THE YEAR IN REVIEW 2020: AMERICA’S ANNUS HORRIBILIS UNC’s CONSERVATIVE & LIBERTARIAN JOURNAL, SINCE 1993. From the Editor-in-Chief Carolina Review is the journal of conservative and libertarian thought published at the University of North Carolina. Since 1993, we Dear Readers, have been the only published voice of con- servatism on campus. Note that each article expresses the view of the author, not the Annus horribilis (horrible year) is usually used as a descriptor for a low publication or staff as a whole. point in the life of a monarch; a year fraught with death or scandal, like 1992 for EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Queen Elizabeth II or 2007 for King Juan Carlos I. Few could argue, however, Bryson S. Piscitelli (‘23) that 2020 has not been the annus horribilis for all of America. EDITORIAL BOARD The country that we were raised in is effectively gone, for reasons both Elliot Gualano (‘24), Managing Editor & Satirist Jacobson “JC” Leser (‘24), Layout Editor artificial and uncontrollable. Buildings renamed and statues toppled is one thing, Adam Skrzecz (UNC Law ‘22), Law Editor but the safety of cherished traditions like gathering for Christmas, singing the na- Alex Kelly (‘24), Opinion Editor tional anthem before a football game, even the celebration of America’s found- MEDIA ing on July 4th 1776 are now doubtful. Life has taken a sickening turn towards Kristina Anastasia Perjar (‘21), Social Media tyranny, from the chilling of political speech in reaction to this year’s race riots Nicole Divers (‘20), Cartoonist LAW Vincent Doa (UNC Law ‘21) Colin Russell (UNC Law ‘22) SPORTS Tupshin Zhu (’24) Luke Duckworth (’23) STAFF WRITERS Morgan Chapman (’23), Connor Collins (’24), Sarah Kate “SK” Doherty (‘24), Nate Gibson (’23), Cabel Jarrett (’24), Mubashshir Khan (’22), Zachary Kosnitzky (’21), Devin Lynch (’22), Kristen Snyder (’24), Arthur Vu (‘22), to the destruction of small businesses by COVID lockdowns. In short, we are all Alexander Yalcin (’22) living through times we frankly never thought would come to this country. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Despite all of these things, and seeing the ugly fact that this Union is Gray Hurley (’21) and Skylar Teague (’21) irreparably divided rear its head in the most contentious election since 1860, I EDITORS EMERITI am hopeful for America. As we have been forced into our homes during the pan- Charlton Allen, Founder demic and many disenfranchised from public life for fear of losing their jobs, our Nathan Byerly, Bill Heeden III, Scott Rubush, James Baley, Steve Russell, Matt Rubush, society has seen a return to the family, and indeed, a return to God. Unfortunate- Deb McCown, Adam Herring, Fitz E. Barringer, ly, sometimes a hard wakeup call is what it takes to end a sleepy daydream down Brian Sopp, Taylor Stanford, Ashley Wall, Bryan Weynand, Nash Keune, Zach Dexter, Anthony the destructive path. Dent, Alex Macey, Chase McDonough, Kelsey In lighter news, 2020 has been one of Carolina Review’s most successful Rupp, David Ortiz, Frank Pray, Alec Dent, years since our founding. This magazine is the longest we have ever released at Jesse B. Oliver 52 pages. The staff size has more than quintupled to twenty-one members since ONLINE I took over as Editor-in-Chief four months ago, and we are pleased to be joined carolinareviewonline.org this month by former DTH staffer Mubashshir Khan (whose article you can find AFFILIATE The Carolina Review is a member of the on page 31), a new foreign policy writer, Arthur Vu (p. 39), two new sports writ- Collegiate Network, an organization of the Intercolle- ers: Tupshin Zhu and Luke Duckworth, and two new law writers: CR alumnus giate Studies Institute. Colin Russell, and president of the UNC Federalist Society, Vincent Doa. LEGAL Carolina Review is a recognized student group at Merry Christmas to you all. If you support our work, consider donating the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a on our website, or joining as a writer. Let us pray for a better year to come! 501(c)(3), nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. This issue was paid for, at least in part, by student activity Lux Libertas, fees. All inquiries, letters, and donations should be mailed to 282 Frank Porter Graham Student Union, UNC-CH Campus Box 5210, Chapel Hill North Carolina 27599-5210. Please email [email protected] for more information. Bryson S. Piscitelli Copyright 2020 Carolina Review. All rights reserved. Printed in Raleigh, North Carolina by Chamblee Editor-in-Chief Graphics, Inc. 1 CAROLINA REVIEW · December 2020 Vol. XXVII · No. 5 · December 2020 Contents Features In Each Issue 3 2020 IN REVIEW From the Editor in Chief 1 It’s the Culture War, Stupid by Bryson Piscitelli, America is Not Systemically Contents 2 Racist by Connor Collins, Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst