At Santa Monica College, another wave of neo-Stalinist intolerance is rearing its ugly head.  A new mandate (along with indoctrination for "global citizenship" --more on that noxious dogma later) is to promote a campaign to ensure environmental literacy.

What's so bad about that? Don't you love the environment? Do you hate mother nature?" 

Glad you asked. The notion of literacy and illiteracy is one based on objective standards.  You may disagree with me on my taste in literature and still be literate, just as one may enjoy watching Adam Sandler "comedies" and not be blind.  The ability to read and see is an objective one. The idea of "environmental illiteracy" is category error.  Who sets the standard? Ah, the environmental studies professor, that is who.  Do you dare to disagree with her ideas:

• reduce "carbon footprint" by reducing human life via sterilization and forced abortions
• ride a bike to work, no matter how many miles away you live or how many Piolin drivers you might encounter
• "re-wild" the areas surrounding some people's homes by making vast tracks of land inaccessible to fire vehicles --which results in far more destructive forest fires like the recent Station fire
• prohibit air conditioning in new multi-million dollar college buildings in order to get "LEED" certification (dutifully ignore sweat pouring down students' faces as they try to learn calculus in a room that is 90 degrees)
• buy local, organic, picked-only-by-union-workers fruit, no matter how expensive

Disagree with any of the above?  You are ecologically illiterate. But not to worry. The sustainabullies will hound you with endless emails, rallies, and, that annoying and dated favorite, the teach-in.  Don't even think about applying for a tenure-track position unless you have documented evidence of towing the (green) party line.  

"Tolerance," they scream. 

"As long as you agree with us," they whisper.