Byron York has an analysis of “the manifesto” from the
perpetrator of the El Paso incident that bears reading.
York shows how legitimate political ideas (many of them from
the Left, like universal basic income) can go wrong in the mind of someone who
is not able to function well in life on his own and turns to collective
identity. The preoccupation with race
seems to come from the fact that “white identity” was all he had to turn
to. Then he just goes off the
rails.
But it was striking to me, when I read it, that he seemed distracted
by some self-discipline ideas, like “dirty work” (benefiting from the
regimented labor of others, a Maoist idea) and the sustainability of modern
life styles (that should lead to climate change or maybe technological
dependency and the power grid.)
Also check Batya Ungar-Sayton in the Examiner, “Why nationalism won’t go away”. The writer
discusses a conference on National Conservatism in Washington DC where to be
admitted, you had to submit to a social media audit to prove you were not a
white nationalist, and some people were excluded after “applying”.
The author somewhat hesitantly concedes that it is difficult
to strengthen nationalism without stepping on vulnerable minorities. He also
notes that the culture of nationalism is more about obligation, loyalty, tradition
and common good, and less about consent,
wise choices, and contract.
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