Only 2-days before major life-threatening surgery, Victor Davis Hanson wrote this column:
Victor is a man of enormous integrity, wisdom, and intelligence. An accomplished historian, scholar, and intellectual, who speaks in ways that are understandable and persuasive. An American patriot.
He has publicly denounced Tucker Carlson, his former friend, and others who have grifted in antisemitism, Christian-bashing, and bigotry, as well as those who platform it and, still others, who sit silently as the epidemic spreads. Of course, the problem is much bigger than the podcasters, influencers, and alike. The battle is much bigger than TPUSA and our college campuses. I say this not to minimize the essential need to address them, but to emphasize how out-of-control and ubiquitous the danger is to all generations of Americans from all walks of life. Like me and some others, Victor has discussed and written about the Islamist and neo-fascist threat facing both parties and our country and its spread throughout the world.
We are not alone in our deep concern about what is happening. But I often wonder, why are there not many more voices, people who I know and have known for years, who’ve been outspoken about other threats to our nation, speaking out now? After all, the fundamentals of Western civilization and America’s founding are being directly and seriously threatened. Where are all the foundations and think-tank leaders, the columnists and TV hosts and other broadcasters, elected politicians and entertainers, business and union leaders? To be sure, there are voices, strong voices, out there. But in terms of numbers, it seems way too small, especially at a time like this.
The answer, I think, is that if you are a public or prominent figure, you will be subjected to a great deal of ridicule and libels for doing so. It will get personal fast. Your family, your career, and your character will be attacked. A mob mentality forms, thanks in great part to the Internet and podcasting, often regurgitated by media aggregation sites like Mediaite. Even foreign actors and bots, heavily financed by hostile regimes, get into the act. So, I believe, many conclude why bother. The personal cost it too high. Better to leave it to others.
BUT the fact is, if you actually believe in what you’ve said, argued, and promoted over the years, as a public figure, conservative activist, or virtuous citizen, then you cannot abandon those beliefs when expressing them is more important than ever. The time to do so is now, before a red line is crossed, making reversal daunting and much less likely. We have seen what happens when the evil and hatred being spread in a country devours the civil society and makes way for tyrannical regimes. It doesn’t just happen in the Third World. It happened in, for instance, Germany last century, and is spreading today throughout Europe (even in Britain and France) and Australia and Canada, all of which are drowning in it. And it is here, in growing enclaves in the United States, from New York City to Los Angeles, Dearborn, Michigan and Patterson, New Jersey to Plano and Houston, Texas, and in every major city. In fact, we are becoming awash in it.
When we celebrate our 250th anniversary as a country this coming year, what are we celebrating? We are celebrating the founding of the greatest, most noble, just, free, and benevolent societal and governing construct in human history, for which so many have fought and died to preserve and protect. We must not be the generation that rejects those who came before us and condemns those who follow us. We must not acquiesce to this and then later wonder what happened and how it happened. It will be too late. We are under attack, and we must come to grips with it.
My deepest gratitude to those who are aware of what it is happening, are alarmed by it, and fear the rapid progress these anti-American forces have already made, and are doing something about it. They are speaking out and organizing against these evil and deadly forces.
But we need to enlist many more of our fellow citizens to join us, just as the colonists mobilized during the original Tea Party revolt, in the most recent Tea Party movement, in the various civil rights movements, and on other critical occasions. That’s how critically important the situation is today. And I am certain, once roused, the American people will respond as we always have, and defeat this enemy — and enemy within that is supported by enemies outside our borders as well.
Before his surgery, Victor told me he is only temporarily sidelined and cannot wait to get back into this battle. He is unafraid and bold. I will continue to fight this scourge and those unleashing it for I know what will happen if they win and we fail. For those already engage, again, thank you. We must reach those who are not. And we must not relent.
Let’s do this, America
Photo by narvikk
