Eetan
24m ago
And with no hope of fleeing the slaughter to come
Well, if you are absolutely certain that "slaughter" is near, and there is nowhere to run, then the radical solution is to preemptively join the winning side.
If the year is 1913, this is the right time to join the bolshevik party, and when the boog comes, you are not class enemy, but distinguished comrade and old revolutionary veteran.
Eetan
1d ago
The best I can infer is that Carlson is saying Yahweh did promise the land to the Jews but the Israelis are not Jews- although he does not say that directly, he makes the argument indirectly by saying "Netanyahu came from Europe."
Carlson, like most people who are not Middle Eastern politics or demography nerds probably believes that all Israeli Jews are of European origin. In reality, Ashkenazis are shrinking minority.
Eetan
1d ago
The problem: none of that is true. Yes, from my perspective (a Catholic) Huckabee is in an insane, anti-christian cult with absolutely insane beliefs. My (somewhat unrelated) point is that this is why you need The Church.,
Unfortunately, not any more. Since Vatican II Catholic church repudiated 1800+ years of teaching and moved to "dual track" salvation mode.
Eetan
1d ago
New week is here, it is time for some more random culture (and kinetic) war news, sourced from various parts of internets via xitter.
1/ Middle Eastern issues, and general strategy, tactics, law and customs of war in the current millenium.
About half of US deployable air power is ready for Iran boogaloo 2.0. It would be very symbolic if it began exactly at 4th anniversary of three day special operation to desatanize Ukraine.
How it will start? As massive decapitation strike on enemy elite human capital.
It is fascinating to see how something that was absolute NO in traditional rules of war "Generals do not take pot shots at each other" became normalized in the rules based order.
First organized crime bosses, then leaders of terrorist/freedom fighter groups like Al Qaeda, Hamas or Hezbollah, and now leaders and VIPs of internationally recognized states as Iran or Venezuela. And not only uniformed personnel, but leading scientists are now fair targets too.
This tactic became prevalent, because the targets are completely unable to reciprocate.
US and Israeli high ranking officers are not so well protected, professional sleeper cells should be able to get at them, but there is no evidence that these cells exist outside of Tom Clancy novels.
The highest ranking Israeli person killed was minister of tourism 25 years ago.
True war of assassins is yet to come.
What would be long term results? Being general is not any more cushy job with spiffy uniform, only people who believe in their cause and are ready to die will strive for such positions. Do the forces of freedom have plan B for case when decapitation strike succeeds, all targets are elliminated, but the enemy still refuses to surrender?
It is important to always have plan B. ready.
2/ More Middle Eastern issues
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said in Tucker Carlson interview that "it would be fine" if Israel took over all of Middle East.
Angela Price Aggeler, US ambassador to Macedonia, so far hadn't commented whether Macedonians should take back all lands given to their ancestors by Zeus.
3/ Yet more Middle Eastern issues
Israeli ultra-orthodox revived ancient European tradition of burning cats and dogs alive as part of celebration.
Very based and trad pilled.
4/ Woke and also military issues
Ft. Bragg kindergarten teacher who identifies as trans wolf 'Lilith Deathhowl' was fired
The parents had been upset since early 2025 that administrators hadn't taken action to remove the teacher after he engaged in "disturbing behavior" that involved dressing in feminine clothing in class, as well as wearing a dog collar with fetish tags and an animal tail.
It looks like story from 2021, as if celebrations were premature and wokeness hadn't perished yet.
5/ Epstein issues
Epstein before his ultimely demise hid his secrets in storage units. Good news, the whole sordid saga can be prolonged into infinity. At any time, mysterious storage unit can be opened and new Easter eggs rolled out for the eager public.
6/ Now, the thread connecting all issues of the day together
The subway question is again the hottest debate on Xitter right now:
Are homeless drug addicts peeing and pooping in public transport reactionary lumpenproletariat or progressive freedom fighters? Is shitting in New York subway the best way to defeat American imperialism and free Palestine?
Eetan
7d ago
Thus for him, a decadent society may still be rich, productive, or militarily powerful, but it lacks drive. It lacks a goal or ambition beyond merely continuing on in its current state.
Then it is another point against counting late Roman empire as "decadent". Late Romans had enormous ambition and drive - to be Christians, to be the correct kind of Christians. People who DNGAF do not spend enormous resources on building churches, and would not bother with ceaseless religious strife and persecution.
Eetan
7d ago
Anti-D think that decadence has specific visible markers:
Now, we can check the ur-example of decadence, the example all this debate is about, late Roman Empire how well it check these boxes.
Decline in "warrior values" or "warrior ethos"
5th century Rome was less martial than Republican Rome at its peak, but I do not see less "warrior values" than in Principate when Rome was at its greatest power. (warrior skills and ability are another matter)
Increased emphasis on physical comfort among elite-class males
Ditto. In 5th century, you do not see extravagant luxurious life of the first century.
Decreased willingness to inflict physical pain, including reduced use of harsh training and corporal punishment
If anything, the opposite. In classical Rome, corporal punishment was reserved for slaves and provincials, Roman citizens (about 10-15% of population) were extempt. In late Rome, everyone except tiny elite of "honestiores" legally belonged to the "torturable" class.
Decline in sexual morality and/or traditional gender roles
Sort of - unlike in classical Rome, late Roman women had option to leave their family authority to stay celibate and dedicate themselves to religious life. If you want to make case that nuns (tiny percentage of population) destroyed Rome, do it.
Increasing willingness of people who are not battle-tested warrior elites (including priests, merchants, politicians, women, REMFs etc.) to interfere with military decision making
Again, no evidence of it. In first century, Caligula could divert the army to build bridge over Bay of Naples. No such wild tales from the fifth century.