by Nate Gibson, Viewpoints 45 Sex, Drugs, and the Abolish Greek Life Movement by Elliot Gualano 15 SPORTS Cartoon Corner 52 Is UNC a Football School Now? by Luke Duckworth carolinareviewonline.org 18 GUEST SUBMISSIONS The New Right Needs a New Deal by Zachary Miller, Chairman of Baylor YAF, Donations & Subscriptions and Lessons From The Field: Campaigning During a Pandemic by Zach To become a subscriber to Carolina Review, give a gift, or change your Quimby, Campaign Manager of Alan Swain for Congress subscription address, contact us at 24 LAW [email protected] 2020: The Year of the Constitution by Adam Skrzecz A yearly subscription (each magazine mailed to you) is $60. Carolina Review 27 MAN OF THE YEAR 282 Frank Porter Graham Student Union Xi Jinping and the Threat of China in the 21st Century by Alex Kelly UNC-CH Campus Box 5210 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-5210 Letters to the Editor 31 OPINION Carolina Review welcomes your com- Why Americans Don’t Trust Each Other by Mubashshir Khan, King Cooper: ments, criticisms, and suggestions. Letters to the Editor should be sub- Leader of Fools by Kristen Snyder, The Climate is Changing by JC Leser, The mitted via email to carolinareviewon- Church of Science by Alexander Yalcin [email protected] or mailed to our 38 FOREIGN POLICY permanent address. Carolina Review In Defense of Drones by Arthur Vu reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity, and vulgarity. Please keep letters to the editor below 1000 words. Not all letters will be printed. 53 DEAR MR. EDITOR Include your name, year in school, A Response to Alex Kelly’s Abortion Article by Eesha Desai, and Alex Kelly’s major, and hometown. Professors should include their department. response to the critique Join the Staff Carolina Review always needs new writers, reporters, photographers, cartoonists, web designers, etc. Please contact Carolina Review at [email protected] to find out more about how you can become a part of our team. 2 It’s the Culture War, Stupid BRYSON SCOTT PISCITELLI Editor-in-Chief Sophomore 2020 has revealed that the Culture War is Contemporary European Studies & PWAD Major the single most important aspect of from Raleigh, NC national politics, trumping economics. n 1992, Bill Clinton anism is doomed to cement the even been true in the playbook of usurped incumbent Pres- collapse of the Republican Party. the twentieth century, but one im- ident George H.W. Bush In fact, Trump’s run, regardless portant difference exists between after, among other things, the America before 1992 and that Bush had infamously of 2020: America of 1992 was, failedI to uphold his promise of more or less, one unified culture. “read my lips: no new taxes.” In “Trump may not even The Democratic party, while response, Clinton’s top strategist know it himself, but moving in the general direction James Carville created a slogan of progressive social leftism, had that became an instant classic in he is not the second nowhere near the platform of, as American politics: “It’s the Econo- coming of Reagan. Pat Buchanan said at the ‘92 RNC, my, Stupid.” The logic was simple. He’s the Buchanan “radical feminism… abortion on When an incumbent President fails demand, a litmus test for the Su- to provide a healthy economy, go that got to be Presi- preme Court, homosexual rights, to the economy question. After all, dent. discrimination against religious people may think with their heads, schools, [and] women in combat but they most often vote with their units.” In 2020, these planks are pocketbooks. of the ultimate fate of his 2020 considered milquetoast by modern I argue that the period challenge, have irreversibly proven DNC standards. The only thing in American history where this that the old methods were too frail Buchanan forgot in his prediction concept was viable has ended. to withstand the whipping winds was an all-encompassing doctrine In its place, a new maxim has of change. of purging American society of its arose: ‘It’s the Culture War, Stu- Why did economics ever ‘Systemic Racism.’ As anyone that pid!’ Because the Culture War has work anyway? If all that mattered lived through the 2020 summer trumped traditional economic and was economics, then no president of rioting can attest, American political concerns in elections, the would ever lose re-election as long culture now has manifested a very hopes of neoconservatives to ‘end as he provided better financial different breed of leftism than ever Trumpism’ and return to middling, conditions to the electorate than before, and it is not sitting well milquetoast economic libertari- four years prior. This may have with a large chunk of the popula- 3 CAROLINA REVIEW · December 2020 The Culture War manifests a simple truth: we are two fundamentally different nations under one gov- ernment.