Reflections On America’s Surrender
It is common sophistry among the performance artists formerly known as the alt-right, along with their millions of useful idiots, to ask with a rhetorical flourish and a pretense of perplexity why — “I mean really, exactly why?” — The United States should be supporting leftist-progressive Europe and the NATO alliance against Putin’s “Christian, anti-woke Russia.” The answer, simplified for the useful idiots (since there is no point at all in arguing with performance artists): Because in today’s Europe it is still possible for Christian nationalist populism (i.e., nostalgic fascist kitsch) to win, whereas in today’s Russia it is impossible for Christian nationalist populism (i.e., nostalgic fascist kitsch) to lose.
The male admirers of Donald Trump announce themselves as weak, pathetic creatures by adhering slavishly to a model of masculinity that has “desperately overcompensating coward” written all over it. Remember the days when humans the world over used to believe — often, in recent times, to the consternation of feminists — that a good man was a creature of few words who knew that virtue was a way of living, not a self-promotional neon sign? an independent actor who when push came to shove would place the wellbeing of others above his own material advantage and would help those others, when required, without seeking either credit or praise? a gentleman who would face down a threatening adversary or raise up an ailing ally without causing either to lose face? a principled actor who would endure poverty, punishment, or even death rather than sacrifice a principle or mission to mere practical benefit, physical comfort, or public approval? and an individual of reserved self-knowledge who viewed the bloviating bully and the vain self-seeker (two sides of the same coin) with utmost disdain, seeing them for what they really are? Well, the male admirers of Donald Trump are the men who do not remember those days.
Trump as president has indeed displayed a most remarkable art of the deal: No one has ever achieved so much surrender from a position of so much natural advantage. No one has ever negotiated so many weak and withering tyrants into positions so much stronger and more influential than they could ever have attained without unexpected and unearned concessions from America. Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un, the Iranian mullahs — all global pariahs with dilapidated forces and fading hopes who since the ascent of Trump with his oh-so-clever negotiating acumen have found their authority reinforced and normalized, their threats more brazen and substantial, and their evil intentions relativized by Trump and the MAGA cult as nothing more worriesome than the development plans of a respected business rival.
