The Theater of the Absurd Ends with a Whimper

 The confluence of mental illness and insecurity as driving factors behind certain ideological movements, particularly within the sphere of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). It argues that these movements are fueled by a need for validation and power, leading to absurd outcomes and behaviors.

1. Mental Illness and Power Dynamics:

• Certain mentally ill individuals seek to gain power over others due to their inability to control themselves. This control serves as a means of regulating their personal chaos.

• Individuals who feel anxious and insecure tend to lean towards powerful figures or ideologies, finding comfort in external validation.

2. The DEI Calamity:

• The combination of these two trends creates what the author refers to as the DEI calamity, leading to ongoing exaggeration of societal issues regarding marginalization.

• The need to maintain a position of power results in increasingly extreme and irrational demands from those involved.

3. Example of UN Women and Munroe Bergdorf:

• The article cites UN Women and its choice of spokesperson, Munroe Bergdorf, to highlight the absurdity of the situation. Here, environment becomes a substitute for personal stability.

• Bergdorf's role exemplifies a power dynamic where certain individuals assert control over discourse, while followers seek validation from them.

4. Cultural Phenomena:

• The author analyzes how figures like Sam Brinton, known for controversial public personas, symbolized a trend where “crazy” becomes normalized and accepted due to their outward confidence.

• This attracts followers looking for guidance, even as it often leads to their eventual disillusionment when these figures are exposed.

5. The Role of Absurdity in DEI Movements:

• The movement increasingly demands absurdity from its champions, often sidelining traditional representations of women in favor of more “diverse” iterations.

• Issues of accountability arise when leaders in these movements are found to fabricate their narratives or engage in wrongful actions.

6. Culmination of Tensions:

• As the movement escalates, members become trapped in a cycle where they define their safety through increasingly bizarre demands that cannot be logically sustained.

• The author suggests that this collective behavior signifies an end to the unchecked power previously enjoyed by members of the movement, positioning their experiences as a cancelation of privilege rather than oppression.

7. Changing Dynamics:

• The text predicts a shift where those within these movements will begin to see themselves as victims of societal changes rather than recognizing their role in this insanity.

• This change is poised to catalyze a broader societal rejection of the current ideologies, leading to what the author calls a ‘release of long-sustained pressure’.

8. Conclusion of the Absurd:

• The article concludes that this movement will likely culminate in a larger cultural reevaluation, where individuals will start to realign with more mainstream ideas and values.

• The aftermath is described as resembling the transition experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, where once-popular narratives will quickly fade as the majority shifts focus.

The author asserts that the emerging backlash against the increasingly absurd demands of DEI movements symbolizes a larger end to the madness that has been tolerated for too long. This shift encourages a reevaluation of ideologies centered on power and validation amidst chaos, leading to a more grounded societal discourse.

https://brownstone.org/articles/the-theater-of-the-absurd-ends-with-a-whimper/