Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

America at the End of Empire-Is civilizational decline reversible?
Frrontpagemagazine ^ | Mar 26, 2021 | Mark Tapson

Posted on 03/26/2021 6:59:24 AM PDT by SJackson

In a recent monologue on HBO’s Real Time, host Bill Maher called Americans a “silly people” for allowing themselves to be mired in culture war struggles, such as the politically correct cancelling of children’s books, while our superpower competition China is laser-focused on political, economic, and military dominance.

“You’re not going to win the battle for the 21st century if you are a silly people. And Americans are a silly people,” Maher asserted. He then referenced the latest “cancel culture” controversy – the woke mob’s targeting of children’s author Dr. Seuss over purported racism in his books: “Do you know who doesn’t care that there’s a stereotype of a Chinese man in a Dr. Seuss book? China. All 1.4 billion of them couldn’t give a crouching tiger flying fuck because they’re not a silly people. If anything, they are as serious as a prison fight.”

Maher pointed out that China has “built 500 entire cities from scratch, moved the majority of their huge population from poverty to the middle class, and mostly cornered the market in 5G and pharmaceuticals” in two generations. Meanwhile in America, “half the country is having a never-ending woke competition deciding whether Mr. Potato Head has a dick and the other half believes we have to stop the lizard people because they’re eating babies. We are a silly people,” he continued.

“Do you think China’s doing that, letting political correctness get in the way of nurturing their best and brightest?” Maher added. “Do you think Chinese colleges are offering courses in ‘The Philosophy of Star Trek, ‘The Sociology of Seinfeld,’ and ‘Surviving the Coming Zombie Apocalypse’? Those are real and so is China. And they are eating our lunch. And believe me, in an hour, they’ll be hungry again.”

Maher’s prescient lecture came just before the Chinese delegation ate their American counterparts for lunch at last week’s U.S.-China meeting in Alaska, telling Secretary of State Antony Blinken to his face that China does not view America as operating “from a position of strength.” With a new American President so decrepit he is shielded from the public by his handlers; with our southern border collapsing under tsunami of illegal aliens; and with Americans at each other’s throats in a not-so-Cold Civil War, China’s not wrong about that.

Unlike his fellow political propagandists on late-night TV, Maher occasionally comes down on the right side of an issue, and this is one of them. Ascendant China is hell-bent on world domination and makes no apology for it. America, meanwhile, is suffering from decades of accelerated, corrosive, Marxist subversion that has saddled us with a power-lusting leftist regime, aided and abetted by an unofficial state news media; a school system that has jettisoned rigorous education in favor of identity politics indoctrination; a woke corporate culture showering hundreds of millions of dollars on support for Critical Race training and on the communist revolutionaries of Black Lives Matter; an obscenely decadent entertainment industry (itself in thrall to Chinese influence) that peddles anti-Americanism, anti-Christianity, anti-capitalism, and anti-white racism; and a politicized military establishment prioritizing “gender equity” over warrior readiness.

In short, America (and the Western world more generally), once the most prosperous and powerful civilization in history, is no longer operating “from a position of strength.” It is, in fact, bleeding out from self-inflicted wounds, and our enemies foreign and domestic smell the blood in the water. Gatestone Institute Distinguished Senior Fellow Gordon Chang believes Chinese leader Xi Jinping is confident in provoking a civilizational war between East and West, because he feels “America is in terminal decline.” Indeed, the Chinese state media are already openly celebrating the Alaska confrontation as a decisive victory in that conflict.

Bill Maher’s critique doesn’t delve nearly far enough, however. Our problem is not truly silliness, although it is difficult to take seriously a nation that elevates strippers and their pornographic doggerel to the highest level of artistry. The problem is “civilizational fatigue,” the concept that at some point a grand world power – e.g. ancient Rome, 19th-century England, America under a desiccated Joe Biden – peaks and then implodes (“gradually and then suddenly,” as a Hemingway character once put it when asked how he went bankrupt). The empire succumbs to lassitude, corruption, and moral decadence, undone by its very prosperity and success. Having conquered the world, the fire in its belly that powered it to the top cools to ash. It can no longer muster the civilizational conviction and warrior spirit necessary to keep the barbarians at the gates from swarming the battlements.

