Thursday, March 22, 2007

* RADIO RANT: Conservative Contradictions II

Two common themes in Michael Savage's various harangues contradict each other (or do they?).

Theme #1: The U.S. (as the evolutionary apex of western Judeo-Christian culture in general) is the greatest thing since sliced apple pie (with vanilla ice cream). Furthermore, "we" are in grave danger from the threat of radical Islam, which (apparently—in this argument—out of sheer malice, jealousy, and religious fanaticism) would wipe us off the face of the earth, if we weren't so capable of still being as mighty, brave, and righteous as our forefathers. (And of course, the patriarchal fathers is quite the operative word here.) (Savage still rattles the saber of this argument intermittently—and always vociferously—although he seems now more prone to the next, contrary view.)

Theme #2: The U.S. is going to hell in a porno-shop video-drop-box because of the rampant perversion (read: "fags"), socialism (read: "commie bastards"), and general liberalism (which is, after all, a "mental disorder"). Indeed, it is this godless social atmosphere that the "Islamo-fascists" so revile in our culture, and therefore seek to destroy it. And if we don't change our ways, they may well do so. (This pessimistic Jeremiad is more Savage's wont these days: indeed, one wonders whether he might even welcome it, if only to fulfill his dark prophecy, and assuage his chronic misanthropy.)

Any even occasional listener to Savage's radio show realizes that the man is unbalanced, always oscillating in a schizoid manner between such apparently mutually untenable viewpoints. (Who suffers from the "mental disorder" here?) The more calm & careful conservative commentator might more reasonably argue that, of course, both these "themes" are salient in the present-day "American" character. Indeed, it's as if said character suffered itself from a bipolar disorder, both fascinating and dangerous. . . . But, hell, it's also great fun to listen as that disorder is dramatized in the psyche of a certain Michael Savage.

At last, if liberalism is a "mental disorder," it is not an illness unto itself, existing in a vacuum: it is part of a complex of interrelated, compensatory national & geopolitical neuroses and psychoses; or better, it is more a belated symptom, or even a necessary reaction, to a previous pathological psycho-social "condition." Ah, this leads nicely to another Quot. of the Day:

"What is falling, one should also push."
    --Friedrich Nietzsche

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