当回顾2019年弹劾年的“回顾年”专栏时，一个突出的挑战是:你如何找到“绿色空间”来说一些独特的话，而不仅仅是唱诗班的另一个声音？
毕竟，这只是美国历史上第三次弹劾总统(至少在佩洛西议长决定将弹劾条款提交参议院后)。另一方面，整个哑谜游戏令人难以置信地无聊，结果几乎是预先确定的。剩下的最令人信服的问题是:如果民主党的斯大林式弹劾努力成功影响了2020年的选举，那么这将是美国现代历史上最大的政治政变。然而，如果总统赢得连任，那么这次弹劾将被称为民主党的猪湾。
敬请关注。
但是，除了这个近乎敷衍的选择，2019年最有启发性的故事来自我的家乡伊利诺伊州，特别是芝加哥。我指的是舞台内外演员朱西·斯莫利特的奇怪案例，以及他对美国人民犯下的恶作剧。
早在一月下旬，新闻第一次报道这部电视剧的小明星帝国曾是“仇恨犯罪”的受害者。正如美国有线电视新闻网和其他地方报道的那样，该报道内容如下:
直到向警方提交初次报告后，斯摩莱特才在他的描述中添加了马加帽和“马加国家”字样。
其余的你都知道:在芝加哥警察局竭尽全力进行调查后，他们得出结论，斯摩莱特实际上雇佣了两个尼日利亚出生的兄弟来策划这场活动，以获得公众的关注。地区检察官金·福克斯似乎同意，至少在最初，然后是一个违背逻辑的转变检察官撤销了对斯摩莱特的所有16项不良行为指控让他走。
那么，在斯摩莱特的故事来了又去几个月后，为什么值得再一次讲述这样一个骇人听闻的行为呢？因为它包含了几个象征着这个国家内部更大规模文化战争的元素。我可以简单地参考斯摩莱特，从他的案例中推断出多个教训，而不是浪费专栏空间给你提供过去一年每一个仇恨骗局或虚假新闻故事的背景(很明显，如果你试图上演一场白人至上主义仇恨犯罪，不要雇佣两个尼日利亚兄弟，然后用支票支付他们)。)
演员朱西·斯莫利特于2019年3月26日在伊利诺伊州芝加哥市礼顿法院出庭后与媒体成员交谈。今天早上在法庭上宣布撤销了对该演员的所有指控。
这是斯摩莱特在2019年教给美国的六课。
第一课:通往成功的道路是由受害者而不是努力工作铺成的。
正如所描绘的，发动这次袭击的动机是为了获得公众的关注和提高斯摩莱特的公众形象。理论上，这将导致更突出的表演角色和更高的薪水(大概是对吉西和尼日利亚兄弟)。在美国，曾经有一段时间，人们通过坚持不懈的实践和不屈不挠的挑战来寻求进步。今天，如果你成功地申请了受害者身份，你可能会比其他更有资格的候选人得到提升。
第二课:媒体会摧毁任何质疑符合他们叙述的受害者真实性的人。
从一开始，斯摩莱特的故事就有漏洞，大到足以让一个真正的记者开着卡车通过。尽管虚构的犯罪现场有不一致的地方和许多令人费解的细节，主流媒体对任何公开质疑斯摩莱特的人都是严厉的。他们不出所料地暗示，怀疑几乎是含蓄的种族主义。另一方面，对于盲目拥抱斯摩莱特的旅鼠来说，就像美国广播公司的罗宾·罗伯茨一样，没有任何反弹或影响。
第三课:在追求你的“正义”的过程中，看着世界燃烧是很好的
在设计一个吸引公众同情的计划时，一个演员在他自己的戏剧中可以采用许多故事情节。斯摩莱特创作的作品涉及“戴马加帽的白人”查尔斯·曼森自己也想不出更好的方式来发动一场“慌慌张张”的种族战争。斯莫列特愿意看着美国把自己撕成碎片，如果这让人们像斯莫列特一样相信美国是一个种族主义和仇视同性恋的地方。如果他不得不撒谎让你也相信呢。真相该死。
第四课:没有没有受害者的犯罪，但是如果你站在左翼阵营，政治家和学者们会表现得像是有受害者一样。
对斯摩莱特案件的调查让侦探和巡警离开了这座城市的街道，警方数据显示，在2018年上半年，该城市的凶杀破案率为15.4%。在撰写本报告时，2019年芝加哥有508人被谋杀。除了他差点点燃的种族战争，这场战争将对所有美国人造成无法形容的伤害，芝加哥最脆弱的公民，其中许多是黑人，是斯摩莱特最直接的受害者。然而，斯莫列特可耻地获得了通过。
第五课:自由派和保守派的双重正义标准依然存在。
想象一下，如果一个保守的演员，比如强·沃特，被发现编造了一个故事，说他被两个戴着“感受伯尔尼”帽子的黑人袭击了。在一次看似确凿的调查之后，一名白人检察官拒绝起诉，让乔恩逃脱了惩罚。你能想象在全国爆发的书面和身体愤怒会是什么样吗？如果这种相反的情况是真的，那将是2019年的决定性时刻，几乎每年的评论专栏都会引用它。然而，当你看到罗杰·斯通、迈克尔·弗林、保罗·麦纳福和其他触犯法律的保守派面临的新年前夜，你不禁要问为什么他们的自由派对手没有面临这样的惩罚。詹姆斯·科米呢？丽莎·佩奇和彼得·斯特罗克呢？在今天的文化战争中，这些玩家被许多人视为勇士，而不是恶棍。
第六课:不管这种行为有多卑鄙，如果你愿意与美国作战并诽谤她，你将会在文化战争中被盟友所拥抱。
他的骗局被揭露后不久，朱西斯摩莱特仍在争取全国有色人种协进会年度形象奖的表演荣誉。最近帝国节目主持人布雷特·马奥尼暗示说，他正在考虑让斯摩莱特重返系列终曲。他再度受欢迎的部分原因是他受到了像我和唐纳德·特朗普总统这样的人的批评。因他的行为而责备他使他成为烈士。讽刺的是，可耻的是，他的公关噱头最终可能会奏效。
如果运气好的话，美国人将永远不会再在电视或电影中看到朱西·斯莫利特的脸。但是我们永远也不应该忘记他在芝加哥街头令人厌恶的虚假表演。他和他的盟友正在对我们传统的美国文化和价值观发动一场战争，他们愿意尽一切努力推进自己的议程。这是一场战争，在这场战争中，每一个右倾的美国人都必须与激进、进步的左派进行反击，左派既好战又无情。
