While I feel like this right-wing group is missing the point of safe spaces, I do feel the nationally-publicized cases of “safe spaces” have been easy to target.
I attended University of Missouri for my Master’s, which may be where “safe space” became a household term. During my time there, the university made national headlines because the president failed to acknowledge certain racist and bigoted happenings on campus. Needless to say, protests completely imploded, an enormous city of tents deemed a “safe space” was pitched on the main quad, and those involved in said space were absolutely unreasonable and highly exclusive themselves. Upon first-hand experience with them, they were nasty, self-righteous, and attention seeking – kind of like babies. This is certainly not the norm, but unfortunately these events in Columbia, Missouri are strong contributors of people’s feelings toward “safe spaces” today.
I want people who need help to have a place where they can find it without judgement or exploitation. But there is a line between respectfully requesting anonymity and/or inclusion during a time of hardship, and outright blasting anyone who does not understand your worldview. We demand tolerance, but in these demands we forget that changing and educating people takes time and compassion. It’s not exactly fair to instantly expect people who have lived their entire lives a certain way to instantly understand the lives of people they have never encountered.
Mizzou’s case was in my opinion, very poorly executed and only paved the way for right-wing groups to condemn anything bearing the term “safe space”. I hope that we can come together and proactively educate each other on safe spaces without acting, or dressing up like babies.