I have watched with interest the negative attacks in response to the American Eagle ad featuring actress Sydney Sweeney modeling, in an attractive and alluring manner, the company’s blue jeans. It seems quite routine. Thousands of such ads hawking every kind of product are run every day in America.

So, what sparked the controversy?

As the ad concludes, Sweeney looks at the camera while a voice intones stating, “Sydney Sweeney has great jeans.”  Apparently, the ad’s play on the word “genes” causes some viewers to think about the genetics of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed woman. “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color. My genes are blue,” Sweeney purrs in one video.  (I will save for another day addressing the damaging credo that “sex sells” in modern commercialism).

Critics have chosen to focus on her statement that she has great “genes” as somehow conveying negative stereotypes about race and beauty.  Some critics—who are always looking for something about which to be aggrieved—have viewed this clever phraseology as, somehow, a positive commentary on the discredited theory of eugenics which held that the human race could be improved by selective breeding.  Some have even deemed the ad “Nazi propaganda” and yet another example of “white supremacy.”

WOW.

This strikes me as a typical overreaction by the Woke Left.  The whole point of hiring attractive people for commercial advertising is to motivate a potential buyer to somehow identify and connect with the model and the product.  It’s probably the most fundamental rule of advertising.

The Sweeney ad expresses a classic American view of beauty and attractiveness, yet we are attacked by the Cancel Culture for our personal tastes—for believing that beauty can be reflected, and appreciated, in a white, blonde-haired, blued-eyed, all-American looking girl.

However, no one is suggesting that white, blonde-haired, blue-eyed girls are the only example of feminine beauty.  There are as many versions of feminine beauty as there are eyes to behold it.  Yet, we are simply not allowed to express “unapproved” views.

America has spent 150 years striving mightily to rid itself of all classifications based upon the immutable characteristics of race and gender. However—in a complete and glaring contradiction—the Looney Left continues to demand that every assessment of every individual American be based not upon character or merit, but solely upon identity.  That is the very last thing that needs to happen in a nation like ours that has sworn to abide by—and many have died defending—the principle that we are truly equal under law.

Fortunately, thanks to President Trump, Wokeism, and its most virulent strain, Diversity, Inclusion and Equity (DIE), are on their death knell.   While no one else is required to share our thoughts and beliefs, in a free society, we are allowed to hold and express them.  Otherwise, certain groups—the Thought Police—take it upon themselves to decide what speech or expression is “hate filled” and “offensive” and that quickly becomes a slippery slope because every single one of us has a different idea about what is offensive and unacceptable.

The Cancel Culture seeks, through the use of intimidation, bullying and violence, to “cancel” those with whom they disagree from their very participation in our society, and in the most violent examples, to literally ‘cancel’ the lives of those with whom they disagree. 

This kind of censorship simply cannot be allowed if our Republic—and the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution—are to endure.  The greatest virtue of free thought and free speech is that all kinds of ideas are thrust into the rough and tumble of the marketplace of ideas where the best idea prevails.  It is this collision of, this testing of, speech and thought in a free and open exchange that produces the best results—and leads the nation to wise and popular policy results on challenging national issues.

Syndey Sweeney may have great jeans or great genes, or neither, or both.  We are all supposed to be free to decide for ourselves.

Most encouraging is that American Eagle has made clear it is not going to apologize for the ad and it’s not going to be cancelled for not doing so.

Bravo.  This is an important first step in slaying the dragon of Woke-ism and Cancel Culture and returning America to our Judeo-Christian roots and virtues.