Fox & Friends Lauds College For Mandatory ‘Patriotism’ Class: ‘Isn’t it About Time?’
A tiny Christian college in Missouri has instituted a mandatory military patriotism class and Fox & Friends is absolutely loving it — even saying the NFL players protesting police brutality by kneeling for the national anthem “could learn a thing or two from this course.”
College of the Ozarks — a Christian liberal arts school with 1,500 students — announced recently that all freshmen will be required to take the school’s “Patriotic Education and Fitness” class. Fox News host Ainsley Earhardt commentated on this news by saying, “Isn’t it about time?” — suggesting that all college students should be required to sign up for such a course.
The morning talk show, where President Donald Trump gets most of his news, used this class to both attack national anthem protesters and encourage parents to send their children to the school. “Patriotism, now required — a mandatory [USA 101] class one college is actually rolling out… If you have a kid in high school, you are going to want to know what college that is,” said Earhardt.
Adding in another promo for the news segment, “[National] anthem protests can learn a thing or two from this university course. College of the Ozarks creating a mandatory freshmen course on patriotism. Focusing on respect for the military and for our beautiful flag.” In an earlier segment, another Fox & Friends host said “millionaire athletes” could be taught “a thing or two about patriotism” from this class.
College of the Ozarks president Jerry Davis, who appeared on the show today, explained his reasoning for the (arguably jingoistic) course:
“We think this class will enhance the carrying out of our patriotic goal, and we’re trying to teach students to understand, support, and be willing to defend our country. We think that’s needed especially because of the culture in which we live… We think the general public needs to have a better understanding of our military and our students need to get that background too before they go out in the world and I hope we make a difference.”
Earhardt then responded by saying, “I think it’s just great.”
When asked what he thought about the national anthem protesters, Davis said, “We don’t plan on playing another team that refuses to stand…We think that’s disrespectful and we owe the military more than that.”
Watch above via Fox News.
[featured image via screengrab]
Follow Caleb Ecarma on Twitter.