In our case, the barbarians – i.e., the forces of anti-civilization – have been inside the gates for over half a century, making their Long March through the institutions. We allowed their Marxist poison and their postmodern anti-rationality to seep throughout our schools and universities, and their false but seductive narratives to be promoted in our news and entertainment programs, until they secured the culture and corrupted the political landscape as well – so successfully that we elected, twice, a President who denied American exceptionalism, explicitly declared his agenda to “fundamentally transform” the country, and inspired his followers to believe, "Yes, we can."

Meanwhile, the cultural corrosion continued, as insidious, cancerous concepts like “whiteness,” “Critical Race Theory,” and “gender fluidity” began metastasizing at light-speed throughout every institution in America, inculcated in schoolchildren as young as kindergartners.

Finally, those of us who love our heritage, our Constitution, and our country rallied behind a President who called on us to Make America Great Again. But it was too little, too late. The barbarians, who had long since infiltrated and taken control of all the cultural structures of society, launched a furious, violent resistance against the President, against his supporters, against democracy, against history, against truth itself. They seized political control and began the systematic marginalization of America’s defenders as white supremacists (regardless of color) and domestic terrorists.

And now we find ourselves where the barbarians wanted us all along: at the end of empire.

Is civilizational decline inevitable? If history is any measure, then yes. Only the kingdom of God lasts forever. The question before us now, though, is this: is America’s decline reversible?

The answer is unequivocally yes. Even in Donald Trump’s brief White House tenure we saw America gathering momentum toward greatness again after eight years of Barack Obama diminishing our leading role on the world stage. We can do it again.

But it will take a courageous commitment from every American patriot on every level: personal, local, national, even international. We must recognize that the flame of American exceptionalism is in danger of being snuffed out, that our God-given rights are being threatened; and once gone, we will have no leverage with which to throw off the totalitarianism that will fill the void.

If Americans (and the rest of the West) hope to restore our former glory, we must begin by ceasing to be, as Bill Maher labeled us, a nation of silly people. We must be as serious as our enemies. We must reignite the fierce, uncompromising, give-me-liberty-or-give-me-death passion for independence that drove our Founding Fathers and George Washington’s ragtag army to persevere against an occupying power. We must ruthlessly reject the evil ideologies that have subverted us, and begin re-instilling our Judeo-Christian values, our love of country, our devotion to Constitutional rights, and our zeal for liberty in the next generation.

This will be an uphill battle. We will face violent leftist resistance, even more than we witnessed in 2020. But 74 million Trump voters make a formidable army. Can we make America great again? Yes, we can.

* * *


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS:
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 next last
To: Lurkinanloomin

The thing is, this is about White Liberals wanting to be in charge, they use minorities for their own benefit to get rid of Conservatism. But in the end, it will still be Whites ruling the roost.


21 posted on 03/26/2021 7:14:18 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: SJackson

Maher is correct about cultural silliness - but he completely misses that he and his post-modern, socialist, atheist ilk caused it ALL


22 posted on 03/26/2021 7:17:59 AM PDT by PGR88
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
Unless a miracle saves America, and it could, President Trump has proven that once the decadence of a civilisation has passed a critical point, the decadence is irreversible and the civilisation is doomed.

Note tagline.

23 posted on 03/26/2021 7:26:41 AM PDT by Savage Beast (Many tears will fall as America falls.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SJackson

Hard times make strong men.
Strong men make good times.
Good times make weak men.
Weak men make hard times.

Guess where we are in the cycle?


24 posted on 03/26/2021 7:27:40 AM PDT by Little Ray (The Government is always its own largest and most important Special Interest. .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SJackson

.


25 posted on 03/26/2021 7:30:47 AM PDT by sauropod (Chance favors the prepared mind.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
Is it "reversible"?

No.

No country goes back to being what it was.

Best thing that can be hoped for is a rebirth. But that will likely be in a different vessel, if at all.

26 posted on 03/26/2021 7:36:06 AM PDT by TimSkalaBim
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

Some of those white liberals wear R jerseys for camouflage, Flimsey Grahamnesty for example.


27 posted on 03/26/2021 7:38:28 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents)(Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 21 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
Eze 14:12-23, "The word of the LORD came again to me, saying, Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it: Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts: Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate. Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it: Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves. Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast: Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. For thus saith the Lord GOD; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast? Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it. And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord GOD.

Just substitute the USA for Jerusalem, and that's the state of condition this country is in.

I for one do not believe this nation can be saved because the only way it can be done is to completely isolate the evil men and women causing this destruction, move them out of the way, and for competent men and women take their places.

