Being blissfully naive or purposely ignorant may help you feel morally superior, but I'm not sure it helps change what's going on in reality.

"It's the jump to imply the extremist meaning of the word that gets me."

It's not really a jump to an extreme meaning if that's how the words are being used by politicians, media and even sports stars.

"Our world is fractured and divided. So people want to focus on things that can unite us. Like sports and terms like Unity and Equality. Things that pre 2020 would be unobjectionable."

Who are these 'uniting' people that you speak of? Be specific. Many of the richest and most blessed have called for equity and unity in the most divisive ways (see Chuck Shumer, Joe Biden, Pelosi, Mitchell Obama, Oprah and Lebron James). Many probably thought that "Make America Great Again" was a uniting phrase.... because after all, we are all Americans.

"He spun the NCAA’s use to mean that conservatives need to give up all their morals and values (what they have left anyway) and bow to Marxo-leftist leanings in all ways and forms. It’s sad. And honestly a rough way to live."

There was no spin. You know nothing about me or what I really think apparently. But, I've heard enough people on both sides to have at least a vague idea of how each side understands these words.

"He is furthering the notion that there is no room for moderates (myself and millions of others) in the conversation. It seems everything must be interpreted as one extreme or the other."

Plenty of room for fellow moderates. It helps to be open-minded — to at least try to understand what both sides are saying (via words and actions). Like you in this instance, my 22 year old daughter misses many of cues as well.