The siren song of "based politics" is that the beast is "them". But it really seems to be us, and this destructive culture is a clear reflection of us, but for the Grace of God.
Fwiw, apparently the closest real life scenario to Lord of the Flies turned out to be a heartwarming tale of friendship and survival, as the boys helped each other survive. Whereas Golding was a depressed, hateful, alcoholic, fascist-friendly schoolteacher who wrote his book out of anger at a Christian work that portrayed the grace and power of the Gospel on children. More here:
I also know and love that story, but per Martin's comment I do think context matters. Those Catholic schoolboys weren't just any random schoolboys. I'd be more pessimistic about the likely fate of a group of basically areligious young scamps.
Funnily enough my daughter told me this story recently after I mentioned LOTF as an example of human nature in action. I think it depends on whether you believe in fallen nature or noble savage theory as to which is more realistic. English prep school boys are probably closer to the former and reflect recent history too. A small group of Tongan Catholic friends are in a different league.
To what degree, however, is that a self-fulfilling prophecy? If you read biographies of the greatest figures of the 19th and early 20th century, one book that keeps coming up as read by every kid is Robinson Crusoe (pilgrims progress is always in the mix too).
Yet in my childhood, no room for Crusoe on the curriculum (and definitely no Bunyan!), plenty of space for LOTF and (the far superior) Heart of Darkness, plus of course Catcher in the Rye…
If you think this is because the schools are so devout they really want to hammer in belief in original sin… I don’t know what to tell you. That charade falls apart when you consider at the same time they taught me uncritically all of Rousseau’s garbage philosophy (but no Burke…)
No, it’s not a question of acknowledging that in Adam’s fall we sinned all. It is certainly the issue of - as we see even more brazenly today - teachers getting their perverted kicks out of corrupting the youth. It’s creepy, Satanic stuff. Homeschool your kids : )
More here on the degree to which the stories and examples we hold out to children profoundly affect their development… they climb the mountains that are there…
Thanks for the post. I think we were lucky that some good books got through because they had always been there and the progressive teachers weren’t ready to replace them. LOTF was not my favourite book but made a good moral point - the Rousseau version is wrong and we descend into savagery if left to our own devices. I am also appreciating that most of the books I read in my teens (and earlier) contained strong moral messages. Everything from Enid Blyton to Charles Dickens worked at persuading us to be heroes rather than villains and do the right thing.
I saw the film and found it quite hilarious. Some of the "subjects" are clearly grifters...the woman who claimed her daughters were dissed by a character in some kind of parade was disgusting. I remember that incident well. The character who was quite tall with a large fake head may well have been unable to see the small girls waving. But of course since the girls were black, they were permanently scarred when the character (a muppet?) walked past them. The Race to Dinner hostesses were disgusting, particularly the Indian (Rao?) who claimed Republicans are Nazis. Yeah right.....Robin D'Angelo came off as well intentioned and sincere but living in another universe. Does she REALLY believe the bilge she is pushing? But Matt paid the fee so he was entitled to her time. I do agree the class was totally cringeworthy and the motley assortment of participants almost seemed to be a parody of themselves. I kept wondering, is this real? I guess it was. I don't think this was a particularly unethical documentary. Did Matt lie? Did he not pay the required fees? No. I just hope this is one more nail in the DEI coffin.
I don't have a problem with the way they staged various scenes with the grifters. I just think there's something wrong with encouraging normal people to act out the very worst versions of themselves.
"Expose the unfruitful works of darkness" (Ephesians 5). I think there's an argument to be made that that's what Walsh is doing in this film. The fact that it is hysterically funny in parts - for example, the way his comatose, wheelchair-bound "uncle" sniggers at the memory of his "joke" - makes the exposing all the more effective. I haven't seen anything funnier since Ben Stein played the apoplectic professor teaching evolution in "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," a genius film with a similar purpose, which I highly recommend.
I understand your qualms, and it's reasonable to question the genre which could be broadly classified as "undercover journalism", but I disagree with your defense (in Comments) of those attending the anti-racism class as "normal." If they are normal, we need a new normal. In order for Americans to reject the evil that is DEI, we need to be shown the poisonous, dehumanizing effects DEI ideology has on individuals and families. One example is the woman who cut off her entire "racist" family, including her parents: tragic, yes; ok, no. Who knows, maybe her exposure will precipitate a crisis of repentance and reconciliation (on either or both sides). She and the other "anti-racists" in this field may be unwitting victims of a delusion, but they are still responsible for their hatred and - in the most memorable cases - their grift.
Maybe I should clarify: When I describe the people in the workshop as "normal," I'm not thereby excusing their own ugly behavior. Of course I agree that we need a new normal. I'm objecting in general to the tactic of encouraging people to be the worst version of themselves.
And a good novel reference. I really should reread that book. I think I read it in 9th grade in English class, and mostly remember it because I first heard about Heart of Darkness, one of my favorite novels, in the introduction of our school edition.
Yeah, most of the novels everyone reads in high school are pretty mediocre, and I had good English teachers. I could also have done without 1984, which isn't that great.
The beast is us.
The siren song of "based politics" is that the beast is "them". But it really seems to be us, and this destructive culture is a clear reflection of us, but for the Grace of God.
Fwiw, apparently the closest real life scenario to Lord of the Flies turned out to be a heartwarming tale of friendship and survival, as the boys helped each other survive. Whereas Golding was a depressed, hateful, alcoholic, fascist-friendly schoolteacher who wrote his book out of anger at a Christian work that portrayed the grace and power of the Gospel on children. More here:
https://x.com/eigenrobot/status/1709532554359906315
Yes, I read it in school too. I feel like lord of the flies and scarlet letter are in there to really corrupt the generations…
(And I love Hawthorne but just sayin)
I also know and love that story, but per Martin's comment I do think context matters. Those Catholic schoolboys weren't just any random schoolboys. I'd be more pessimistic about the likely fate of a group of basically areligious young scamps.
