I do not seek out right wing online content, but sometimes it finds its way. Tonight it was a video by Matt Walsh, proclaiming the heritage of the United States as an empire, glorifying expansionism, and celebrating the death that goes with it.
Whenever a right wing figure starts talking all ruthless and shit, I check immediately to see if they have any military or other combat experience whatsoever.
Matt Walsh has none. It reminded me of another chirpy right wing pipsqueak, in the 1990s, a guy named Michael Kelly, who was also a chickenhawk. Chickenhawks are people in media or government who talk a hard line about swinging America's dick, but have never actually served. Kelly was thrilled to death to be embedded with US forces invading Baghdad in 2003. He died on the very first night, when the Humvee he was riding in crashed into a canal. He never got to see the war turn into the money-sucking quagmire that encumbered us for eight years.
The aftermath of 9-11 ushered in a wave of pro-war sentiment unparalleled since before World War I. Probably well before. I suppose you could draw the parallel to Pear Harbor as a motivator, and say that Americans were all in favor of World War II, but they mostly weren't until the Japanese attack.
The world of the 1930s was very different from the world of 2001. War was nasty at the start of hostilities in the 1930s, and horrific at the crescendo in 1945. The stakes have only gotten higher since then.
Walsh rhapsodized on the spiritual and material benefits of expansionism. Expand into what, though? We're on a round planet with one atmosphere, one oceanic system, and, like it or not, one species of human. We will destroy ourselves trying to create ever-expanding empires. That's kind of what World War II was all about. He spoke warmly about the killing and dying necessary to build and maintain his fantasy empire.
You first, dude. Suit up and get on the field.
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