Maybe I shouldn't have replied to a post from a person who gives a damn about what idiots label him/her as. I'm distracted by something much more disturbing.
Hi James! This is my first encounter with your substack, and I very much enjoyed this excellent review, all the more so because you’re clearly not a fan of the Daily Wire, and thus evaluated the movie on its own merits. I haven’t seen it yet but am hoping to soon. I did discuss it with one black friend of mine, who is also curious to see it, since we agree that DEI is nothing but a ridiculous grift.
I think anyone sensible can see that this grift is ridiculous as well as corrosive and dangerous--and the film makes both things crystal clear. For clarity on my view of The Daily Wire...I'm not not a "fan"--I don't think I'm a fan of any political commentary network, nor should I be. It's the "fan" thing that gets us all in trouble--if we get hooked on the personalities and messaging on either side, and derive satisfaction from being in that echo chamber, it's impossible to step back and see the big picture. Doing this Substack, I've made a point of absorbing content from the right, left and center--and if I am a "fan," it's of those writers and thinkers who are more centrist, like me; disillusioned and concerned liberals who recoil from the extremes of the modern activist left, as well as conservatives with nuanced views who wish to preserve the ideals and traditions of the West, as I do. Konstantin Kisin, of Triggernometry, calls himself "politically non-binary," and I identify with that. I watch him and Francis Foster a lot. I watch Daily Wire a lot--I think Ben Shapiro is a brilliant debater, and I agree with his views on Israel; Matt Walsh clearly has views I totally support and I believe his concerns for our kids and our country are legit. Others I listen to and read: Bari Weiss, Andrew Sullivan, Andrew Doyle, Douglas Murray (a personal hero), Megyn Kelly, Bill Maher, John McWhorter and Glenn Loury. I enjoy the panelist throwdowns on Piers Morgan; I love the long form content from UnHerd and The Spectator. Before and during the Trump presidency, I devoured MSNBC content ravenously, and since opening my eyes to a broader sweep of the discourse, I find most of what I see on that network insanely biased, inflammatory--the "TDS" is real! There are, to borrow a loaded phrase, "fine people on both sides" of the national conversation and we'd all do well to step back and listen to the nuances to be found by absorbing all kinds of views. My intention on The Cornfield, initially, was to call out the nastiness and politically/culturally dangerous machinations of DEI and its proponents, and the rise of antisemitism, pro-terrorist, anti-white racist movements on campuses and in our streets. No one is off limits as far as I'm concerned, but if anything, I tend to call out the left more than the right because I can't be associated with so much of the leftist agenda and I think true liberalism and sense are under attack. I also think lousy behavior and idiocy should be called out at every possible opportunity and I love to use my voice here to do so! I think people like me end up here on Substack because its the only place left for contrarians and politically non-binary people to say what they think and feel. I don't get invested in the personalities--they're performers selling products. It's dangerous to give 100% credence to anything they broadcast, especially when we agree with it! Bullshit is bullshit, right? The extreme polarization of our country will only change if we stop shrieking at, or de-platforming each other and begin to LISTEN.
This is such a wonderfully thoughtful, rich, and detailed reply. Much appreciated. I agree with so much of what you are saying.
Case in point on TDS: at a family party last weekend, someone said that Trump was an antisemite. I pointed out that he has Jewish family members, and she said it didn't matter. "So," I asked her, "what has he said that was antisemitic?" She started ranting about Charlottesville, and I mean she was practically foaming at the mouth. I politely pointed out that the "fine people" in question were the ones debating monument removal; that he had denounced the neo-Nazis; and that even Snopes had debunked the "fine people on both sides" hoax. She spat, "I don't believe it!" and walked out of the room. I'm no fan of Trump as a person, but good lord—to REFUSE to even entertain the idea that he's anything less than Orange Hitler—even in the face of solid evidence—baffles me.
Like you, I appreciate hearing intelligent, fact-based and nuanced debates from all sides, and many of the people you list are ones I admire and listen to as well.
I am glad I discovered your substack and look forward to adding you to that list!
The scene with “Uncle Frank” was so dang funny once you get past the “uncomfortable” element, which is the point, frankly ( sorry, couldn’t resist that one). I’m glad you didn’t reveal it. Anyone who is curious should go see the film just for that scene. It’s a nearly perfect trap for the venomous “progressives” to act the “righteous viper” 🐍 And they eagerly fall right in, because they can’t wait to hate.
I'll take issue with no thing said here apart from the right isn't funny. We are actually downright hilarious, but the left is often the butt of the joke and so goes our devious hilarity, summarily dismissed by those who inspired it. So much of the comedy of the left falls similarly on deaf ears, I'm sure. You've got a new sub, sir, looking forward to reading more.
