We Stand With Karen

Has America been fundamentally transformed? Last night Celeste Grieg hosted a dinner at her home to honor Dr. Karen Siegemund. It’s why Karen was being honored that makes me ask that question.

Karen is the President of American Freedom Alliance, a non-profit concerned with the threats to Western Civilization. In May AFA had a conference on the Left’s Long March Through Our Institutions. The following day Karen was informed that her teaching contract at a local private school would not be renewed due to her “widely public views”. In subsequent emails the school President cited a speech Karen made at an AFA event in which she praised Western Civilization as benefitting all, even those not born here. They said that statement indicated she supported White Supremacy. Later they forwarded her a letter sent by a friend of Karen’s that questioned why the school would fire such a wonderful teacher. The letter was not harsh or angry. It simply described Karen as being supremely qualified as well as being a kind and caring role model. The school said that letter was an example of the “hate” her “followers” were bringing into their school and why she shouldn’t teach in their school or any other.

To put this in perspective I need to point out that other teachers in this school wear “RESIST” t-shirts and openly speak against President Trump and conservatism. When President Trump won the election one of the teachers said it was like 9/11. Karen simply suggested they wait to see what he would do. Is that an unreasonable suggestion? I certainly don’t remember teachers being so overtly political when I was in school. When I was in school my teachers challenged us to look at all sides, to debate, to question, not to accept anything without question. When did that become unacceptable? But Karen is fighting back.

Celeste invited Conservative talk show hosts, President of the CFRW, organizers of Republican and patriot organizations, publisher of a Conservative News Paper, school choice proponents, and other Conservative activists. During the evening Celeste asked for everyone’s attention as she had someone on the phone who wanted to send her best to Karen. Harmeet Dhillon had offered to represent Karen and told Karen how proud she was of her and how proud she was to represent her.

Karen spoke to the group about what had happened to her is not an isolated incident, there were people in attendance who had also lost jobs due to their political beliefs. She explained that she is fighting this not just for herself but to all who don’t have the support she has.

It was a fascinating, alarming and yet, joyful evening.