Woke Disney Walkout: “Reflects the Deeply Anti-truth Culture We Live In”

Audio By Carbonatix

Published: March 24, 2022 | Date of Source Audio: March 23, 2022

Transcribed and modified for publication from the original audio program

Larry Elder talks with Christian Watson about how it’s a woke world after all

Larry Elder: My next guest is with Color Us United. He also hosts Pensive Politics podcasts, and the Christian Watson Channel on YouTube has been featured on USA Today, Newsmax TV, BBC radio London, and other outlets. Please welcome to the program, Christian Watson.

Christian Watson: Thanks for having me, Larry.

Elder: Christian, it’s my pleasure. My goodness. Where do we start? Let's start with Disney. The employees staged a walkout. And this is a left-wing company. They have a “Gay Day” at Disneyland. I know they do out here. It's a pretty woke company, but apparently it's not woke enough for their employees who staged a walkout yesterday because the CEO of Disney did not take a harsh stance against the so-called “Don't Say Gay” bill, which is what critics call it. Of course, the word “gay” is not in the bill. And now he's retreated and he wants to now rethink the orientation towards this particular bill. And the employees at Disney not only want them to take stands on this kind of issue, Christian, but on other issues as well. Whatever happened to corporations staying out of things for fear they might alienate customers?

“It's a pretty woke company, but apparently it's not woke enough.”

Watson: That's a very good point, Larry. But unfortunately, I think the latest outrage against Disney over not being sufficiently woke for some people reflects the deeply anti-truth culture we live in. We live in a culture in which people, especially people who are involved in politics, are far more concerned with appearances as opposed to what is real and what is factual because appearances is how they direct their agenda and their power.

The truth is, Bob Chapek, the CEO of Disney, he basically said when the gay bill first came out, he said that he didn't think that corporate statements actually induce change, they’re not the best way to achieve political change. Which is actually a pretty moderate position for a CEO to take in an era in which CEOs around the country are trying to use their positions – which don't have anything to do with giving their employers profit – to make political statements. So he was attacked for taking a moderate stance, and Disney employees are obviously very upset. But the truth is Disney is not here to be involved in politics. Disney is here to create products for children, to create products for people who are typically under the age of 12. And it's just disturbing that we cannot separate entertainment and fantasy – which is what Disney's product entirely is – from politics, which is a strong departure from entertainment and fantasy. Or at least it should be. These days, it’s hard to tell the line, sometimes.

Elder: My guest is Christian Watson. He's also with Color Us United. We've been talking about the “UnAmerican Express” company. You want to join the fight and let them know how unhappy you are about their woke policies, go to unamericanexpress.com right now. That's unAmericanExpress.com. Christian, just as a matter of law, I've looked at this 2021 diversity, equity and inclusion study or report that American Express does. Aren't they worried, Christian, about being sued by people that feel that they were discriminated against in favor of somebody else because of his or her race or religion?

“It has nothing to do with profit. It has everything to do with catering to a mob.”

Watson: I'm not sure if they're worried about it, but they certainly should be. One of their former employees, Brian Netzel, is already launching a legal campaign against them for discrimination on the basis of race. And what's happening in America Express – or as they are correctly termed, UnAmerican Express – is nothing short of egregious. They are making their employees attend seminars, hosted by Khalil Muhammad, the great-grandson of the founder of the Nation of Islam, in which he tells them that capitalism is evil and racist. Which seems quite contradictory to me, given the fact that American Express’ foundations are predicated on capitalism. They are giving their employees “allyship” manuals, which basically pits them against each other on the basis of their race, sexual orientation or any other arbitrary characteristic that really doesn't matter. And they are also giving out incentives for hiring certain minorities to get into certain positions. And so, what they're doing is absolutely antithetical to what a company should be doing – and that is creating profits for their shareholders. It has nothing to do with American Express cardholders. It has nothing to do with profit. It has everything to do with catering to a mob, which they perceive is now what they should be doing. And that's just not true.

Elder: Wow. I always kind of thought that corporations had a fiduciary obligation to maximize profits, not to advance left wing-agendas. I guess I've read too much Milton Friedman. Christian, what can people do when they're unhappy? What can we do to change this?

Watson: The biggest thing you can do is go to colorusunited.org and support our UnAmerican Express campaign. Now, the reason corporations even do this is because there is a culture of complacency that is prominent among CEOs and corporate boardrooms. But what Color Us United is doing, we're rising up and saying, you know what? Most Americans want nothing to do with this kind of stuff. Most Americans simply want the services that they signed up for, not an extra political service that they didn't even ask for. And so, what we can do is we can change the culture by speaking out and by representing the employees of Amex, many of whom probably want nothing to do with this, in their fight against this. And that's what Colorado Us United is doing.

“Unless they feel pain at the cash register, nothing's going to change.”

Elder: … Unless they feel pain at the cash register, nothing's going to change. If they feel that there's going to be some kind of pain, things change.

Watson: Absolutely. I agree. I agree. But also, if there's a culture that compels them to think differently, I think that could also help them change their actions as well.