Something has changed in the United States, and frankly throughout the free world, that is so profound it seems shocking that some are unaware of it. Many Americans think that we are merely having the same arguments that we always have between the two major political parties. However, there has been a dramatic shift, particularly on the national level, to the point where we are barely able to pretend that we are still talking about Republicans vs. Democrats. This current movement popularized within the last decade, although it is nothing new. It is merely a reawakening of the same old movement that continually opposes free societies. These same old ideas simmer beneath the surface only to resurface generation after generation. They have been called by many names: Progressivism, Postmodernism, Socialism, Communism, etc. The terms that we use to describe them are almost irrelevant as the labels and vocabulary are continually updated, while the ideas remain the same.
All of the sudden, although not entirely without warning, we are actually publicly debating whether to continue to be American or not. When we talk about America we are not just talking about a place. We are talking about an idea, an ideology, and a system of government that is so unique that it has repeatedly been referred to as the Great Experiment. What we are debating, almost casually at times, is whether that experiment has failed and if it is time to adopt another ideology and system of government or not.
As we debate these issues, people are throwing a lot of words and ideas around without fully understanding their meaning, their history, or the potential consequences, even on an elementary level. It is almost as though huge sections of history are missing from the American memory, or are hidden from view. Have we forgotten what it means to be American? Do we really understand what it means to live under some of the alternative systems of government, even in some sort of as yet unachieved best-case scenario?
This debate is beginning to emerge throughout the western world, and while some in the U.S. are joining the movement because of its emergence through the Democratic Party, others are joining because of its visible strength and popularity, a sense of disenfranchisement, a belief that it will change the world for the better, or because they see the potential power to be attained as leaders of the movement.
“Have we forgotten what it means to be American?”
This movement, however, is beginning to shift so far to the left that it is darting past even the far-left wing of the Democratic Party. Now it is beginning to directly confront the core American values that we have taken for granted as though the freedoms that we enjoy have always and will always be there. That is of course not the case as multiple wars have been fought, and elections won, to achieve what we have achieved here.
What has changed in America that tells us that the national conversation is no longer a debate between Republican and Democratic policies anymore? We are still voting for and against politicians with Rs and Ds next to their names. We are still talking about many of the same issues. To be fair, some people are in fact still debating the usual issues from the usual positions. However, the trend of the nation overall is moving far beyond the usual, leaving those still fighting the same old battle behind on the platform. They are apparently unaware that not only have they missed the train but that it is moving full steam ahead, and in the opposite direction.
The popular mainstream culture has shifted quickly and dramatically to the left reflecting the new, or rather the old movement revamped for a new generation, and those changes are reverberating throughout every facet of society. The tension has become so palpable at times that you can practically feel it in the air. You can see it quite clearly when you go onto the internet, even if you can only see glimpses and shadows of it in the news.
We are seeing verbal, economic, and even physical attacks on people for not conforming with the ideological beliefs of this increasingly powerful movement. Those who have aligned themselves with this ideology are dividing themselves and others into groups and subgroups and then pitting groups against one another in an unwinnable war. The disputes are based on irrational hatred, moral posturing, and a struggle for power centering around how oppressed a person is according to some kind of points system based on all of his or her group associations. These group associations are, in many cases, completely irrelevant to individual lives.
Beyond these ill-considered disputes, we are seeing a drastic increase in oppressive, tyrannical, and draconian efforts to suppress and limit free speech through false accusations of hate speech, offensive language, racism, sexism, and bigotry. These attacks are merely efforts to silence those who do not conform with the ideology of the movement. This is particularly alarming as freedom of speech is arguably the most crucial element of a free society. It ensures that the citizens can tell their government and their fellow citizens when something is wrong and ensures that they can both say what they believe and not to be forced to say what they do not believe. Controlling speech through suppression or compulsion is a crucial element of tyrannical authoritarianism.
Allowing all individuals to speak means that there is a possibility that someone may say things that you do not want to hear. Someone might say something hurtful, false, evil, or that person might be the only one who knows the truth and is willing to speak it no matter the cost.
“the ideas that made us a beacon of freedom and the envy of the world”
Free speech is a particularly important protection for the poor and powerless who may be hurt by the majority and whose only protection is the ability to speak out. If limitations are placed on free speech such as the supposed right not to be offended, then the entire structure of free society breaks down and you are left with a capricious and controlling society with its most vulnerable citizens subject to the whims of the mob.
As the influence of the movement increases, there is a growing reaction to those who oppose the loss of freedoms that they value. There is a huge external structure of communication developing online, that began with social media, but is not stopping there. It is acting much like a steam valve bursting open to allow the excess pressure to escape the restrictive confines of this encroachment on freedom. Everywhere you look new people are sharing information not covered in the news and speaking up about these issues.
A particularly interesting development is what is being referred to as the intellectual dark web. This group of people, from the left and the right, are all classical liberals who value the principles of Americanism. They have all felt compelled to, and in some cases been forced, to cross traditional party lines and participate in this burgeoning debate.
What exactly are the differences between the American ideology, or Americanism, and this opposing ideology that keeps re-emerging? Broadly speaking, everything. This movement’s ideological view of how society should function is the antithesis of Americanism every way. Setting aside the popularized labels and vocabulary and simply comparing the general concepts it is easy to observe the differences, as you can see below.
As these ideologies are polar opposites of each other, how exactly did we get to the point where we are seriously questioning the values of America in this way? Overall, we have failed to adequately communicate our values and to live up to our responsibilities to one another. Have we taught our children what it means to be American? Have we taught them about personal responsibility and their responsibilities to their fellow man? Have we reached out to our family, friends, and neighbors when they struggled, or did we gladly relinquish our responsibilities to the government, along with our freedoms, because it was easier?
Now, as a nation, we are left to contemplate whether we value the ideas that made us a beacon of freedom and the envy of the world or if we consider the Great American Experiment to be a failure. This is a question that we will all have to answer for ourselves.
Comments