Token justice

Every now and then I read just a sentence or two that has a big impact on me. About a year ago I read the following.

The danger of any educational institution rooted in progressive values but dependent on big money is the default to political correctness as a substitute for a broader liberalism — the promotion of economic equity. You cannot rail against an unfair tax system when you rely on those who benefit from it, but you can patrol offensive speech and innuendo in the name of moral compassion; you can reward unease and grievance as rectitude.

This quote is taken from a New York Times article
Someone Went Too Far at Friends Seminary, but Who?
It describes a bizarre controversy at a wealthy prestigious high school in New York City. A quirky Jewish mathematics teacher was fired because as a joke he made a Nazi salute when trying to illustrate obtuse angles.

For context, the school was started by the Quakers (Friends). Annual tuition is US$41K.

Generally, the trajectory seems common with institutions that are founded by Christians with a distinctly Christian vision and ethos. This leads to ``success'' that then attracts the wealthy and powerful who use the institution to advance their own interests.  Even more broadly, this evolution is common in institutions.