The comparison to the "Rome of the First Punic War" versus the "Rome of the Crisis of the Third Century" is an interesting historical analogy. Rhodesia as a dynamic, young civilization fighting against external forces that aimed to force it into a modern, egalitarian mold...
The idea of Rhodesia as an early example of "wokeness" is also quite intriguing. I like the idea that campaign against Rhodesia was the first political and cultural battle where the West began to turn away from its own heritage and ideals, in favor of radical egalitarianism. But one could say that the West already has seen a "woke" movement before, in the shape of the French revolution, when it turned away from its own heritage and ideals in favour of egalitarinism. Is there an analogy here? The revolutionaries not only sought political reform but also an absolute break from the past, including a rejection of religious authority, aristocratic privilege, and even classical art and culture. Similarly, the "woke" movement today is marked by a deep-seated rejection of traditional cultural values, including longstanding notions of individual responsibility, merit, and the nuclear family. It advocates for radical social equality, particularly in terms of race, gender, and sexual identity, often pushing for systemic change that seeks to dismantle existing structures and power dynamics. Just like the revolutionaries of the French Revolution, the modern "woke" movement often frames these efforts as a moral imperative to achieve greater justice and equality, while accusing traditional institutions of perpetuating oppression and inequality. While the French Revolution involved literal violence and societal upheaval, the "woke" movement manifests itself more in the cultural and social realm—yet both share the common thread of rejecting the past in favor of a radically new future.
The comparison to the "Rome of the First Punic War" versus the "Rome of the Crisis of the Third Century" is an interesting historical analogy. Rhodesia as a dynamic, young civilization fighting against external forces that aimed to force it into a modern, egalitarian mold...
The idea of Rhodesia as an early example of "wokeness" is also quite intriguing. I like the idea that campaign against Rhodesia was the first political and cultural battle where the West began to turn away from its own heritage and ideals, in favor of radical egalitarianism. But one could say that the West already has seen a "woke" movement before, in the shape of the French revolution, when it turned away from its own heritage and ideals in favour of egalitarinism. Is there an analogy here? The revolutionaries not only sought political reform but also an absolute break from the past, including a rejection of religious authority, aristocratic privilege, and even classical art and culture. Similarly, the "woke" movement today is marked by a deep-seated rejection of traditional cultural values, including longstanding notions of individual responsibility, merit, and the nuclear family. It advocates for radical social equality, particularly in terms of race, gender, and sexual identity, often pushing for systemic change that seeks to dismantle existing structures and power dynamics. Just like the revolutionaries of the French Revolution, the modern "woke" movement often frames these efforts as a moral imperative to achieve greater justice and equality, while accusing traditional institutions of perpetuating oppression and inequality. While the French Revolution involved literal violence and societal upheaval, the "woke" movement manifests itself more in the cultural and social realm—yet both share the common thread of rejecting the past in favor of a radically new future.