Will you soon know the name Aaditi Lele because she’s become another left-wing activist in the guise of being a journalist? A Washington Post op-ed suggests so as the Vanderbilt University student, who is a news editor for her college paper, angrily attacked the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent rulings as “breaches of my new nation’s promises.”
Her piece in Tuesday’s newspaper, “I am now a U.S. citizen, but I feel less free than I ever have,” showed the kind of attitude held by all too many who choose a career in journalism as she reflected a lack of gratitude for her new country and displayed a hard-left view of the world where she’s beset by the evils of conservatives.
(The version posted online last week carried a slightly different headline: “I became a U.S. citizen to secure my rights. Now I fear I’m losing them.” An accompanying illustration showed a hand reaching out from a U.S. flag to squeeze a woman.)
Lele complained: “In the wake of multiple decisions by a Supreme Court that seems intent on rolling back Americans’ liberties, I’m left wondering what warped interpretation of the Constitution I’ve committed to defend.”
Sounding just like an MSNBC host or guest, she charged: “In its most recent term, the Supreme Court stripped my right to access abortion, weakened the separation of church and state, impaired the federal government’s ability to fight the climate crisis, diminished protections against firearms, and fortified protections for Border Patrol agents accused of misconduct.”
Of course, in all those rulings, it can be argued the court advanced individual liberties. A good journalist would recognize that view too, but in not acknowledging that, Lele seems well on her way to joining the ranks of biased journalists if she pursues a career in the news media where I’m sure she will be welcomed.
She ended her column by playing the victim, arguing the United States will fail her: “I can’t help witnessing all this and believing that the dream I was sold doesn’t exist — that this country is setting itself up to fail me and so many others.”
An excerpt from the August 2 Washington Post:
Less than two months ago, I took the oath of naturalization to become the first American citizen in my family. I watched as new Americans from dozens of countries stood together, speaking in unison of our commitment to “support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States.” But in the wake of multiple decisions by a Supreme Court that seems intent on rolling back Americans’ liberties, I’m left wondering what warped interpretation of the Constitution I’ve committed to defend.
From the day my family moved from Pune, India, to the United States a decade ago, when I was 8 years old, I’ve been bombarded with glorified images and slogans about the American Dream — “Land of the Free!” — and encouraged to embrace this nation’s ideals. I came to believe this messaging. The idea that pursuing citizenship would help me secure my rights was not lost on me, so I did exactly that....
In its most recent term, the Supreme Court stripped my right to access abortion, weakened the separation of church and state, impaired the federal government’s ability to fight the climate crisis, diminished protections against firearms, and fortified protections for Border Patrol agents accused of misconduct.
To me, these are all breaches of my new nation’s promises....
I’m one of the millions of young people who marched for climate justice during the 2019 global strikes. For my generation, which has been told that solving this crisis will fall on our shoulders, the implications of this decision are especially alarming.
Then there is the court’s neglect to protect us from the gun violence epidemic....
I can’t help witnessing all this and believing that the dream I was sold doesn’t exist — that this country is setting itself up to fail me and so many others.
Her tagline: “Aaditi Lele is a rising sophomore at Vanderbilt University, where she is a Rachel Carson Council fellow and news editor of the school paper, the Vanderbilt Hustler.”
