Over millennia, society has found ways to include those who are not part of the ‘majority’. However, it is undeniable that in the last quarter century something has certainly happened that does support the ‘contagion’ theory( I don’t like the word as an adjective because it has negative connotations as though gender deviations are a disease and a communicable one). Maybe it’s social media. It seems to be a ‘contagion’ in North America only. No other nation has been captivated more by this issue than American children. It is just..very odd!!!
It is an entire generation that has been captured. In America. I do think this indicates a confused coming-of-age for America. After all, US is one of the youngest nations in the world and doesnt have a strong cultural background or collective memory.
The aggressive self righteousness, victim hood status that has almost made this into a cult of religion and reckless messy shabby handling of what is a real issue that requires compassionate understanding is jarring.
Western abrahamic religions are the majority now and as a non-Christian looking from outside( and I mean no disrespect), when you look at it from the pov of a civilization that is based on a religion whose main worship is of someone who was victimized by being by nailed to the cross, it is almost too easy to join the dots to see why the culture in America…most of whom have abandoned their faith or are only Christian by name…naturally gravitates towards a substitute by recreating self as a victim who is Christ-like.
Often, religion isn’t about faith or god. It is about making sense of living on this rock we call Earth. And leaning on faith for support. It is very important as it had given people of our past anchor and some kind of grounding for life. Sure, it has at times been a Faustian Bargain, but that’s when we have to examine the differences between belief, faith and religion.
When a society gives up on religion..certainly an artificial construct…it needs to replace it with something else. Historically it has been war or science or spirituality. In the past century, it was communism. They are all ‘religions’ in a loose sense.
But what seemed to have happened in America is the adoption of a belief system called ‘victimhood’. This is being preached early on at public schools. And transgender issues is just one sect.
Being trans should be celebrated. It has to be a joyful adoption of an inner journey. It is not something one adopts for content creation or social media or rallies.
The problem with converting to the cult of victimhood is that once it’s resolved and one’s status is adopted, there is only emptiness when the attention is gone.
From when I was a teen, my personal hero was..and still is..the composer Wendy Carlos. At a time when the internet wasn’t so commonplace, I devoured everything about her. David Bowie, Freddie and countless others of my musical favorites flirted at the edge of gender norms. Freedom is being able to live with yourself and being comfortable in your own skin. Needing validation from others for identity is a very painful way to live life. It is the ultimate definition of ‘victim’.
So..back to the original article..I don’t think it’s a ‘contagion’. I think it’s the religious fervor of one more budding cult..The Church Of Victimhood.