Internationally renowned host Piers Morgan presented his new book “Woke is Dead” at the Richard Nixon Library in Southern California on November 10th and was invited to give a public lecture on civic education. He elaborated on the necessity of returning to common sense and critical thinking.
Morgan is the host of the popular global program “Piers Morgan Uncensored.” The subtitle of his new book is “How Common Sense Triumphed in an Age of Total Madness.” The book topped the bestseller list in the Sunday Times in the UK on October 27th and was released on the Amazon website on November 4th.
The book points out that woke culture has permeated every aspect of life, with Cancel Culture running rampant and movements such as the one previously claimed to forever change society now being buried by the resurgence of “common sense.”
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, woke originated from African-American English as slang for “awake.” In 1923, Pan-African activist Marcus Garvey first used the term to express concern for the struggles of African Americans. It quickly gained popularity on black social media and its meaning evolved with the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement in 2014, being more widely applied in political life.
Recalling a conversation with an Australian woman at Kensington Palace in London, Morgan was told that these “wokey” individuals aim to suck all the joy out of life and should not be allowed to succeed.
Morgan noted that the “woke virus” wants to prevent us from laughing heartily, enjoying TV shows, dictate how we dress or speak, and force us to apologize for everything, emphasizing that it cannot control our lives – something must be done.
He further mentioned that woke activists, often referred to as progressives, he labels as regressives. Morgan argued that they often accuse others of being fascists, creating a toxic environment where everyone is branded as either a fascist or a Nazi.
Pointing to recent events like the murder of Charlie Kirk for expressing views disliked by others, Morgan emphasized that true fascism lies in silencing individuals for exercising their freedom of speech.
Morgan highlighted absurd occurrences from the past few years, questioning the direction in which society is heading. He criticized the idea of gender-neutral sports competitions, illustrating how women may lose their rightful place in athletics to biological males.
He declared his support for transgender individuals but stressed the importance of preserving women’s rights, especially in competitive sports. Emphasizing the physical advantages males may hold over females, Morgan criticized expensive studies that simply reaffirm the existing biological differences between genders.
During an interview with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Betty Ting Yee, Morgan jokingly asked about her stance on gender-neutral Olympics, to which she responded affirmatively. Statistics showed that in a gender-neutral environment, women athletes would only win two bronze medals.
In a podcast conversation, the prevalence of toxic vocabulary and concepts like microaggressions was discussed. Morgan argued against the demonization of traditional masculinity traits such as strength, bravery, and protectiveness, which he believes are not inherently toxic but are being subverted by woke ideology.
Morgan advocated for the cultivation of strong, confident men, warning against the isolation and lack of personal interaction caused by excessive internet use among young people. He questioned if current educational systems adequately prepare children for the real world, expressing concern over trends that promote victimhood over resilience.
As the awakening to common sense unfolds alongside the decline of woke culture, Morgan observed that initiatives like DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in Los Angeles, designed to address inequalities, have resulted in the opposite outcome, highlighting the need to prioritize merit over superficial characteristics.
By fostering a meritocracy, Morgan believes the United States will maintain its position as a leading global power; however, he warned that failure to do so could pave the way for competitors to surpass the nation’s dominance.
Piers Morgan, a former editor of the Daily Mirror, had his fair share of hosting experiences on shows like Good Morning Britain, Britain’s Got Talent, and America’s Got Talent, as well as winning the Celebrity Apprentice USA in 2008, hosted by Donald Trump.
The civic education lecture series at the Nixon Library, sponsored by the couple Shaun and Leland Smith, brings together influential figures from across the United States and the world for challenging and inspiring dialogues.