People Now Say ‘Unsafe’ When They Really Feel ‘Uncomfortable’

November 08, 2017

WRITER

Glenn shared some words of wisdom in an audio clip from Justice Clarence Thomas on today’s show. Thomas remembered how his grandparents lived, with a “calmness and a contentment about life.” They emphasized context, priorities, education, respect for others and wisdom for picking your battles.

The justice pointed out that people now live with a one-size-fits-all approach to life where people are expected to think the same and not say anything that makes others feel uncomfortable.

Ginni Thomas — Wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas — Visits With Glenn at CPAC

People have exchanged “uncomfortable” for the word “unsafe,” wanting a world where they are never confronted with ideas they disagree with. Glenn noted the distinction between truly feeling unsafe and simply being uncomfortable. Not being properly secured on an amusement park ride would be an unsafe feeling.

“What we used to call ‘uncomfortable’ we now call ‘unsafe,’” Glenn said. “I feel uncomfortable when somebody is challenging me.”

This article provided courtesy of TheBlaze.

GLENN: Tonight at 5 o'clock, I'm going to go deeper into this. I started yesterday on the TV show, on what do we have in common? What is our unum? And showed you the problems that we're experiencing right now because we don't have an unum. E pluribus unum. From many, one. That was our national motto. We're now e pluribus pluribus. From many, many. It doesn't work. And now we're adding arrogance to it, on it's my way or the highway. I can kill you, if I don't agree with you.

Clarence Thomas said this recently. I want you to listen to this.

VOICE: When you think of people like my grandparents, these were people who had been through quite a bit and had a calmness and a contentment about life and they understood putting things in context, what was important, priorities, what battles are you going to fight today, what decisions are you going to make? What decisions you're going to make today will result in you being able to eat, those sorts of things. And the long-term. That these two boys, they were raising will be educate. And that they will have good manners and go to school and be polite to the neighbors, et cetera.

I think that today, we seem to think that everything has to be one-size-fits-all. And people can't have opinions that make us uncomfortable or ideas that make us uncomfortable or that we don't agree with.

GLENN: I want you to -- I want you to think of that. See, we've -- we have -- we're changing language. What we used to call uncomfortable, we now call unsafe.

I feel unsafe. No. You feel uncomfortable. Unsafe is when somebody comes into the office with a gun. That's when I feel unsafe. I feel unsafe when I go to a theme park and they haven't locked me in. I feel unsafe.

I feel uncomfortable when somebody is challenging me. That's huge. Because we can't even promise safety. There's no one that can say to you, you're going to be safe your entire life, unless you're in a bubble. And even then, there could be a fire. And if you're in a bubble, maybe the oxygen tanks blow up. I mean, I can't promise you safety, no one can.

But you should never want to be promised a lack of uncomfortability. I am only uncomfortable when I'm learning something new. For instance, yesterday, I was in a -- I was in a meeting, and I was very uncomfortable. I was very uncomfortable.

But I was very uncomfortable, because we were all learning something new. Never been there before.

Didn't know exactly how to handle it. None of us did. And we were all uncomfortable. But we will be better because we had that moment of uncomfortability. If we didn't have that uncomfortable moment, we would never solve it. It would just decay and get worse and worse and worse.

Your kids are uncomfortable doing their homework. They don't like it. You do it because you know it's important.

So the first thing that we have to -- the first thing that we have to change is the understanding of being unsafe and uncomfortable.

If somebody says to you, hey, I like that dress, and would you like to go out? That may make you uncomfortable. And say, that makes me uncomfortable. Don't do that anymore.

Somebody stalking you is making you unsafe. And they are very different. Learn that first. More in a minute.

GLENN: Uh-huh.

All right. So Clarence Thomas said, you know, a couple of things. And could we play this again, Sarah, please? This is Clarence Thomas.

GLENN: Okay. Stop. First of all, I want to start there. What he said here is, our grandparents were content.

And why? Because they had priorities. They put things in context. They put -- they knew what mattered.

This is why I've been on this kick lately in my own life. What matters most? Once you know and you make a list of what matters most, this is what matters most to me. This is where I'm headed. This is what I want to do.

Once you start doing that, oh, my gosh, your life changes. You suddenly have no tolerance for stuff that just doesn't matter. You're just like -- you want to have this conversation, go someplace else and have this conversation.

I'm working on this. Once we know -- Stu, what is the greatest gift from God? What would you say -- I thought of this yesterday. What would you say God's greatest gift to us is? Most precious gift.

STU: Probably queso, I would think. It's a tough line.

