I love this - it is very insightful about the human rights industry and the psychology of those who run it. They create this clown world with impunity because although a majority of people find these stories shocking, we do not live in a real democracy where this majority view becomes reflected in our governance. Next GE, most adults will trot along to their polling station and vote for more of the same - a cross in any box does it.
Agree! We just don't get a real choice though. The Brexit referendum was the last genuine democratic exercise which went the 'wrong' way as far as TPTB were concerned. Our system is wrong. If we changed the system we wouldn't have to suffer the lunacy you describe in your article because ordinary people know which way is up. Switzerland is often held up as an example of a very democratic country and I wonder how well they fare in deporting criminals.
Strident ideologies aside, I'm fairly persuaded by the 'feminisation' of western liberal culture theory. Look at LinkedIn some days and it's men falling over themselves to talk about kindness and caring, checking in on people who are quiet, endless clucking and - inevitably - showing what great feminist allies they are.
Rebecca West was very perceptive about this - I've been thinking of writing a post on Black Lamb and Grey Falcon for a while, but it would involve a re-read and it's extremely long....
I agree, two other examples if I may. Firstly, I spent some time in a refugee camp during the Balkans nastiness. One occasion a bus load were being brought in, and the TV cameras were there. I saw members of NGOs literally fight over whose banner would be next to the door when they were offloaded. Secondly, a couple of friends of mine provide respite care for foster kids from difficult backgrounds. They are absolutely convinced that everyone, including fundy terrorists, would be nice people if you just gave them enough love.
Great essay. I think there is a deeper problem- what I call sentimental humanism.
This is not just the denial of all that is unpleasant in the human condition in favour of an idealised ‘niceness’ and but which also sits besides rampant capitalism which it ignores. So all these ‘nice’ people are living in cocoons created by the immiseration of millions of others in the Global South.
There is a siloing of human experience, people go to work for Amazon/meta etc and come home and watch ads about children starving in Africa. There is a total disconnect between the two experiences.
It’s a kind of Gnosticism, imo, a denial of the messy realities of human experience, washing away all our less palatable traits in favour of a beige niceness but that can only be sustained in very specific privileged conditions.
There’s a book called Suite Francaise which talks about a bourgeois family just before the German occupation who practiced this ‘sharing is us caring’ mentality and the most revealing moment is when the mother realises the gravity of the situation they are in and immediately stops her son sharing his food- bourgeois morality evaporated in an instant -
Madame Péricand shrugged her shoulders. She could see Jacqueline and Bernard on the doorstep of the café. Their hands were full of chocolate and sweets that they were giving out to everyone around them. Madame Péricand leapt towards them.
“Get back inside! What are you doing out here? I forbid you to touch the food. Jacqueline, you will be punished. Bernard, your father will hear about this.” Grabbing the two stunned culprits firmly by the hand, she dragged them away. Christian charity, the compassion of centuries of civilisation, fell from her like useless ornaments, revealing her bare, arid soul. She needed to feed and protect her own children. Nothing else mattered anymore…
Seems like it's not simply that shit has to be hidden, but that shit needs to be thrown at some groups. Scapegoating. The Libtard crew has no problem blaming "anthropogenic" climate change on white men; apparently, the bridge that collapsed in Baltimore was designed by racists (i.e. white men); and you mentioned the antisemitism. So perhaps Kundera's observation could use a little adjustment.
I love this - it is very insightful about the human rights industry and the psychology of those who run it. They create this clown world with impunity because although a majority of people find these stories shocking, we do not live in a real democracy where this majority view becomes reflected in our governance. Next GE, most adults will trot along to their polling station and vote for more of the same - a cross in any box does it.
Yes, although I don't blame the electorate. When faced with a choice they tend to make the right one!
Agree! We just don't get a real choice though. The Brexit referendum was the last genuine democratic exercise which went the 'wrong' way as far as TPTB were concerned. Our system is wrong. If we changed the system we wouldn't have to suffer the lunacy you describe in your article because ordinary people know which way is up. Switzerland is often held up as an example of a very democratic country and I wonder how well they fare in deporting criminals.
"is it better to have more murderous sociopaths in your country, or fewer?" is a great question. Here are two others:
* How much public funding eventually finds its way (one way or another) into the hands of Britain's 'human rights' lawyers?
* Is Human Rights Lawyering the one industry at which Britain truly excels?
How pleasant it is to find there are still people in the world who can think straight
Strident ideologies aside, I'm fairly persuaded by the 'feminisation' of western liberal culture theory. Look at LinkedIn some days and it's men falling over themselves to talk about kindness and caring, checking in on people who are quiet, endless clucking and - inevitably - showing what great feminist allies they are.
Rebecca West was very perceptive about this - I've been thinking of writing a post on Black Lamb and Grey Falcon for a while, but it would involve a re-read and it's extremely long....
Please do it 👍 I'll also try to find what West has said.
I absolutely believe that people deserve a decent defence, but how some human rights advocates sleep at night I’ve no idea.
They are ideological. They're not bad people; they just don't have any perspective.
I agree, two other examples if I may. Firstly, I spent some time in a refugee camp during the Balkans nastiness. One occasion a bus load were being brought in, and the TV cameras were there. I saw members of NGOs literally fight over whose banner would be next to the door when they were offloaded. Secondly, a couple of friends of mine provide respite care for foster kids from difficult backgrounds. They are absolutely convinced that everyone, including fundy terrorists, would be nice people if you just gave them enough love.
All of the above with knobs on.
Great essay. I think there is a deeper problem- what I call sentimental humanism.
This is not just the denial of all that is unpleasant in the human condition in favour of an idealised ‘niceness’ and but which also sits besides rampant capitalism which it ignores. So all these ‘nice’ people are living in cocoons created by the immiseration of millions of others in the Global South.
There is a siloing of human experience, people go to work for Amazon/meta etc and come home and watch ads about children starving in Africa. There is a total disconnect between the two experiences.
It’s a kind of Gnosticism, imo, a denial of the messy realities of human experience, washing away all our less palatable traits in favour of a beige niceness but that can only be sustained in very specific privileged conditions.
There’s a book called Suite Francaise which talks about a bourgeois family just before the German occupation who practiced this ‘sharing is us caring’ mentality and the most revealing moment is when the mother realises the gravity of the situation they are in and immediately stops her son sharing his food- bourgeois morality evaporated in an instant -
Madame Péricand shrugged her shoulders. She could see Jacqueline and Bernard on the doorstep of the café. Their hands were full of chocolate and sweets that they were giving out to everyone around them. Madame Péricand leapt towards them.
“Get back inside! What are you doing out here? I forbid you to touch the food. Jacqueline, you will be punished. Bernard, your father will hear about this.” Grabbing the two stunned culprits firmly by the hand, she dragged them away. Christian charity, the compassion of centuries of civilisation, fell from her like useless ornaments, revealing her bare, arid soul. She needed to feed and protect her own children. Nothing else mattered anymore…
From Suite Francaise
This essay is one of the best written pieces on immigration I've read recently. No, probably the best essay I've read in awhile. Bravo!
Thank you very much.
Seems like it's not simply that shit has to be hidden, but that shit needs to be thrown at some groups. Scapegoating. The Libtard crew has no problem blaming "anthropogenic" climate change on white men; apparently, the bridge that collapsed in Baltimore was designed by racists (i.e. white men); and you mentioned the antisemitism. So perhaps Kundera's observation could use a little adjustment.