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Epidemic of Hopelessness
We have been trapped for years by a minority in our society that thinks that we live in a despicable country. Recently they are also 
making clear that the only solution to this “fact” is the destruction of our country. I believe that the deluded people who profess this worldview experience nothing but hopelessness in their lives. Unfortunately, those of us who don’t agree with them are slowly becoming infused with this sick approach to life. If we don’t wake up, we risk succumbing to this life-threatening disease.
The Federalist, in an article by Nathanael Blake, helped me diagnose the sickness of hopelessness of the Left. Many people have tried to understand the viciousness and destructiveness of Progressives by pointing to the draw of Marxist theory, the corruption of education, and the immaturity of many young people, to name a few. But these reasons only answer the “what” questions—what they are doing; they don’t answer the “why.”
I believe that living in an increasingly secular and prosperous country, people are desperate to find meaning and purpose. When you have no belief in G-d or in man, and you can’t identify what you can contribute to the world, there is only one mindset to embrace: hopelessness.
Hopelessness does provide a path out of confusion and frustration. You give yourself permission to relinquish any semblance of self-worth; if you have nothing to offer to society, you have no obligations to your community or to your fellow man. And if there is no loving G-d to serve, you are completely alone.
You are hopeless.
But as people have given up hope, they have been lured with a “cure”: Progressive thought. The Progressives tell them that they can be “saved” by the ideals of Progressive thought; that the world is a wretched place, but they can start all over again. They can envision wearing the mantle of “Creator” in this revolutionary approach. They will return the earth to the void and darkness and re-create a new world. Paradoxically, the path of hopelessness creates the New Hope.
* * * * *
For many of us on the Right, this life view is anathema to everything we hold dear: life, liberty, faith, responsibility, creativity, values, morals, family—our list is inspiring and life-affirming. Yes, meeting our goals and obligations can be difficult, but our belief that many people are good, generous, and responsible inspires us to strive to become our best selves.
Living in a bombastic, persistent, and continual time of hopelessness is becoming very challenging. We aren’t lured by the Leftist agenda itself. We are, however, feeling discouraged, frustrated, bewildered and desperate at one time or another, as we watch our values and institutions being torn apart. In other words, in a different manner, we are doomed to watch the country destroyed, if we don’t find ways to fight these life-ending movements. We are subject to the disease of hopelessness. If we give in to hopelessness, they have won, and we are lost. If we aren’t creative enough to stymie them in their efforts, we lose more than our own wellbeing. We stand to lose much that gives life meaning.
We must fight to replace hopelessness with faith: faith in a divine presence, faith in this country and faith in each other.
We must. Or we are lost.
Published in Culture
And now we carry it like a ball and chain, dragging it with us through every moment of our lives.
Isn’t it interesting, @bobthompson, that these structures/groups, although not collectivist, are the very forms that allow us to function and grow as individuals?
Huh? Religion always focuses on community and families require parents to stop being selfish. Are you sure you are not arguing for another kind of collectivism?
I’m not seeing self-hate or a personal sense of guilt among those people I know in this category, probably not utopianism either. Perhaps (probably) peer pressure.
The German historian Friedrich Meinecke quoted a friend’s comment about some of the people who followed Naziism and other fanatical movements:
“It often happens nowdays…that young technicians, engineers, and so forth, who have enjoyed an excellent university training as specialists, will completely devote themselves to their calling for ten or fifteen years and without looking either to the right or to the left will try only to be first-rate specialists. But then, in their middle or late thirties, something they have never felt before awakens in them, something that was never really brought to their attention in their education–something that we would call a suppressed metaphysical desire. Then they rashly seize upon any sort of ideas and activities, anything that is fashionable at the moment and seems to them important for the welfare of individuals–whether it be anti-alcoholism, agricultural reform, eugenics, or the occult sciences. The former first-rate specialist changes into a kind of prophet, into an enthusiast, perhaps even into a fanatic and monomaniac. Thus arises the type of man who wants to reform the world.”
I’m not sure how Bob will answer you, Henry, but collectivism in the Marxian sense is not voluntary. Although we don’t choose our family, we are free to separate from it; in fact, a healthy family will encourage us to be independent. We become part of a community and can decide how we will become engaged with it; we can always leave at any time. The difference is choice and compulsion, I think.
I like your response @susanquinn. I would add that a big part of the hopelessness written about here comes from the Progressives’ effort to destroy family and religion. Individuals being sociable does not make them collectivists.
I have long said that Communism only works on a household level, call it family. If you aren’t somewhat ‘collectivist’ in your home with your family you kinda missed the point of family. The problem comes when you try to expand it to the whole community or even the whole neighborhood. What works micro does not work macro.
I think there is an inner emptiness.
Which is exploited by communists for nefarious purposes.
Excellent point.
One reason I prefer to write posts on popular culture, even the kinds that I doubt older conservatives will have much interest in, is that I find there are two points that we tend to forget. The first is that the Left has lost its greatest asset: a true connection with youth culture. The second is that curmudgeonly impatience is the biggest obstacle that conservatives put up against open-minded youngsters; it’s what keeps them politically homeless.
I didn’t grow up in a “religious” household, I grew up in a “progressive” one. When I finally started moving to the Right, I was pretty angry and often insufferable. Certainly one of the great things about Ricochet is that we can come here and write about our concerns and anxieties regarding politics. But having like-minded people in a room together always has the risk of turning into orgiastic bitterness, where people encourage the worst in each other. Right now we’re seeing this manifest on the Left; I hope we don’t take the bait.
Excellent points, @samuelblock. I think enough of us (including editors and moderators) on Ricochet are committed to civil conversation to not fall for the nastiness. I don’t know about the larger population. And I’m glad you whippersnappers are here to challenge us!
I agree, this is no ordinary political site. One reason I’m hopeful is that I don’t find conservatives to be nearly as obnoxious – even though we surely have our moments.
Also, be sure to challenge us back! Us whippersnappers tend to be confident, but we’re quick to ramble even when we don’t know what we’re talking about.