So you’re right - three years ago I probably wouldn’t have even entertained the idea of watching something by someone at The Daily Wire. But sometimes people grow and change (not a total 180 but enough to know they need to read far and wide and possibly the opposite has something valid to say) and I laughed out loud just at the trailer alone (watched before I came across your review). Going to watch in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for the review!
I see us as existing in a strange equilibrium where a small percentage of people are able to keep everyone else in line by threatening them with the scarlet 'r'.
When the equilibrium shifts, it will have to start with the liberals standing up and saying, "I am a progressive (or liberal), but this is nonsense", and things will move quickly from there.
As noted in the article, Walsh can land what might otherwise be a knockout punch but his background at the Daily Wire will prevent him from being taken seriously outside the right.
It’s going to be important, no doubt, for other “classic” liberals like myself to speak up—we need the nuance of people on both sides calling this stuff out. Its’s difficult in such a polarized culture…and whatever the results of the election, it will get harder before it gets easier. Thanks for your comment!
Well, I’d wager that they get plenty of “adverse consequences”. Probably different than Ms. Rowling however, because she, through her day job, was so beloved by the woke that her common sense response to transgender invasion of women’s spaces was thought a “betrayal”. And they have no mercy on “traitors”.
Even during the Soviet era, one of the best ways to fight against left wing absurdity was to mock it. Humor was, and is a powerful weapon; nothing hits harder than making people think that the Marxist intelligentsia are fools and grifters. The Soviet Union attempted to combat this by invoking Article 58, which accused someone of “counterrevolutionary activity,” and threw thousands of people in prison just for telling a joke. Even in America we have cancel culture and forced conformity but the first amendment is a counterweight, for now anyway.
- A man in the Soviet Union went to the KGB to report that he had lost his pet parrot. The KGB officer told him to get lost, “we don’t handle that, go to the local police.” The man told the KGB, “yes comrade I know that but I want you to know that I officially disagree with everything my parrot has to say!”- Soviet joke.
You say in this exceptional post that you're of the left, and that the Daily Wire guys are douchy. I get that to a point (Shapiro's delivery grates on my nerves for example, but he speaks the truth) so what's wrong with promoting traditional values? Seems we need more of that, and less of a Biden appointed Supreme Court Justice that can't define what a woman is even though that's exactly half the reason she's on that bench in the first place and the Department of Ed re-writing (illegally as we shall find out) Title IX to make room for boys in girls sports. What's up with that?
I mentioned that the Daily Wire guys promote traditional values as a descriptor. Traditional values per se are not, in my view, douchy. But these particular guys have a douchy vibe. That’s all.
“Douchey” probably needs some elaboration on your part, Mr. Beaman. That is a pretty subjective and non-specific slang that has a broad range of connotations
It's that kind of cigar smoking "guy swagger" adopted by conservative nerds trying to appear cool to each other. It just comes off to me as douchy. Perhaps douchy is the wrong word--what would you call it?
Ben Shapiro is pretty much the only one I listen to from Daily Wire, because I enjoy his intelligent and *mostly* dispassionate analysis, especially on legal issues. He explains those very well for laypeople like myself. The rest of them I can take or leave, except for Andrew Klavan, whom I despise.
OK well I don't want to be *that* person but I think you are. And I say that in total allyship (to use a currently vogue phrase) with your views. I say this in the sense of "Be prepared."
I think your advice is wise! I think there is something to the fact that people are increasingly able to speak out and push back…but perhaps I’m just a cockeyed optimist…
That is great. But the actual institutionalization of the forces of "woke" continue apace. Soon states will be able to take mentally ill children away from parents to mutilate them.
You’ll be able to cope with the douchy, especially since he’s so smart…and no one on the planet is douchier than Saira Rao, so she wins biggest douche in this film!!
Many "woke" activist are indeed involved in racist actions and thinking. Check out Colman Hughes or John McWhorter for further information on that.
John was my college roommate so I know his work well. He and Coleman are superb.
Maybe I shouldn't have replied to a post from a person who gives a damn about what idiots label him/her as. I'm distracted by something much more disturbing.
https://youtu.be/hlhn8sD3Sl0?feature=shared
"Am I Racist?" is the title of the film I reviewed here. I wasn't actually asking the question. But thank you.
Do you want to be?
Want to be...what?
A racist?
Hi James! This is my first encounter with your substack, and I very much enjoyed this excellent review, all the more so because you’re clearly not a fan of the Daily Wire, and thus evaluated the movie on its own merits. I haven’t seen it yet but am hoping to soon. I did discuss it with one black friend of mine, who is also curious to see it, since we agree that DEI is nothing but a ridiculous grift.
