Texas Youth Summit draws conservative to plot the culture war

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THE WOODLANDS — The worship area at Grace Woodlands church was peppered with crimson MAGA hats on Saturday, as younger adults gathered to hear from main conservatives typically seen on Fox News.

In the hallways, a couple of folks pushed strollers and others weaved by the crowd to get to the tables hawking shirts that learn, “Let the revolution begin” or “Freedom is never more than one generation from tyranny.”

They have been there for the fourth annual Texas Youth Summit, a two-day convention through which teenage and younger grownup Texans convened with politicians, ideologically aligned corporations and political teams to hear lectures, meet in small teams and finally really feel empowered, as the summit’s slogan says, “to be the catalysts to win the Culture War.”

Speakers included Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Donald Trump Jr., discuss present host Candace Owens and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who wore a pistol strapped to her leg as she addressed the corridor. As the headliners gave their speeches, a big cross from the church buildings’ sanctuary was illuminated behind them.

U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz additionally spoke, the similar day the Washington Post reported that he sought a preemptive pardon from President Donald Trump associated to a intercourse trafficking investigation. On Saturday, Gaetz made no point out of the investigation, through which the U.S. Department of Justice was reportedly wanting into whether or not he paid for girls to journey throughout state traces for intercourse and had a relationship with a 17-year-old woman. Instead, he urged the younger folks in attendance to combat for conservative causes.

“If you’re here with me on a Saturday, you came to this because you care — and it is because you know the fight we are in,” he stated. “We’re now in a country where you see grandmothers robbed in broad daylight in our major cities, and they are raiding the home of the former president of the United States. You used to only see this in the poorest third world countries on planet Earth.”

The summit was based by Christian Collins, a former political staffer for Cruz and U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady. Registration for the occasion, which was supported by donations and sponsorships from companies like the right-wing cellphone firm Patriot Mobile, was free for college students ages 12 by 26, so long as they submitted a reference from an grownup confirming “their interest in conservative politics.” Adults have been in a position to purchase a ticket.

According to its website, the summit strives to “identify, educate, and train students to promote principles of fiscal responsibility, free market, limited government, American Exceptionalism and the Judeo-Christian principles this country was founded on.”

“The Left controls the education system, TV networks, Hollywood, and social media and they are influencing youth,” the web site reads. “It’s so important youth learn the Conservative Principles that have always made and will continue to make America exceptional.”

For attendees, the stakes have been excessive.

“I’m so conservative, I love my country. … So all of that stuff is just stuff we need to strive for. And they’re trying to take that away from our country,” stated Manny Galvan, president of his Houston highschool’s Turning Point USA chapter. “Every day we sit here, so the more we do nothing, the more that’s getting taken. The more we’re trying to fight back, the more we can gain.”

But attendees additionally had differing views on what the culture war means.

“It’s not a literal war, but it is a metaphorical war for the battle of ideas,” stated Collins, the occasion’s founder. “We are working to educate young people with conservative and most importantly, Judeo Christian values so that they have the right worldview when they go off to college, or when they’re in their high schools, because of what the left is doing.”

Paideia Classical School was considered one of the organizations tabling at the occasion. They have 4 campuses throughout Texas, with three of them opening up inside the final three years.

“We are trying to create critical thinkers with our classes,” stated Loiuse Davidson, who was working the desk. “Many people just accept what they first see without any research.”

Some panels at the occasion urged attendees to query established analysis, elevating conspiracy theories round COVID-19, cellphone towers and extra. But greater than something, the occasion targeted on the concept that liberals inside and out of doors the authorities have been taking the nation in a harmful route.

“When it comes to this organization, we’re a nonprofit dealing with conservative issues, and we’re addressing the issues as opposed to specific groups,” Collins stated. “We’re actually making an attempt to sort out the concepts, the concepts are necessary to us. And so if we expect your concept is improper, then we are going to deal with the concept however I imply, we’re not making an attempt to go after anybody’s id.”

Phill Cady, an Air Force veteran who moved to Texas from California, arrange a desk to register folks to vote. He stated he’d register anybody to vote in the event that they requested — even when they did not agree with him.

“Some people just see MAGA and think bad,” he stated, pointing to his crimson “Make America Great Again” hat. “I am a Republican, but I’m not here to support that.”

But from many, the message was to do greater than vote. In order to win the culture war, robust political motion and mobilization was wanted.

“If you’re a digital warrior, get better at it,” Gaetz stated. “If you make phone calls and knock on doors, become more efficient, become an organizer and activist.”

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