Indiana Jones and the Ideological Commencement
It’s often said that people don’t meet their heroes, and Indiana Jones is no different. At the recent graduation ceremony of Arizona State University, the speakers reflected a trend that’s become familiar at many institutions: celebrities from Hollywood delivering lectures on social justice, climate change, and various other topics related to moral and cultural critiques of the West.
A quote that resonates with the current atmosphere at modern universities states, “Those seeking intellectual coherence do not enter here.”
Harrison Ford noted, “Humanity is part of nature, not above nature.” He urged radical environmental change while advocating for a deeper indigenous understanding of the world. It’s possible that had he chosen to remain silent, some may have viewed him as insightful. Yet, his words revealed a lack of depth.
This address wasn’t remarkable for its uniqueness, but rather for how it encapsulated an ideology dominant in many American higher education institutions. The solutions proposed by figures like Ford, and often by university leaders, frequently reflect the very principles that have led to systemic issues.
Ford’s argument counters the Biblical approach regarding humanity’s unique role. The Bible posits that humans, made in God’s image, are stewards of the Earth, tasked with a kind of governance that embodies care rather than tyranny. In contrast, Ford’s stance diminishes this distinction, leading to inconsistency. If humanity is merely a species among others—equally comparable to wolves or algae—why should we then seek to reorganize economies or implement sustainability practices?
Nature doesn’t require summits for governance; it operates on instinctual principles. Ford, who has made a fortune portraying heroic figures, now speaks as if he’s unaccountable. The left thrives in environments where their narratives go unchallenged. Placing a publicist at the event doesn’t exactly lend credibility.
Ironically, the very stories Ford enacts depend on the values he dismisses. The notion that humans have a responsibility to the environment holds weight only if they maintain a distinct role above the rest of creation. Present-day environmental movements might seek to eliminate Biblical teachings while simultaneously requiring moral frameworks, which proves paradoxical.
Ford lauded indigenous people for their view that “trees, mountains, water and soil are not commodities, but relatives.” This perspective is now a staple in academic discourse, yet it often misrepresents the historical relationship between humans and nature. Throughout history, cultures have decisively altered landscapes, hunting many species to extinction and engaging in conflict—all typical aspects of human existence, not anomalies.
There’s a noticeable contradiction in these speeches. ASU acknowledges its location on Indigenous lands. If this claim is genuine, one must wonder when the university plans to give it back. Celebrating awareness of historical injustices while retaining the land is not repentance but rather a performance.
And what of Ford? He owns several luxurious properties and has lived in a world shaped by advancements and wealth. Has he proposed changing his lifestyle for climate justice? The modern elite often function like secular priests, demanding sacrifice from others while remaining exempt themselves.
Ford reiterated the common oppressor-oppressed narrative prevalent in universities, framing every social issue within those lines. This framing is so broad that universities fail to present a variety of perspectives on fundamental human questions. Within this paradigm, you’re either oppressed or an oppressor; it seems there are no other interpretations of history.
This all raises a pertinent question: Will ASU consider speakers who might champion the American Founding, free markets, Christianity, or a Biblical perspective? Or will future graduations serve merely as progressive pep rallies, glorifying ideologies that dominate the university’s narrative?
To his credit, Ford did make a valid point when he stated, “The world you are entering, the world that my generation left you in, is a real mess.” Undeniably true. Yet, he then instructed graduates to tidy their own space while he presumably returned to one of his extravagant homes via a private jet.
Ultimately, the initiatives proposed by Hollywood figures and university leaders are among the root causes of today’s disarray, stemming from a lack of a Biblical perspective, disdain for American heritage, and unrealistic promises of societal progress through sheer moral assertiveness.
Graduates deserve more than just another trend. A genuine institution should expose its students to conflicting visions of humanity and ethics. Instead, Ford declared humanity is not elevated above nature, followed closely by giving humanity the daunting responsibility of preserving the planet.
A sign in the modern left-leaning academy still reads, “Those seeking intellectual coherence do not enter here.”