Left-wing politics more generally, including increased wealth redistribution. (I'm not sure what fraction of anti-Ds would include this)
"Wealth redistribution" in late Rome was from the bottom for benefit of top oligarch class. This is period when free grain supply for city of Rome stopped for good.
Eetan
7d ago
Left-wing politics more generally, including increased wealth redistribution. (I'm not sure what fraction of anti-Ds would include this)
This comes from 1980's GOP talking points ("dO yOU kNOw Roman Empire was destroyed by GOMMUNISM?").
Traditionally, virtuous society was seen as egalitarian republic of small self sufficient farmers, and society where handful of oligarchs owns everything and the bottom 99% are mass of dispossessed serfs was seen as degraded and decadent society ripe for picking. No one before Ayn Rand said that Roman Empire fell because it was not grinding down the peasants hard enough.
Eetan
7d ago
"Latest School Shooting, Shooter Is Trans Groyper"
Imagine you have to explain this ordinary daily news to someone from 1956, even science fiction fan of the time. This is how life in the future feels like.
Eetan
8d ago
Xitter account of the perpetrator here unlike previous cases it is still standing (so far). Oversight or deliberate change of Xitter policy?
Eetan
8d ago
Exactly zero right wing people are out in the streets getting themselves shot by cops for interfering with the enforcement of government policies they disapprove of.
Umm... where to start. The numbers are not large, but definitely not zero.
Eetan
8d ago
Thailand has rather lax gun laws by East Asian standards, but most notorious mass shootings were perpetrated by army and police.
Eetan
8d ago
I remember some online poll where Americans were asked about various public figures, there were options like/dislike/no opinion/never heard about them.
Cannot find it right now (might be misremembered)
About 2% claimed to never heard about Donald Trump, the lizardman number.
If true, these are the happiest people and we all could just envy them.
Eetan
8d ago
How do you handle it when people ask for your political opinions in real life?
If you want to have fun, just pretend to be completely ignorant about the issue.
A: Do you stand with Upper Trashcanistan?
B: Trash... whatever, what is it? Some new restaurant or fast food place in the town?
Then watch how your interlocutor ties himself to knots desperately trying to explain the issue in five seconds.
Eetan
8d ago
I agree that the post on the Maronite Chronicle is real historical research.
It does not seem to be revolutionary at all, no shocking secrets uncovered, no revelation that The Prophet was transgender woman of color that never existed. It well aligns with other sources we have for 7th century Middle Eastern history, it confirms that our general knowledge about these times is accurate.
And this is how real historical research looks like in most cases.
Eetan
8d ago
it's not something I would have leapt to as a good example of 'real history research'.
Well, she gets the black pill lesson of history that there is no such thing as ultimate "lesson of history"
Good luck getting experts and professionals to tell you so in such open way.
Eetan
8d ago
There are whole categories of activity that can feel deeply compelling while you're doing them, but are impossible to interestingly convey to others.
It always depends on your audience. D&D player would be impressed by 14th level elf, WOW player not so much.
Eetan
8d ago
For unironic context, this is what real history research looks like.
Yes, you can still find new historical sources, not only from newly opened modern archives, but from older times too - there is still surprising amount of centuries old written material never properly classified and published.
This is shame, because raging modern culture war can use anything, no matter how old.
Eetan
8d ago
Most probably, he found out that FBI work is just another office job, especially at the very top, not something from action movies.
Eetan
8d ago
gets across to normies
Are there any "normies" as undecided voters willing to be persuaded by red or blue side by facts, logic and reason?
How many such people are left (if they ever existed). Everything looks that polarization is complete, there is blue and red side hardened in their camps (and equally hardened grey non voting, non caring mass that refuses to participate).
Eetan
8d ago
There’s military doctrine reasons that the field advanced so slowly
Yes, it would be cool if every grunt was universal starship stormtrooper trained to use every weapon or tool from nuclear artillery to toothpick with maximal skill and efficiency, but time (and learning ability) is limited and you have to prioritize.
IRL, if you find yourself in situation when you face the enemy and only thing you have is pistol, you are 99,99% hosed regardless of your marksmanship. (not always, see the famous knife fight from Ukraine trench, where knife fighting skill made a difference)
Eetan
9d ago
Yea, it is about year 1923.
Eetan
9d ago
Let us engage with this low (but not zero) probability scenario realistically.
If these fears come true, if big boog comes for real and US of A turn into some combination of Syria, Somalia, Yugoslavia, Zimbabwe and Chernobyl exclusion zone, then whole world's economy and international order (with its arcane system of passports, visas and residency permits) goes straight to the toilet. US passport and US dollar would be as useful as Tsarist passport and rouble was about 1920. No one in this world is going to welcome any refugees or send any humanitarian aid.
If you see this future as highly probable and want to escape it, you need to act now, you need to leave ASAP and gain some sort of legal existence elsewhere far from North American continent (and any current or potential war zone) before the hammer falls and all doors shut.
Eetan
11d ago
My opinion is that US schools do a really bad job of teaching the civil rights protests
Is there any topic where current US schools do a good job of teaching?
It is certainly not basic reading, writing and arithmetic.
And even when the system really tries, the effects are not great. See one historical event that TPTB consider crucially important for everyone to know, event that is taught not only in schools from the earliest age, but also in popular media and entertainment.
Press D for doubt. We've had this conversation before, like 10 days ago. US is, like it or not, still the world's first super power, and when conditions in US get into "mass slaughter" stage, world's economy and international relation system is flushed down the toilet (collapse of US dollar alone would do it).
In this world, no one is welcoming any refugees. Lessons of collapse of world's three great powers in 1917-1920 do not apply here, the fallout would be far worse and will hit everyone.
More options
Context Copy link