people's feelings.

La Jolla Country Day School is a prestigious $30,000-a-year private institution located just outside of San Diego California, specializing in intellectual exploration, personal growth, and suppression of free thought.

I might have editorialized that a bit.

Gary Krahn, the head of the La Jolla Country Day School, sent a staff letter earlier this week detailing some administrative matters regarding the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday but added the following below. I will break it down.

"We also had a student wear a MAGA Hat today."

That's when you know it's going to be good.

"I have talked with that student who now understands why that hat is offensive to our community."

"Now" he understands. You can't let up on the inculcation.

"He will not wear it again."

Crisis solved! And all it took was suppressing speech. Hey, this could catch on.

"In addition his mom said that she is embarrassed by his actions. She will fulfill her role as a parent."

Now she has been instructed by the school that in order to "fulfill her role as a parent," she must ensure that her son is raised a progressive.

That's just what responsible parents do.

"We will continue to grow as a community that sees and values the dignity of all people."

Except for conservatives, of course. No dignity for them.

That's our lesson for today, kids!

It does not end there. After the remarks were reported by KUSI News, Krahn felt the need to issue a video.

Not to apologize, of course, but to explain to the rest of us why it's perfectly okay for a person in a position of authority to intimidate a student into relinquishing his right to free speech.

He's an educator, after all.

Let's break this down, too.

"Dear La Jolla Country Day Community, we had an incident on campus a few days ago that deserves our attention. It's very important."

Since it was made public, yes, I imagine it is.

"I'm going to take a few minutes today to explain the situation but it's clearly not going to be enough time."

Leaving some wiggle room for a second, third, fourth, and fifth video when this one inflames the situation even more. (Oh, and it will. It so will.)

"First, the first amendment is very important to me."

Is there a more common sentence that appears right before a dismantling of the first amendment? No, no there is not.

"I was willing to give my life for it as I served in the Army."

It's worse than I thought. He pulled the "I served, so shut up," card.

"It is one of the most precious things that we have in this nation."

Yep, this is bad.

"A student came onto campus with a 'Make America Great Again Hat.' He has every right to wear that hat."

Then why are we having this conversation?

"I had friends give their life for that hat."

That is why I am going to belittle their sacrifice. Odd message to send, but okay, let's roll with it.

"It was not a political decision to reach out to him and talk about that hat."

Okie dokie.

"It was a decision about dignity, the inherent value that all humans have."

Dignity. Huh. I don't remember that in the Constitution. I'm starting to think that he never actually read the document he was willing to give his life for. You might want to do that next time. Seems like a detail you'd want to nail down first.

"When I approached the student I shared with him that he had that right to wear the hat."

Yes, you mentioned that earlier. And yet you spoke with him anyway. You must have a lot of time on your hands.

"I also shared with him the impact it has on our community. That hat has [sic] a symbolism of racism and hatred."

But it's not political.

Oh, and he's not "telling," he's "sharing." Sharing is good, right? It's like sharing your snack at recess time. Same thing, only 10,000 times more intimidating.

"We could argue about whether that's true or not."

Heaven forbid that happen! I mean, the last thing you want at an educational institution is for there to be a meaningful exchange of opposing viewpoints and an exploration of the genuine meaning of diversity. Why, rampant and uncontrolled learning could break out!

"But it's a fact that in our community, there's a belief that that's what that hat represents."

So it's important to stifle any and all opposing views so that those people can continue to believe that without challenge?

I'd really like to take a look at the Constitution he read, because I must have an earlier draft or something.

"And because we are a community of dignity, that all people have value and that all people are vulnerable…"

They must be kept safe from opposing viewpoints.

"I wanted the student to know that his decision was going to have an impact on people."

The right to not be offended. I don't remember that one in the Constitution either.

And apparently he didn't consider the impact of having the head of your school intimidate you into stifling your free speech.

But then again, "the first amendment is very important" to him, he "was willing to give [his] life for it" and "It is one of the most precious things that we have in this nation," which we know because those words came out of his mouth.

"He graciously took off his hat."

The guy with your entire future in his hands suggested that it would be a really good idea to take off the hat. "Gracious" is not the word I would use.

"We're going to continue to honor the first amendment."

When? Starting now?

"We're going to continue to be a community of dignity."

He is really into this dignity thing. And yet...

"And to realize that if our actions impact others,…"

Wearing a hat is an "action," I guess. I wonder if printing a newspaper is an "action" that is no longer afforded constitutional protections either. Come to think of it, moving your mouth to speak is an action, too.

So many questions.

"…we have a responsibility to work on that, to improve, to grow."

As long as you "grow" in the correct direction. We can't have people growing into conservatives, no, we need them to grow into progressives who believe so very super strongly in the first amendment that we must tiptoe around the ignorance and prejudice of others lest they have their "dignity" challenged.

"Our students are going to become leaders in the community."

That actually explains a lot.

"I can't think of anything more precious..."

"Precious" is exactly the word I would use here.

"…than have them go out there with not only the knowledge, but the belief that all humans have value."

You know that argument he said we "could" have about the hat? He really needs to have that argument.

"Create the community that we dream about. That's what La Jolla Country Day is all about."

That's what I'm afraid of.

"Thank you."

No, thank YOU. This has been very edifying.

Seeing as Krahn elevates the concept of dignity above free speech rights (even though he 100% believes in them and was willing to die for them), let's take a look at what that means according to the La Jolla Country Day School.

From the 2020-2021 Parent/Student Handbook,

"Dignity is an internal state of peace that comes with the recognition and acceptance of the value and vulnerability of all living things."

Does anything encapsulate the American spirit more than that?

I mean, other than most everything else?

I'll close out noting that Gary Krahn was a West Pointer who retired from the army a Brigadier General. We can and should honor that service.

But that is not a get-out-of-jail-free card nor does it grant him absolute moral authority.

While I often criticize, justly I would argue, running away and hiding when people are caught misbehaving like this, you know what's far worse?

When they sincerely believe they have done nothing wrong.

Not worse, that's the wrong word.

Frightening.