But let's face it; that won't be done. We are witnessing a unique period in human and Bible history; we're just the unfortunate sons and daughters that have to endure a time which vexes our souls, makes us weep inside and out, because we see a once great nation being brought to its knees by the immoral and corrupt, and no one will do a thing to stop them.

28 posted on 03/26/2021 7:40:33 AM PDT by ducttape45 ("Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people." Proverbs 14:34)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Lurkinanloomin

Of course, it’s all part of the illusion.


29 posted on 03/26/2021 7:41:11 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: SaxxonWoods

FR is a good place to find people who define what you want and dont want in a person you are sharing a foxhole with.


30 posted on 03/26/2021 7:52:41 AM PDT by Wilderness Conservative (Nature is the ultimate conservative)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
Our educational system is now dedicated to destroying the culture and nation, and to denying reality on woke issues.

Voucher the schools. Allow parents to vote with their feet. That would not be an instant solution, but it would at least attack the cancer at its roots.

31 posted on 03/26/2021 7:53:07 AM PDT by sphinx
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator
The lessons of history are too plain to believe that the odds are not against us but we have one ally, the Chinese. They may, and vary likely will, overplay their hand. Any incident that unites America such as Pearl Harbor or 9/11 could well galvanize the inherent resilience of the nation.

Such a galvanizing event is necessary because we are currently akin to the proverbial frog in the boiling pot. Our entire culture must be reversed and that cannot come from appeals to logic or even rhetorical exhortation, it must come from a slap in the face.


32 posted on 03/26/2021 7:56:55 AM PDT by nathanbedford (attack, repeat, attack! Bull Halsey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

A civilization decline is like a person aging. You can delay it, you can temporarily reverse some of its effects it with really good set of treatments.
But long term it is not reversible, it is inevitable.


33 posted on 03/26/2021 7:58:48 AM PDT by Truthsearcher
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: nathanbedford

even an act of war from china will not unite American communists/marxists and American patriots. The schizm is irreversible. It’s a fight to the death, us or them.


34 posted on 03/26/2021 8:16:34 AM PDT by Levy78
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Levy78
even an act of war from china will not unite American communists/marxists and American patriots. The schizm is irreversible. It’s a fight to the death, us or them.

Think Russia during World War I.

35 posted on 03/26/2021 8:17:10 AM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: Skywise

Even the pukes are beginning to see what they have created and realize they are coming down with us. Civilization will continue. However, it will speak Chinese.

Somewhere between 36 to 40 Chinese children are studying classical piano. The United States probably have a comparable number of aspiring rap artists. If you do not see a problem with that you should stop reading. Hao Huang, a professor of music at Scripps College says, “The future of Western classical music as a ‘living art form’ may be in the hands (and fingers) of the East’s rising musicians rather than those of the West, where classical music is “marginalized by the contemporary entertainment industry.”


36 posted on 03/26/2021 8:19:55 AM PDT by Vehmgericht (12)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

bump


37 posted on 03/26/2021 8:24:08 AM PDT by foreverfree
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Shane; rarestia; cuban leaf; dfwgator

I see many posts on FR about fighting. Exactly what do you propose to do? Unlike basement-dwelling Antifa types and the BLM thugs, the average middle class American has a lot to lose. We have children, grandchildren, homes, jobs, etc. Do you really think they are going to rise up and start a civil war? Do you think elections are going to change anything, especially with the flood of illegals who will soon be voters?
I’m old and not going anywhere, but I hope younger people will seriously consider leaving if things get too bad.


38 posted on 03/26/2021 8:42:04 AM PDT by Pining_4_TX ("War is the health of the state." Randolph Bourne)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: SJackson
bump for later pontificating...
39 posted on 03/26/2021 8:45:45 AM PDT by PerConPat (A politician is an animal which can sit on a fence and yet keep both ears to the ground - Mencken)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: dfwgator

We have left the golden age and are now coming to the silver age. We were Rome—now Byzantium. We may well lose territory (Alaska and Hawaii) Maybe the Pacific Coast to a new power. All empires Fall because of internal flaws—Our obsession’s with race maybe the thing as Rome’s obsession’s with Religion—and that Bread and Circus thing was there’s


40 posted on 03/26/2021 9:07:00 AM PDT by Forward the Light Brigade ( ALWAYS GO FORWARD AND NEVER GO BACK.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-60 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson