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Disney Erases Tinker Bell

By Ben Shapiro

In this episode of The Ben Shapiro Show, Ben Shapiro outlines two opposing societal visions: a meritocratic system that rewards productivity, and an "army of losers" society where victimhood takes precedence over merit. He examines how this divide manifests in areas like higher education, politics, and cultural reevaluation efforts.

Shapiro critiques the Biden administration's policies and governance approach, arguing they align more with the "army of losers" mentality. He also highlights debates around diversity initiatives at UNC Chapel Hill and Disney's controversial reevaluation of certain characters as examples of this conflict between merit-based and inclusivity-focused approaches.

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Disney Erases Tinker Bell

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Disney Erases Tinker Bell

1-Page Summary

The "Meritocracy vs. Army of Losers" Divide

Political commentator Ben Shapiro outlines two opposing societal visions:

Meritocracy

Shapiro posits that a meritocratic system - where good performance and productivity are rewarded - is crucial for fostering positive societal outcomes. According to him, this meritocratic approach ensures advancement by prioritizing merit.

"Army of Losers" Society

In contrast, Shapiro describes an "army of losers" society as one where failure and victimhood take precedence over merit. He suggests this victim-centric mentality leads to detrimental consequences, with unsuccessful individuals gaining control and victimhood being mistaken for success.

Examples in Higher Education: UNC Chapel Hill

This conflict manifests at UNC Chapel Hill, where the board of trustees' proposal to shift funding away from diversity programs towards public safety has sparked debates.

  • UNC is cutting $2.3 million from diversity initiatives, eliminating certain roles and aims.
  • Faculty like Assistant Professor Beth Morocco defend diversity efforts as vital for fostering equity and inclusion.

Impact on Politics: Biden Administration

Shapiro claims the meritocracy vs. "army of losers" divide significantly challenges the Biden administration and fuels his low approval ratings.

  • According to Shapiro, Biden's economic policies and governance approach align more with the "army of losers" mentality.
  • He critiques Biden's immigration stance as straining meritocratic principles by allowing an influx without ensuring employment.
  • Shapiro suggests Biden's denial of poor polling signals severe political issues, echoing past Republican denials before losses.

Other Areas of Conflict

Disney's Cultural Reevaluation

  • Disney has removed Tinkerbell from meet-and-greets over body image concerns.
  • Under the "Stories Matter" initiative, even characters inspired by drag queens faced scrutiny.
  • This shift signals prioritizing inclusivity over promoting traditional values of merit and responsibility.

Israel-Hamas Conflict

  • Though initially supporting Israel against Hamas, the Biden administration later adopted a more critical stance over humanitarian costs.
  • Shapiro critiques the misleading messaging on civilian casualties and the negotiations with Hamas while pushing Israel.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The concept of an "Army of Losers" society, as described by Ben Shapiro, represents a societal framework where failure and victimhood are prioritized over merit. In this context, individuals who have not succeeded by traditional standards are elevated, leading to a culture where victimhood is seen as a form of success. Shapiro argues that this mentality can have negative consequences by empowering those who have not achieved success through meritocratic means.
  • UNC Chapel Hill is facing a conflict where the board of trustees is proposing to reduce funding for diversity programs and redirect it towards public safety. This move has sparked debates as it involves cutting $2.3 million from diversity initiatives, leading to concerns about equity and inclusion on campus. Faculty members, like Assistant Professor Beth Morocco, are advocating for the importance of diversity efforts in creating a more inclusive environment at the university.
  • Ben Shapiro criticizes Biden's economic policies for what he perceives as aligning more with a "victim-centric" mentality rather than rewarding merit. Shapiro also critiques Biden's governance approach, particularly in areas like immigration, where he believes policies may not prioritize employment and meritocratic principles.
  • Shapiro criticizes the Biden administration for initially supporting Israel against Hamas but later adopting a more critical stance over humanitarian costs. He questions the administration's messaging on civilian casualties and its negotiations with Hamas while pushing Israel.

Counterarguments

  • Meritocracy may not account for systemic inequalities that prevent equal access to opportunities.
  • The term "army of losers" could be seen as dismissive and not constructive in addressing the complexities of societal challenges.
  • Diversity and inclusion efforts can be argued to enhance meritocracy by leveling the playing field and allowing true merit to shine through.
  • Cutting funding from diversity programs may overlook the long-term benefits these programs can have on academic and professional environments.
  • The effectiveness of a government's policies can be measured by a variety of metrics, not solely by their alignment with meritocratic or non-meritocratic principles.
  • Immigration policies can be multifaceted and may prioritize humanitarian concerns alongside employment and economic considerations.
  • Cultural reevaluations, such as Disney's, may reflect evolving societal values and can be seen as an expansion of the concept of merit to include diverse representations and narratives.
  • Foreign policy, including the stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict, often involves balancing a range of complex factors, including strategic interests, human rights, and international law.

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Disney Erases Tinker Bell

The conflict between a meritocracy and an "army of losers" society

Political commentator Ben Shapiro outlines the stark dichotomy between the concepts of a meritocratic society and what he deems an "army of losers" society, which are at odds with each other in shaping the direction of Western culture.

The two opposing visions for Western society

Shapiro emphasizes that a meritocracy is crucial as it ensures positive outcomes for society by rewarding productivity, the creation of useful goods, and beneficial services. He suggests meritocracy is the ideal approach to foster societal advancement.

Meritocracy: Good performance and productivity lead to positive outcomes for society

Meritocracy, according to Shapiro, is the system where good performance and productivity are rewarded, implying this is the appropriate structure for a successful society.

"Army of losers": Failure and victimhood are prioritized over merit, leading to negative societal consequences

In stark contrast, Shapiro describes the "army of losers" society as a system where victimhood and failure are prioritized over merit. According to him, this victim-based approach leads to a societal structure where unsuccessful individuals gain control, and victimhood is mistaken for success, leading to adverse outcomes for society at large.

Examples of this conflict in higher education

An example of this conflict has emerged at UNC Chapel Hill, where the board of trustees has proposed shifting funding away from diversity programs, an action that has sparked a debate over the institution’s values and priorities.

UNC Chapel Hill shifting funding away from diversity initiatives and towards public safety

Shapiro mentions the UNC Chapel Hill's decision to transfer $2.3 million formerly allocated for diversity and inclusion towards public safety priorities. This budgetary move aims to eliminate specific diversity-related roles and objectives.

Faculty opposing the shift and defending diversity efforts

Amid this shift, UNC faculty, including Assistant Professor Beth Morocco, are defending the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies, suggesting these initiatives are critical to fostering an equitable and inclusive educational environment.

The impact on politics

Shapiro extends the discussion to the political arena, where he believes the push and pull between meritocracy and the "army of losers" mentality are causing significant challenges for the Biden administration, consequently affecting its popularity and policy direction.

The meritocracy vs. anti-meritocracy divide is central to the Biden administration's struggles

The meritocracy versus "army of losers" divide, in Shapiro’s view, is a central contributor to President Biden's struggles, claiming that Biden's policies align more with the latter mentality and are alienating moderate and indep ...

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The conflict between a meritocracy and an "army of losers" society

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The term "army of losers" society, as described by Ben Shapiro, represents a societal structure where victimhood and failure are prioritized over merit. In this context, individuals who may not excel based on traditional measures of success are elevated, potentially leading to a culture where victimhood is seen as a form of success. This concept suggests a shift away from rewarding productivity and performance towards emphasizing perceived injustices and grievances as defining factors in society. Shapiro argues that such a societal framework can have negative consequences by undermining the principles of meritocracy and potentially hindering overall societal progress.
  • UNC Chapel Hill faced a debate over reallocating funds from diversity programs to public safety, sparking discussions on institutional values and priorities. Faculty members, like Assistant Professor Beth Morocco, defended the importance of diversity initiatives for an inclusive educational environment. The shift in funding highlighted differing perspectives on how resources should be allocated within the university. This conflict reflects broader societal discussions on the balance between diversity efforts and other ...

Counterarguments

  • Meritocracy can sometimes perpetuate existing inequalities by favoring those who already have access to resources and opportunities.
  • The concept of an "army of losers" oversimplifies complex social issues and dismisses legitimate grievances related to systemic inequality.
  • Diversity programs can enhance meritocracy by leveling the playing field and allowing truly talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to succeed.
  • The reallocation of funds at UNC Chapel Hill could be seen as undermining efforts to create a more inclusive academic environment, which is also valuable for a healthy society.
  • The Biden administration's struggles could be attributed to a variety of factors, not solely the tension between meritocracy and an "army of losers" mentality.
  • Policies that aim to address equity issues are not necessarily against meritocracy but may seek to correct imbalances that prevent merit from being recognized and rewarded fairly.
  • Immigration policies that are inclusive can also be merit-based, recognizing the diverse contributions ...

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Disney Erases Tinker Bell

Examples of the meritocracy vs. "army of losers" conflict in other areas

The meritocracy versus "army of losers" conflict reflects broader societal debates, highlighted by events such as Disney's cultural reevaluation and the Biden administration's wavering support in international conflicts.

Disney's decision to remove Tinkerbell from character meet-and-greets over body image concerns

Disney World’s decision to remove Tinkerbell from doing meet-and-greets at the park has raised questions about the values being imparted on children. Tinkerbell was removed because she is deemed "body conscious" and "jealous of Peter Pan's attention," reflecting the company's sensitivity to modern perceptions of body image and personality traits.

The rationale of the "Stories Matter" initiative at Disney

The Stories Matter initiative, launched as Disney prepared to introduce its streaming service, influenced the reevaluation of character representations. Disney added disclaimers to films with potentially negative portrayals of people or cultures. Under this initiative, even characters like Ursula from "The Little Mermaid," potentially viewed through a racial or queer-coded lens, came under scrutiny for their design and mannerisms inspired by real-life drag queens.

The message this sends to children about valuing merit and personal responsibility

The decision implicates a shift in what values Disney promotes, potentially emphasizing inclusivity over traditional narratives of merit and personal responsibility.

The Biden administration's approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict

The Biden administration's shifting stance regarding Israel and Hamas has drawn criticism for its messaging and efficacy.

Initially supporting Israel's actions against Hamas, then shifting to a more critical stance

Antony Blinken discussed the need for a sustainable plan for the Gaza conflict. Though initially the US seemed to support Israel's actions against Hamas, there was a subsequent shift toward a more critical evaluation regarding the effectiveness and the humanitarian cost of the military endeavors. Blinken emphasized the potential for civilian harm and the possibility of creating a power vacu ...

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Examples of the meritocracy vs. "army of losers" conflict in other areas

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • The "meritocracy versus 'army of losers'" conflict represents the tension between a system that rewards merit and achievement versus concerns about those who may be left behind or marginalized by such a system. It reflects debates on fairness, equality of opportunity, and the impact of societal structures on individuals' success and well-being. This conflict often arises in discussions about social mobility, education, employment, and broader societal values. It questions whether success is solely based on individual effort and talent or if systemic factors play a significant role in determining outcomes.
  • Disney's cultural reevaluation involved a reassessment of character representations in response to modern societal values and sensitivities, particularly regarding issues like body image and cultural stereotypes. This initiative led to changes in how certain characters were portrayed and presented in Disney content, reflecting a shift towards more inclusive and socially conscious storytelling. The reevaluation aimed to address concerns about potentially negative portrayals and stereotypes in Disney's characters, aligning with a broader societal push for diversity and representation in media. This process highlighted the company's efforts to adapt to evolving cultural norms and expectations, emphasizing the importance of responsible storytelling and positive messaging in its content.
  • The Biden administration's wavering support in international conflicts, such as the Israel-Hamas conflict, involves shifts in its stance from initial support to a more critical evaluation of the situation. This fluctuation in support has drawn criticism for its messaging and effectiveness, particularly regarding civilian casualties and the handling of negotiations with conflicting parties. The administration's approach has been scrutinized for its perceived inconsistencies and challenges in addressing the complexities of the conflicts. The discussions around this issue highlight the delicate balance between supporting allies, addressing humanitarian concerns, and navigating diplomatic challenges in international crises.
  • The "Stories Matter" initiative at Disney aimed to reevaluate character representations in their films, particularly focusing on potentially negative portrayals of people or cultures. This initiative led to the addition of disclaimers to films and scrutiny of characters like Ursula from "The Little Mermaid" for their design and mannerisms. Disney's goal was to ensure inclusivity and sensitivit ...

Counterarguments

  • Disney's decision to remove Tinkerbell could be seen as an overreaction that deprives children of a beloved character without clear evidence that her presence negatively impacts body image perceptions.
  • The Stories Matter initiative, while well-intentioned, might be criticized for applying contemporary values retroactively to classic stories, potentially reducing their historical and cultural context.
  • Emphasizing inclusivity does not necessarily mean devaluing merit and personal responsibility; both sets of values can coexist and be taught to children in different contexts.
  • The Biden administration's shift in stance towards Israel and Hamas could be interpreted as a nuanced approach to foreign policy, reflecting the complexity of international relations and the need to adapt to changing circumstances.
  • Discussing the potential for civilian harm and power vacuums is a valid concern in any military conflict, and acknowledging these risks does not inherently undermine support for an ally.
  • Inconsistencies in messaging about civilian casualties could be due to the rapidly changing natur ...

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