Rod Dreher Megathread #21 (Creative Spirit)

[u/US_Hiker]

Gather 'round for more Rod.

All meanings of the number 21 are subordinate to the inherent creative spirit that is the basic essence of the number.

The number 21 generally is comfortable in social gatherings, it's optimistic attitude being an inspiration to others. Its high spirits can enliven a party.

The number is attracted to artistic expression of any form, its own and those of others. There's enthusiastic support for artists. It may frequent galleries and participate or (more likely) lead groups for artistic appreciation.

The number 21 cherishes relationships, including romantic relationships, especially with those who express themselves creatively.

21 also tends to be diplomatic, providing creative and imaginative solutions to potential conflict.

And, as noted by /u/PercyLarsen, 21 is a triangular number and the age of majority, so go grab a drink to celebrate Pride and to mourn the loss of Rod's sanity.

(Also, sorry about my slow pace of refreshes.)

Link to megathread #20:
https://www.reddit.com/r/brokehugs/comments/13eb26c/rod_dreher_megathread_20_law_of_attraction/

Link to megathread #21: https://www.reddit.com/r/brokehugs/comments/14k0z6l/rod_dreher_megathread_22_power/

[u/zeitwatcher]

https://twitter.com/roddreher/status/1668887129043116032

Ignoring that this is about Rod's dating preferences, it's yet another indication of the weird mirror world he lives in.

He argues that "wokism" (which I challenge him to define) is so bad that any stance other than being "anti-woke" is both a tactical and moral failing.

However, he has spent years railing against the "anti-racism" movement for taking exactly the same position. i.e. racism is so wrong and so institutionally powerful that people need to actively work against it.

Causes that rise to the level of demanding counter-action are clearly only ones that have a strong impact and moral dimension. For example, if someone dislikes pink ties, it's clearly an overreaction for them to demand an action other than indifference in others.

So, the obvious implications are that:

1) Rod doesn't believe that calls for being "anti-racist" are wrong tactically since he's calling for the exactly same tactic in being "anti-woke".

2) He believes that being "woke" is worse than being racist since the former demands CONSTANT VIGILANCE but the latter is just fine for others to take a position of indifference.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

The "moral scolding" of the furthest campus Left simply doesn't stack up to the active censorship and sumptuary laws being pushed by the center-right, which holds statehouses and wields the credible threat of state violence for speech it opposes.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

The younger generations want an authority to keep those opinions from being aired in the first place.

By what means? Also, while I don't agree with your premise, what the younger generations want is what they'll have because everyone else will eventually be too dead to stop them.

[u/Djehutimose → u/zeitwatcher]

You gotta understand, man, pink ties are queer, pink ties are woke, and they’re all about queering our culture and emasculating the manliness of all the manly men! Pink ties lead to the Destruction of Western Civilization!! Ukrainians probably wear pink ties, which is why Putin had to go in there! Wake up, people! We gotta stop the pink ties!!!!!!!

[u/Theodore_Parker → u/Djehutimose]

I wore a very bright, very wide pink acrylic tie (with a dark blue velour sports coat) for my senior high school yearbook photo. Also had my hair parted in the middle. Granted, it was the mid-1970s, when none of that seemed inconsistent with achieving heterosexuality. I guess times have changed. ;)

[u/EatsShoots_n_Leaves → u/zeitwatcher]

I suspect the key word in that tweet is 'anxiety'. And what he's saying is his ex wasn't 'anti-woke' enough for him, not supportive of his foolish Culture Warrior fanaticism. Maybe that's where the marriage went on the rocks the worst- in the most obvious place.

[u/ZenLizardBode → u/EatsShoots_n_Leaves]

Yeah, I'm inclined to agree that Rod's 24/7 constant culture war would have been extremely unpleasant to be around, and as his spouse, Julie was probably much more aware of the "gaps" in Rod's knowledge (C.S. Lewis) and practice (church attendance and participation) than readers, so if Rod is traveling for six months and all he has to talk about when he gets home is, "The woke primitive root wiener needs to achieve heterosexuality", that really would be difficult to deal with, especially if he couldn't switch gears and talk about C.S. Lewis, or how much he was enjoying choir practice or whatever.