Funnily enough my daughter told me this story recently after I mentioned LOTF as an example of human nature in action. I think it depends on whether you believe in fallen nature or noble savage theory as to which is more realistic. English prep school boys are probably closer to the former and reflect recent history too. A small group of Tongan Catholic friends are in a different league.
“Reflect recent history”
To what degree, however, is that a self-fulfilling prophecy? If you read biographies of the greatest figures of the 19th and early 20th century, one book that keeps coming up as read by every kid is Robinson Crusoe (pilgrims progress is always in the mix too).
Yet in my childhood, no room for Crusoe on the curriculum (and definitely no Bunyan!), plenty of space for LOTF and (the far superior) Heart of Darkness, plus of course Catcher in the Rye…
If you think this is because the schools are so devout they really want to hammer in belief in original sin… I don’t know what to tell you. That charade falls apart when you consider at the same time they taught me uncritically all of Rousseau’s garbage philosophy (but no Burke…)
No, it’s not a question of acknowledging that in Adam’s fall we sinned all. It is certainly the issue of - as we see even more brazenly today - teachers getting their perverted kicks out of corrupting the youth. It’s creepy, Satanic stuff. Homeschool your kids : )
More here on the degree to which the stories and examples we hold out to children profoundly affect their development… they climb the mountains that are there…
https://gaty.substack.com/p/how-we-make-children-miserable-and?utm_source=publication-search
You can have a nation of depressed trannies or a nation of Tongan heroes - just pick crusoe over LOTF! ; )
Thanks for the post. I think we were lucky that some good books got through because they had always been there and the progressive teachers weren’t ready to replace them. LOTF was not my favourite book but made a good moral point - the Rousseau version is wrong and we descend into savagery if left to our own devices. I am also appreciating that most of the books I read in my teens (and earlier) contained strong moral messages. Everything from Enid Blyton to Charles Dickens worked at persuading us to be heroes rather than villains and do the right thing.
If fathers aren't supposed to provoke their children to anger, I'm pretty sure documentarians aren't supposed to, either.
Love the parallel you draw to Lord of the Flies. Excellent piece.
I saw the film and found it quite hilarious. Some of the "subjects" are clearly grifters...the woman who claimed her daughters were dissed by a character in some kind of parade was disgusting. I remember that incident well. The character who was quite tall with a large fake head may well have been unable to see the small girls waving. But of course since the girls were black, they were permanently scarred when the character (a muppet?) walked past them. The Race to Dinner hostesses were disgusting, particularly the Indian (Rao?) who claimed Republicans are Nazis. Yeah right.....Robin D'Angelo came off as well intentioned and sincere but living in another universe. Does she REALLY believe the bilge she is pushing? But Matt paid the fee so he was entitled to her time. I do agree the class was totally cringeworthy and the motley assortment of participants almost seemed to be a parody of themselves. I kept wondering, is this real? I guess it was. I don't think this was a particularly unethical documentary. Did Matt lie? Did he not pay the required fees? No. I just hope this is one more nail in the DEI coffin.
I don't have a problem with the way they staged various scenes with the grifters. I just think there's something wrong with encouraging normal people to act out the very worst versions of themselves.
Fight fire with fire?
An intellectual argument against DEI hasn't made much headway; bring out the 2x4.
Incredible post! May I cross-post it on my blog?
Sure!
"Expose the unfruitful works of darkness" (Ephesians 5). I think there's an argument to be made that that's what Walsh is doing in this film. The fact that it is hysterically funny in parts - for example, the way his comatose, wheelchair-bound "uncle" sniggers at the memory of his "joke" - makes the exposing all the more effective. I haven't seen anything funnier since Ben Stein played the apoplectic professor teaching evolution in "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed," a genius film with a similar purpose, which I highly recommend.
I understand your qualms, and it's reasonable to question the genre which could be broadly classified as "undercover journalism", but I disagree with your defense (in Comments) of those attending the anti-racism class as "normal." If they are normal, we need a new normal. In order for Americans to reject the evil that is DEI, we need to be shown the poisonous, dehumanizing effects DEI ideology has on individuals and families. One example is the woman who cut off her entire "racist" family, including her parents: tragic, yes; ok, no. Who knows, maybe her exposure will precipitate a crisis of repentance and reconciliation (on either or both sides). She and the other "anti-racists" in this field may be unwitting victims of a delusion, but they are still responsible for their hatred and - in the most memorable cases - their grift.
Maybe I should clarify: When I describe the people in the workshop as "normal," I'm not thereby excusing their own ugly behavior. Of course I agree that we need a new normal. I'm objecting in general to the tactic of encouraging people to be the worst version of themselves.
It's funny how a Christian can one minute pray "lead us not into temptation" and the next minute, be deliberately leading folks into temptation.
On second thought, that's not funny at all.
I agree with you, that doesn't sound ethical.
And a good novel reference. I really should reread that book. I think I read it in 9th grade in English class, and mostly remember it because I first heard about Heart of Darkness, one of my favorite novels, in the introduction of our school edition.
I really don't know why high schoolers are made to read it. One of those books people have all told each other is Important.
Yeah, most of the novels everyone reads in high school are pretty mediocre, and I had good English teachers. I could also have done without 1984, which isn't that great.
Oh no, now you've really gone there!