A long, relentless march of increasingly crazy leftist ideas has spurred an increasingly crazy rightist reaction.
The irony of perpetually online people LARPing as “trad” is sometimes funny and even has beneficial elements. Young people thinking about having families, being responsible, and focusing on basic values is a welcome development in a rudderless culture.
But it can quickly turn militant, politically and culturally. Nationalism, vengeance for past wrongs, or a focus on others being bad instead of making yourself good — these are dangerous to the individual soul and the world at large.
In the long term, I fear those reacting to “woke” culture more than I fear woke culture. The woke are deeply and profoundly lost. They are wounded, confused, and bitter. They need love and healing. Of course, they have great propensity to hurt others when given political power, and have done so. They shouldn’t have political power. But without that weapon to wield, they are more likely to change through compassion than reprimand. Love the sinner not the sin. (A very difficult pill to swallow, I admit).
The “trads” reacting to them are a different beast. Their anger is based on more logical, understandable things. They aren’t so crazy and without coherence. They are reacting to genuine evil, or at least genuine stupidity. In this sense, they are justified. But sometimes being “right” is more likely to lead you and others to hell than being wrong.
Again, without political power to wield, trad reactionaries have much to offer, even if they could use a little perspective and humility. But the weapon of the state is more dangerous and more powerful in their hands, because of the deceptive coherence of their cries for justice and retribution. It can quickly lead to strongmen and pitchfork mobs.
Pitch fork mobs are bad for everyone.
Not because monsters aren’t real. Monsters are very real, and they must not be given room to roam and destroy.
Pitchfork mobs are bad not because they chase out monsters, but because they create more monsters.