I think anyone sensible can see that this grift is ridiculous as well as corrosive and dangerous--and the film makes both things crystal clear. For clarity on my view of The Daily Wire...I'm not not a "fan"--I don't think I'm a fan of any political commentary network, nor should I be. It's the "fan" thing that gets us all in trouble--if we get hooked on the personalities and messaging on either side, and derive satisfaction from being in that echo chamber, it's impossible to step back and see the big picture. Doing this Substack, I've made a point of absorbing content from the right, left and center--and if I am a "fan," it's of those writers and thinkers who are more centrist, like me; disillusioned and concerned liberals who recoil from the extremes of the modern activist left, as well as conservatives with nuanced views who wish to preserve the ideals and traditions of the West, as I do. Konstantin Kisin, of Triggernometry, calls himself "politically non-binary," and I identify with that. I watch him and Francis Foster a lot. I watch Daily Wire a lot--I think Ben Shapiro is a brilliant debater, and I agree with his views on Israel; Matt Walsh clearly has views I totally support and I believe his concerns for our kids and our country are legit. Others I listen to and read: Bari Weiss, Andrew Sullivan, Andrew Doyle, Douglas Murray (a personal hero), Megyn Kelly, Bill Maher, John McWhorter and Glenn Loury. I enjoy the panelist throwdowns on Piers Morgan; I love the long form content from UnHerd and The Spectator. Before and during the Trump presidency, I devoured MSNBC content ravenously, and since opening my eyes to a broader sweep of the discourse, I find most of what I see on that network insanely biased, inflammatory--the "TDS" is real! There are, to borrow a loaded phrase, "fine people on both sides" of the national conversation and we'd all do well to step back and listen to the nuances to be found by absorbing all kinds of views. My intention on The Cornfield, initially, was to call out the nastiness and politically/culturally dangerous machinations of DEI and its proponents, and the rise of antisemitism, pro-terrorist, anti-white racist movements on campuses and in our streets. No one is off limits as far as I'm concerned, but if anything, I tend to call out the left more than the right because I can't be associated with so much of the leftist agenda and I think true liberalism and sense are under attack. I also think lousy behavior and idiocy should be called out at every possible opportunity and I love to use my voice here to do so! I think people like me end up here on Substack because its the only place left for contrarians and politically non-binary people to say what they think and feel. I don't get invested in the personalities--they're performers selling products. It's dangerous to give 100% credence to anything they broadcast, especially when we agree with it! Bullshit is bullshit, right? The extreme polarization of our country will only change if we stop shrieking at, or de-platforming each other and begin to LISTEN.
This is such a wonderfully thoughtful, rich, and detailed reply. Much appreciated. I agree with so much of what you are saying.
Case in point on TDS: at a family party last weekend, someone said that Trump was an antisemite. I pointed out that he has Jewish family members, and she said it didn't matter. "So," I asked her, "what has he said that was antisemitic?" She started ranting about Charlottesville, and I mean she was practically foaming at the mouth. I politely pointed out that the "fine people" in question were the ones debating monument removal; that he had denounced the neo-Nazis; and that even Snopes had debunked the "fine people on both sides" hoax. She spat, "I don't believe it!" and walked out of the room. I'm no fan of Trump as a person, but good lord—to REFUSE to even entertain the idea that he's anything less than Orange Hitler—even in the face of solid evidence—baffles me.
Like you, I appreciate hearing intelligent, fact-based and nuanced debates from all sides, and many of the people you list are ones I admire and listen to as well.
I am glad I discovered your substack and look forward to adding you to that list!
OK, I am not a writer but somebody gotta write a book called Woke Fragility (with a heartfelt dedication to Diangelo)
The scene with “Uncle Frank” was so dang funny once you get past the “uncomfortable” element, which is the point, frankly ( sorry, couldn’t resist that one). I’m glad you didn’t reveal it. Anyone who is curious should go see the film just for that scene. It’s a nearly perfect trap for the venomous “progressives” to act the “righteous viper” 🐍 And they eagerly fall right in, because they can’t wait to hate.
I'll take issue with no thing said here apart from the right isn't funny. We are actually downright hilarious, but the left is often the butt of the joke and so goes our devious hilarity, summarily dismissed by those who inspired it. So much of the comedy of the left falls similarly on deaf ears, I'm sure. You've got a new sub, sir, looking forward to reading more.
Movie was great! And I am a new sub as well!
Thank you, Jay! I totally get your point!
You bet, and it was a point made in jest, if that wasn’t clear (so maybe you are right about us after all!).
I got the jest. We need to make fun of ourselves in general, and with good spirit!
Indeed.
