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Quote of the Day: The Left’s Pleasure Palaces
“The Left’s pleasure palaces are all around us in their promised utopias of social justice, egalitarianism, sexual liberation, reflexive distrust of authority, and general nihilism. What they’ve brought about instead—as all pleasure palaces must—is death, destruction and despair.” – Michael Walsh
Michael Walsh’s book, The Devil’s Pleasure Palace, comes out of the critical theory movement, a metaphor for the nihilism built into it. The setting for this Palace is a magical, captivating castle deep in Germany’s Black Forest where a knight is tested by temptations and threats until he succumbs. At that point, his bride vanquishes the final temptation as the entire palace crumbles into nothing. It was merely a hypnotic illusion.
We are now forced to live with that illusion today as if it were inherent to the American culture. Ideas of Utopia of one kind or another abound, including Marxist theory. We see it in the demand for social justice, which insists that American values are racist and dangerous; that we are all entitled to be treated equally, even when we ignore the rule of law; law enforcement is belittled and denigrated as oppressive and unfair. Everything that Americans have valued deserves to be criticized, even annihilated.
Yet there are glimmerings that America is getting tired and angry at the dominance of cancel culture, rioters in the streets, attacks by those who believe that anyone who is white must be racist, and that none of our culture and values are worthy of preserving. Slowly we are speaking out, pushing back, protesting the lies of the media, and demanding that we have a “place at the table.”
We will survive this bedlam and thrive in its aftermath.
Published in Group Writing
I agree. How do you see it playing out though? I mean the start of the big turn around. Or is that too broad a question?
It’s like living in an episode of the Twilight Zone or a malign version of The Enchanted Cottage where reality is distorted to fit the desires of certain actors. Violence in a “righteous cause” is still violence. Intimidation in a “righteous cause” is still intimidation. It is anti-human. “Burning the village to save the village” was oxymoronic in the 1960s and is oxymoronic now. More and more people (one hopes) will see that societal suicide, and the promoters thereof, is literally a dead end path, not the route to paradise.
The Utopia the left wants to build will be a Dystopia underneath the veneer . . .
Life in modern America is about as utopian as it gets. The improvements that remain to be made require extensive capital and research and development to bring about–all of which would be destroyed in the revolution the anarchists are trying to instigate.
What a crazy time we live in.
It feels as though no one is answering the anarchists and the general public with the facts on how to relax and love the life we have the privilege of living in this advanced country. They are rebelling against a tyrant who does not exist here. The power to improve daily life in America comes from hard work that they (we) themselves (ourselves) must do. There’s no one to demand these improvements from. They don’t exist anywhere.
Like everyone else these days, I am very frustrated.
It is a very difficult question, @spirito78, but I think looking forward optimistically can be a valuable exercise.
Here are my thoughts. I think the disruption will go well into 2021. The duration will depend on the results of the election and how it is managed; the waking up of the woke when they realize that the violence and destruction isn’t acceptable; the minority communities speaking up as their homes are destroyed; and an armed citizenry. I hope it doesn’t come to our taking up arms, but they need to know that we will if we are threatened; responsible gun owners will not shoot first, but they will shoot second.
Correction: if we are threatened with bodily harm, we will shoot first!
I would love to hear the thoughts of others about the future, and who you see leading the charge through their voices and actions!
Absolutely! That is the irony in all these riots. We live in the richest country in the world, with the most opportunity, and everyone can take advantage. I just realized that in my comment above about how things may pan out: when the economy continues to come back (and it will), the “have-nots” are going to be those people who live in the riot zones. The rest of us can pursue our blessed lives and good fortune. Thanks, @marcin!
I think you are right, @rodin. As I said in my comment to Marci, people will realize that the worst places to live in this country are in the middle of riot zones. I think they are going to demand that justice be served–that the riots stop and that the rioters are thrown in jail.
I see a spiritual (think religious) type of renewal or revival in the cities that competes with the destructive behavior going on. I know that sounds too cheery but I think it’s coming. Not that the violence goes away completely, but it’s held in check by a positive countermove.
You have just lifted my spirits, @spirito78!! I would love to see a spiritual revival. The impact, I believe, would be enormous. We already see worship demonstrations going on, where people are coming together in prayer. I’ll see if I can find a link. Thanks!
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2020/09/12/letusworship-movement-brings-worship-protest-fort-collins/5779197002/.
Mmm, Black Forest cake! Wait, what? Sorry, got distracted there.
More seriously, there is a reason the word Utopia was chosen. It means “no place.”
This is our little pleasure palace, the Quote of the Day. But it’s no utopia. It’s a place to learn and to teach. To take up and to share. If you have a quotation you would like to share, our sign-up sheet awaits. We still have five open dates this month.
There is also the Group Writing Project. This month, the theme is a flexible one: If I was a —, I would —. It looks as if Clifford has nine open dates in the future.
If you haven’t written much on Ricochet, these projects are easy ways to get involved.
that’s exactly what I was thinking about.
As a Jew, I am so pleased to see the group “Let us Worship” traveling all over the country:
I am an avowed pessimist. It’s too late now. We lost the Culture Wars without much of a struggle. The leftist Educational System keeps churning out foot soldiers for the cause. The corporate and technology elites are on board. The Left is determined to enact their program. They won’t change. Ever. (At least not until they see with their own eyes the smouldering ruins of society their agenda will create.) Like most addicts, they won’t quit until they hit rock bottom. Unfortunately, the rest of us are along for the ride.
Look to the French Revolution. Look to the rise of the Nazis. Look to the Cultural Revolution in China. Look to the Khmer Rouge. Some version of those events is what I fear is on the way,
Personally, I’m thinking about going Gault. But where?
What is “going Gault” @ekosj. I think your pessimism is understandable. But I don’t think you’ll leave if the worst happens. Like most of us, you’ll find a way to cope, to adjust, and to justify staying. Since the world seems to be caving in to some type of socialism, I don’t know where you’d go. Mars?
The Left is only happy when they are outraged. Therefore re-electing Trump is an act of charity for them.
It’s a typo for Galt.
In Ayn Rand’s classic Atlas Shrugged John Galt basically removes himself from the society that views creators of wealth as deplorables. It’s my monicker for moving to Idaho or Wyoming or West Virginia or someplace and trying to ride out the craziness.
I think the Left will make sure that there’s no safe place. But I do wish you success in your search, if you need to pursue it. Be sure to leave us your mailing address. ;-)
Great book. Walsh offers a path out tied to a return to classical cultural knowledge in the next book, Fiery Angel. The Devil’s Pleasure Palace is so quotable.
I am afraid too many hwve turned from God. We know what happens
Another interesting book is The Idol of our Age, How the Religion of Humanity Subverts Christianity by Daniel Mahoney. I was fortunate to meet both Michael Walsh and Daniel Mahoney on National Review cruises. I keep Walsh’s and Mahoney’s books out and refer to them frequently to understand what I am seeing today. Here is an interesting passage from Mahoney’s…
THe Idol of the age, indeed