我们还必须记住，我们，理性、慷慨和富有同情心的美国人民，比说谎者、骗子，甚至文化马克思主义者还要多。近年来，我们一直是沉默的大多数，他们是欺凌弱小的少数。
所以，让我们让朱西·斯莫利特给我们的最后一课是:我们再也不能沉默了。
查理·柯克是的创始人和执行董事美国转折点美国最大、发展最快的保守青年组织，在1400多所大学和高中校园中有代表；他也是“的主人查理·柯克秀。"
这篇文章中表达的观点是作者自己的。
CHARLIE KIRK: SIX LESSONS THAT JUSSIE SMOLLETT TAUGHT US ABOUT AMERICA'S CULTURE WAR IN 2019 | OPINION
When reflecting on a 2019 "year in review" column during an impeachment year, one glaring challenge stands out: How do you find "green space" to say something unique and not become just another voice in the choir?
After all, this is only the third time in U.S. history that a president has been impeached (at least as soon as Speaker Pelosi decides to send the articles of impeachment to the Senate). On the other hand, the entire charade has been incredibly boring and the outcome is all but predetermined. The most compelling question that remains is this: Should the Democrats' Stalin-esque impeachment effort succeed in influencing the 2020 election, then it will be the greatest political coup in modern American history. However, if the president wins re-election, then this impeachment will become known as the Democrats' Bay of Pigs.
Stay tuned.
But aside from this almost perfunctory selection, the most instructive story of 2019 is one that comes from my former home state of Illinois, specifically Chicago. I refer to the curious case of the on- and off-stage actor, Jussie Smollett, and the hoax he perpetrated on the American people.
It was back in late January when the news was first reported that the mini-star of the TV series Empire had been the victim of a "hate crime". As was reported on CNN and elsewhere, the account read like this:
It was only after the initial report to police that Smollett added the MAGA hats and "MAGA country" references to his description.
You know the rest: After an exhaustive effort on the part of the Chicago Police Department to investigate, they concluded Smollett had actually hired two Nigerian-born brothers to stage the event in order to gain publicity. District Attorney Kim Foxx seemingly agreed, at least initially, and then in a logic-defying turn, the DA dropped all 16 counts of disorderly conduct against Smollettand let him walk.
