The Acton Institute thinks fraternity bros are a fabulous counter to the Palestine Solidarity university encampments

The Grand Rapids-based think tank, the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty, continues its assault on people who stand in solidarity with Palestinians. 

In a post from last week, GRIID noted that the Acton Institute was deeply critical of the student-led encampments in support of Palestinians that are happening all across the US. In their weekly podcast Acton Unwind, one of the participants even suggested that students who were organizing the encampments should be expelled.

Thus, it is no surprise that they would continue to be dismissive of the student-led campus Palestine Solidarity protests on another Acton Unwind show. However, this time they chose to celebrate fraternity bros who were “defending an American flag” at the University of North Carolina (UNC).

The Acton Unwind show was even entitled, Will fraternity bros save America? The discussion about the frat bros begins at 32:40 into the program. Apparently, some frat bros thought it was important to protect an American flag on campus from the students who were part of the University of North Carolina Palestine Solidarity protests. The pro-Palestine students had replaced the US flag with a Palestinian flag, which was going too far for fraternity members on campus. They put the US flag back up and then surrounded the flag poll to prevent anyone from messing with the American flag. 

This action generated so much attention, especially after someone began a GoFundMe to raise money for the effort. They raised like $500,000 in no time, according to a story from USA Today.

The Acton Unwind host then read what the GoFundMe page said, which tells you something about the mindlessness of nationalistic thinking. Here is the text from the GoFundMe page:

We are overwhelmed by you glorious, Patriotic Americans who value good beer and great times. We are in contact with multiple leaders from different fraternities whose members helped defend the flag. Our gratitude goes to all of them and we will update supporters on what comes next.**

Commie losers across the country have invaded college campuses to make dumb demands of weak University Administrators.

But amidst the chaos, the screaming, the anti-semitism, the hatred of faith and flag, stood a platoon of American heroes. Armored in Vineyard Vines and Patagonia, fueled by Zyn and White Claws, these triumphant Brohemians protected Old Glory from the unwashed Marxist horde — laughing at their shrieks and wails and shielding the Stars & Stripes from Soviet missiles. 

The Acton Unwind guests were then saying that the frat bros are being the leaders of a  counter protest effort, by saying the Pledge of Allegiance, by singing God Bless America and being more patriotic. It is really quite brilliant what they are doing. They really found something to do!

The show took an even more bizarre turn, when the other guest on the show talked about his recent book, Heroic Fraternities: How College Men Can Save Universities and America. The author of the book, Anthony Bradley, then spoke for the next 10 minutes about how he feels that college fraternities can truly save this country. 

While listening to the show I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry from the content. It is interesting how the Acton Institute considers itself an intellectual center, which is also laughable. Their podcast titled, Will fraternity bros save America?, is just another example of the far right/religious right ideology that they spew, which has nothing to do with intellectualism or critical thinking in the least bit. Maybe there needs to be a Palestine Solidarity protest at the headquarters 98 E. Fulton Street in downtown Grand Rapids.