How Not To Feel Like A Loser (on the evening of November 3)
I was listening to a Sam Harris podcast today, complaining about Trump. I enjoy his sharp analysis, although his conclusions often betray an ideology that I do not share. As a result, on this and other episodes, I find Harris’ arguments largely ineffectual on broad cultural issues.
He's also symbolic of the Left; their Enlightenment models for universality; their overdependence on rationality; an implicit belief in secular monocultures; and their ensuing and concomitant disappointments with reality.
While I disagree with many of his conclusions on culture and values, Sam Harris represents much of what is worthwhile about secularism. He remains an important voice in contemporary culture, and I appreciate his reflections on the cultural values of the recent past. I’m thinking of the values articulated in my lifetime, post-1970. The values that make much of our living experience today, salient. For a quick cross section, think; cold war, economic and fiscal liberty, social activism, and globalization.
Why do all these things bear mentioning? Our culture is undergoing rapid transformation and our role as a community is to resolve the past while we build for the future. Since elections are cultural inflection points, we can use effective analysis and reflection to improve our free and democratic society. Moving on, after Tuesday's American election, there will be winners and losers. But no one likes to think of themselves as a loser, right? So to avoid that embarrassment, here's my reflection.
If Trump is reelected, I'll be relieved. Not like I was in 2016, when I was mostly curious. If Biden wins, I think it will cement all the hand wringing whiners and complainers into believing that they somehow have a superior view on things. That the election system, though flawed, was still somehow rescued from Neanderthals.
They will spend too much time rationalizing their victory, and building the case for more media control, technology oversight, and social inequality. And thereby, creating even more incentive for conservatives to dig in, build higher walls, and buy more ammo.
In the end, it might just come down to this - who would I rather have a drink with? A Trump or Biden supporter? On the one hand, in the scenario of a Trump victory, I wouldn't mind sharing a drink with a Biden supporter. I think their reflections in loss could be astute, and their precise analysis - if self directed - could have universal merit.
In the case of a Biden victory, I'd like to draw closer to a Trump supporter, possibly over some Kentucky whisky. The meta analysis of the culture could certainly be blistering; mythic, and hopeful for the future. "Gird your loins" sort of fare. Inspirational, though dire.
On the other hand - and this is where I will let things lie - I have to also consider what to do with any remaining time in the evening on November 3rd. In a semi-drunken haze; and for a final belt, amongst whom would I choose to be, for my nightcap? Without a doubt, you'd find me in the Trump camp. Win, lose or draw, I'd expect there to be plenty of food for eating, plenty of goodwill for bluster, and plenty of guns, for shooting. These are the American qualities I think are most worthy of Canadian praise and our concerted defense, thereof.
As for the Democrats, they too have plenty to offer. But mostly to the losers; the spectators of State; wise fools, unencumbered by pride. After all, the character of Americans in defeat has been amply displayed since 2016 by the liberal Left. It's clear to me, they are not here for anyone's benefit. I find their acquiescence to social malaise ultimately distasteful. An ultimate malfeasance, if you ask me.
If, as some would have us believe, the world truly is going to hell in a hand basket, I want to be counted among the Defiants. The Republicans' style in this affair, and not the Democrats', is more to my liking, after all. And that's all there is to say about that.
Sent from the Lofty Muse™