So, months after Smollett's story has come and gone, why is it worth recounting such an appalling act all over again? Because it contains several elements which are emblematic of the larger culture war raging inside this country. Instead of wasting column space giving you the background on each hate hoax or fake news story of the past year, I can simply reference Smollett and extrapolate multiple lessons from his case (beyond the obvious that if you are trying to stage a white supremacist hate crime, don't hire two Nigerian brothers and pay them with a check.)
Actor Jussie Smollett speaks with members of the media after his court appearance at Leighton Courthouse on March 26, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. This morning in court it was announced that all charges were dropped against the actor.
So here are the six lessons that Smollett taught America in 2019.
Lesson one: The road to success is paved with victimhood instead of hard work.
As it has been portrayed, the motivation in staging this attack was to gain publicity and enhance Smollett's public profile. In theory, this would lead to more prominent acting roles and bigger pay checks (for Jussie and the Nigerian brothers, presumably). There was a time in America that people sought to advance by practicing relentlessly and persevering through challenges. Today, if you successfully claim victim status you'll likely be promoted before other, more deserving candidates.
Lesson two: The media will destroy anyone who questions the authenticity of a victim who fits their narrative.
From the very beginning there were holes in Smollett's story big enough for a real journalist to drive a truck through. Despite the inconsistencies and the many inexplicable details from the fictitious crime scene, the mainstream media was harsh in its treatment of anyone who publicly questioned Smollett. They predictably suggested that skepticism was thinly veiled racism. On the other hand, for the lemmings who mindlessly embraced Smollett, like ABC's Robin Roberts, there has been no backlash or repercussions.
Lesson three: It's fine to watch the world burn in the pursuit of your version of "justice."
In contriving a plan to attract public sympathy, there were a number of storylines that an actor in his own play could adopt. The one Smollett created involved "white men in MAGA hats." Charles Manson himself could not have thought of a better way to launch a "Helter Skelter" race war. Smollett was willing to watch America rip herself to pieces if it led to people believing, like Smollett does, that America is a racist and homophobic place. So what if he had to lie to make you believe that too. The truth be damned.
Lesson four: There is no such thing as a victimless crime, but if you're on the side of Team Left, politicians and pundits will act like there is.
The investigation of the Smollett case took detectives and patrol officers off the streets in a city where police data showed a 15.4 percent homicide clearance rate during the first six months of 2018. At the time of writing, 508 people have been murdered in Chicago in 2019. Aside from the race war he nearly ignited, which would inflict unspeakable harm on all Americans, it was Chicago's most vulnerable citizens, many of whom are black, who were Smollett's most immediate victims. Nevertheless, Smollett shamefully gets a pass.
Lesson five: The double standard of justice for liberals and conservatives is alive and well.
Imagine if a conservative actor, say Jon Voight, was caught inventing a story that he was attacked by two black men wearing "Feel the Bern" hats. Then after a seemingly conclusive investigation, a white DA refused to prosecute and let Jon off the hook. Can you imagine what would have been the outpouring of written and physical rage across the country? Had this reverse scenario been true, it would have been 2019's defining moment, and nearly every year in review column would have referenced it. Yet, when you look at the New Year's Eve that faces Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, and other conservatives who have run afoul of the law, you can't help but wonder why their liberal counterparts face no such punishment. What about James Comey? What about Lisa Page and Peter Strzok? In today's culture war, these players are viewed by many as warriors and not villains.
Lesson six: No matter how vile the act, if you are willing fight against America and defame her, you will be embraced by allies in the culture war.
Not long after his hoax was disclosed, Jussie Smollett was still up for an acting honor at the annual NAACP Image Awards. Recently Empire showrunner Brett Mahoney suggested he was considering Smollett for a return to the series finale. Part of his resurgent popularity is the criticism he has received from people like me and President Donald Trump. Calling him out for his behavior has made him a martyr. Ironically, and shamefully, his PR stunt may ultimately work.
With any luck, Americans will be forever spared from again seeing Jussie Smollett's face on television or in film. But we should never forget his detestable, phony acting job on the streets of Chicago. He and his allies are waging a war on our traditional, American culture and values, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to advance their own agendas. This is a war in which every right-minded American must fight back against a radical, progressive left which is both militant and relentless.
We must also remember that we, the reasonable, generous, and compassionate people of America, outnumber the liars, the cheats, and even the cultural Marxists. In recent years we have been the silent majority and they the bullying, tyrannical minority.
So, let's let Jussie Smollett's final lesson to us be this: We must never be silent again.
Charlie Kirk is the founder and executive director of Turning Point USA, the nation's largest and fastest growing conservative youth organization with a presence on over 1,400 college and high school campuses; he is also host of "The Charlie Kirk Show."
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