GLENN: Right. That was the first one that I thought of too. But now go to the second level.

STU: Obviously chips --

GLENN: Well, I'll help you a little. I'll bet a lot of people would say and I've said most of my life, forgiveness.

STU: Grace.

GLENN: Yeah, grace. The chance to start all ovary again is phenomenal.

But I don't think that's his greatest gift. Time -- time is our greatest, most precious commodity. Time.

And there's a limited amount of it. There's enough grace for the entire universe, for all eternity. But time is limited.

What are we doing with our time? We are not putting things into order. What matters most? We're like -- we are so ADD driven -- think of this. Where are we on ISIS today, talking about what happened in ISIS? We're not talking about it. Because we're currently talking about guns because of the shooting. Last week, we were all about ISIS. Last week, we got to be all about ISIS. This week, shooting, shooting, guns. First Amendment. Next week, it will be something else.

What the hell is wrong with us? We are, shiny object, shiny object, squirrel!

STU: Yeah. If you were super-duper into the NFL protests a few weeks ago, now that's ancient history. Was there any purpose in getting all fired up about that? I don't know.

GLENN: Nope. Nope.

STU: And this goes, every single week, there's another one of these stories.

GLENN: No. So we have to say: What matters most? For our time. But we have for look at that also as, in our society, what matters most?

What matters most? And I will tell you, that it is not getting rid of ISIS or getting -- or, I'm sorry. Getting rid of the Nazis or getting rid of Antifa. It's not getting rid of the Democrats or the Republicans. It's not getting rid of Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton.

Because another one will appear. Have you ever thought -- I don't watch the news anymore. And you're all keyed up from it from it.

And then you leave, what have I missed? And it's the same crap, different names. Have you ever noticed when you read the Bible, it's the same crap, just different names. You're reading this, and you're like, did these people not see what happened 500 years before? Did they not see?

They didn't see it. We're not seeing it. It's the same story over and over again.

So what matters most? We could do all kinds of things to get rid of guns. But is that what matters most?

We want to get rid of guns because we're against guns. No, I am for security. I am for the defense of the innocent. I am for the defense of the helpless. Now, that changes things. Because if I'm against guns, I can solve what happened in a Petri dish. Not actual solve it. I could solve what happened in a petri dish, by telling you that I'm going to make sure that that gunman on Sunday, isn't going to get a gun. Well, he's going to find someplace else. He'll mow a bunch of people down with a truck. You know, and if they're really committed, they'll fly a 747 or 727 into a building. They'll find a way. That doesn't solve anything. That kicks the can down the road.

What matters most is, I am for security and safety. I am for a -- a society that doesn't want to rip the throats out of each other. Well, now that's a different problem. That's a totally different problem.

That's going to make me now look at the shooter on Sunday and say, we have to look at mental health. We have to look at the divide between Christians and atheists. How can Christians and atheists -- what would be better in our country? If we were having a discussion this week about, how do we get together with atheists? You know what, see if we can get Penn Jillette on tomorrow. Penn, this guy was an atheist, what can the Christian community do to reach out, to atheists, and say, "We don't want to be those kinds of people, and I know you don't want to be those kinds of people. How can we break down some of these barriers?"

Wouldn't that do more for the safety of our nation and the -- and the calmness of the nation? Wouldn't that make us feel more safe? It's going to make us feel uncomfortable. But if you're not willing to be uncomfortable in thought, what you're saying to the world is, I got it all figured out, and it's my way or the highway. And that leads to Nazis. That leads to Antifa. That leads to rounding people up.

We have to be for things. I'm going to show you tonight at 5 o'clock, on TheBlaze TV, I'm going to take to the chalkboard, and I'm going to show you the things that people are saying now that we need to solve. We have to do something. And I'm going to show you that if you are against something, that solution will look really good. That solution will be like, yep. That could take care of it. I'm not going to guarantee it. But that could take care of it. But unless you're for something -- and these are really big principles that we should all be for, you will destroy those big principles. Because you're just going to pick them off, one by one, without even noticing.

I'll show you that tonight on the chalkboard at 5 o'clock, only on TheBlaze TV. Become a subscriber now at TheBlaze TV. That's TheBlaze.com/TV. And you can watch them all -- I think it's a buck an episode or something. And you can watch them all. But we just did -- last week was all about socialism. This week is kind of turning out to be e pluribus unum. What do we believe that will bring us together? Because if we don't bring ourselves together, we're toast. We're absolutely toast.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The dangerous lie: Rights as government privileges, not God-given

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is America’s next generation trading freedom for equity?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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