By Adam Crohn

Value. It’s a dangerous word, and possibly more dangerous of an idea. What do we value? What is your value, my value? How valuable should something be? Words, actions, people, things. These all have value, and some are and should be more valuable than others. But today too much value is placed on the wrong things. Even some individuals shouldn’t hold the value they do. That’s not a statement on the value of life, but rather the value some people have over others.

And what is the value of an apology? What is it worth, especially one you have to ask for? I’ve always said that I don’t want an apology if I have to ask for it. Those are worthless. If you have to ask for an apology that means the “offending” individual either has no clue what they’re being asked to apologize for or that they don’t believe they owe an apology. I’m not saying don’t call out the offense, but rather acknowledge how worthless that apology would be.

I was just reading that the White House is demanding an apology from some moron over on FOX News for an Islamophobic rant he went on today. That’s a shame to me because it means “The White House”, whomever that is, doesn’t get it. It’s dramatic posturing at best and complete Neanderthalic non-thinking at worst. And I’m a supporter of this administration. But we all remember Biden saying 317 times on the campaign trail “That’s no hyperbole!” But this apology demand kind of falls under that kind of rhetoric. It’s pointless words and low-level thinking designed to appeal to the drama hounds that either forgot or never learned to mix logic, common sense, and critical thinking into one solid thought.

The less placating and more thoughtful approach would be to condemn this loudmouthed man-child for his ignorance and violence inciting words, and then suggest a more educated and rational alternative. And just once I’d love to see someone really stick their foot in it and no one asks for an apology. For all of us to realize that that person made a choice and the rest of us are going to admit and accept that the offending individual clearly isn’t capable of thinking past their hair, and that an apology wouldn’t be worth the energy they used to utter (or X-pell) it. But I feel that that world is an idyllic dream.

Sadly, and I hate to admit it, this FOX host did make a great point in his brainless rant that was wedged between his big-man pants and his ego that either went unseen or willfully ignored by everyone else, first and foremost, the White House. And though it’s probably not going to be a popular opinion, I agree that the wrong kind of value has been placed on emotional and physical suffering. Too many people turn it into a commodity, on every level and pertaining to every demographic. It’s behavior I’ve observed most commonly in the SJW’s of Gen Z, but has permeated its way, on some level, into many including myself.

And that’s not to diminish any tragedy or turmoil that any person or people has suffered. But there’s a dangerous trend that I’ve noticed over the past few years of bearing one’s personal struggle as a kind of identification badge. Something we are using to define ourselves. Everyone’s struggles are relative, and for me, it’s been unemployment. I realized I started using it as a way to describe who I am rather than a point in time in my own personal history. I started losing confidence and equating my self-worth with my situation. And when you do that others start to know you as that person simply because that’s how you’ve presented yourself for so long.

But we can all choose who we are going to be in any situation. How we’re going to let it affect us and if we’re going to let it define us. And it can be a really hard thing to shake. That’s one way I can relate to and understand, and therefore empathize with those that are almost becoming their struggle. I don’t think that’s a good thing. Live with your struggle but face it and don’t let it become who you are. Fight it and beat it. And once you’ve overcome it, help others that are struggling as well.

And that’s the most frustrating thing about this empty White House apology demand. They’re so wrapped up in maintaining their obvious position and posturing that they miss an important point that if focused on, could help a lot of folks.

Absolutely condemn Islamophobia, antisemitism, homophobia, racism, and ageism, and any other injustices, and especially people with louder voices than they should have that spew ill-thought-out words. But let’s also not use pain as a crutch and let’s not enable others to develop chips on their shoulders that if left unchecked can develop into people like Jesse Watters. And the best way to do that is by placing value on what is innately good, helpful, positive, and earned.