Paul Gottfried on Wokeism: A Cultural Revolution Hating Normal People

The Nature of Wokeism

• 💡 Wokeism is described as a leftist movement aiming to destroy the past and characterized by a revolutionary spirit and preaching equality.
• 🎯 It is distinct from older leftist movements because it is allied with a parasitic capitalist class that benefits from government support for the "woke revolution."
• 🧠 Unlike traditional Marxism, wokeism is not primarily socioeconomic but culturally nihilistic and more destructive than communism.

Origins and Drivers of Wokeism

• 🚀 The movement stems from a radical reaction against bourgeois Christian civilization that began in the 1960s across Western countries.
• ⚠️ This reaction involves a focus on social guilt and the invitation of peripheral groups who may resent the dominant culture.
• 💥 A core driver identified is not utopianism, but absolute hatred directed towards "normal people," particularly white Christian males.

Wokeism vs. Communism and Traditional Leftism

• 📊 While communism had fewer supporters (e.g., 70,000 in 1936 for the Communist Party) compared to the widespread support for Black Lives Matter in 2021, wokeism is considered more dangerous in America.
• 🎭 The speaker notes that many who join woke movements are beneficiaries of Western societies but carry grudges, similar to individuals who might join the Communist Party due to profound alienation.
• 🗣️ Feminists are cited as an example, with the speaker suggesting some express hatred towards men under the guise of being "victims of the patriarchy."

The Role of Immigration and Cultural Alliances

• 🌍 The influx of people from outside the dominant culture, such as Muslim migrants in Sweden, can lead to alliances with the left, driven by a desire to gain power.
• ⚠️ This alliance is seen as temporary, with the expectation that once in power, these groups may turn against their former allies.
• 🚫 The speaker points out that groups like Muslims are not inherently "woke" and represent absolute repression, creating a conflict once power is achieved.

America's Unique Position and Resistance

• 🇺🇸 Unlike many Western European countries where the left has gained significant power, the United States has a larger percentage of "normal people" willing to speak out.
• 🗣️ The presence of figures like Donald Trump and an administration willing to voice common-sense beliefs, unthinkable in other Western nations, distinguishes the US.
• 🗽 The United States retains a stronger classical liberal tradition emphasizing freedom of expression and opinion, which is seen as less prevalent in Europe.
• 🌍 While American ideas, including wokeness, influence Europe, many Americans reject these concepts, whereas Europeans often adopt and push them to extremes.