So you’re right - three years ago I probably wouldn’t have even entertained the idea of watching something by someone at The Daily Wire. But sometimes people grow and change (not a total 180 but enough to know they need to read far and wide and possibly the opposite has something valid to say) and I laughed out loud just at the trailer alone (watched before I came across your review). Going to watch in the next couple of weeks. Thanks for the review!
Thank YOU!
Looks lile it is a modern version of the sprinkled sprinkler.
I see us as existing in a strange equilibrium where a small percentage of people are able to keep everyone else in line by threatening them with the scarlet 'r'.
When the equilibrium shifts, it will have to start with the liberals standing up and saying, "I am a progressive (or liberal), but this is nonsense", and things will move quickly from there.
As noted in the article, Walsh can land what might otherwise be a knockout punch but his background at the Daily Wire will prevent him from being taken seriously outside the right.
It’s going to be important, no doubt, for other “classic” liberals like myself to speak up—we need the nuance of people on both sides calling this stuff out. Its’s difficult in such a polarized culture…and whatever the results of the election, it will get harder before it gets easier. Thanks for your comment!
Notice that they get to make fun without adverse consequences. Whereas JK Rowling, and other prominent women are the devil incarnate.
Well, I’d wager that they get plenty of “adverse consequences”. Probably different than Ms. Rowling however, because she, through her day job, was so beloved by the woke that her common sense response to transgender invasion of women’s spaces was thought a “betrayal”. And they have no mercy on “traitors”.
Even during the Soviet era, one of the best ways to fight against left wing absurdity was to mock it. Humor was, and is a powerful weapon; nothing hits harder than making people think that the Marxist intelligentsia are fools and grifters. The Soviet Union attempted to combat this by invoking Article 58, which accused someone of “counterrevolutionary activity,” and threw thousands of people in prison just for telling a joke. Even in America we have cancel culture and forced conformity but the first amendment is a counterweight, for now anyway.
- A man in the Soviet Union went to the KGB to report that he had lost his pet parrot. The KGB officer told him to get lost, “we don’t handle that, go to the local police.” The man told the KGB, “yes comrade I know that but I want you to know that I officially disagree with everything my parrot has to say!”- Soviet joke.
Has “woke” reached its peak? N.S. Lyons wrote a long piece in his Substack on this very topic in January 2022. If he is right we have longway to go.
What is a Woman is also excellent. here's the trailer: https://www.dailywire.com/clips/what-is-a-woman-official-trailer
You say in this exceptional post that you're of the left, and that the Daily Wire guys are douchy. I get that to a point (Shapiro's delivery grates on my nerves for example, but he speaks the truth) so what's wrong with promoting traditional values? Seems we need more of that, and less of a Biden appointed Supreme Court Justice that can't define what a woman is even though that's exactly half the reason she's on that bench in the first place and the Department of Ed re-writing (illegally as we shall find out) Title IX to make room for boys in girls sports. What's up with that?
I mentioned that the Daily Wire guys promote traditional values as a descriptor. Traditional values per se are not, in my view, douchy. But these particular guys have a douchy vibe. That’s all.
“Douchey” probably needs some elaboration on your part, Mr. Beaman. That is a pretty subjective and non-specific slang that has a broad range of connotations
I agree. What in particular makes them “douchy”?
It's that kind of cigar smoking "guy swagger" adopted by conservative nerds trying to appear cool to each other. It just comes off to me as douchy. Perhaps douchy is the wrong word--what would you call it?
Okay, got it. Maybe "posturing" is a better word?
Ben Shapiro is pretty much the only one I listen to from Daily Wire, because I enjoy his intelligent and *mostly* dispassionate analysis, especially on legal issues. He explains those very well for laypeople like myself. The rest of them I can take or leave, except for Andrew Klavan, whom I despise.
Posturing isn't bad! Or maybe "strutting?" I dunno. It's a version of straight guy swaggering...but for nerdy intellectual dudes. Ha ha!
If you think we've reached peak woke you're wrong.
We ain't seen nothing yet.
Sadly, I agree. There is way too much profit in this industry!
Maybe it's wishful thinking.
OK well I don't want to be *that* person but I think you are. And I say that in total allyship (to use a currently vogue phrase) with your views. I say this in the sense of "Be prepared."
I think your advice is wise! I think there is something to the fact that people are increasingly able to speak out and push back…but perhaps I’m just a cockeyed optimist…
That is great. But the actual institutionalization of the forces of "woke" continue apace. Soon states will be able to take mentally ill children away from parents to mutilate them.
Mostly what has put me off is the douchiness you refer to, but I’m more willing to give it a try now.
You’ll be able to cope with the douchy, especially since he’s so smart…and no one on the planet is douchier than Saira Rao, so she wins biggest douche in this film!!