Oikophobia: Our Western Self-Hatred

Dr. Benedict Beckeld discusses the concept of Oikophobia, the subject of a recent article of his.
www.benedictbeckeld.com
/ benedictbeckeld
@BenedictBeckeld
Edit: The title of the book mentioned at the end finally became "Western Self-Contempt: Oikophobia in the Decline of Civilizations" (Cornell University Press, 2022).

[@BenedictBeckeld]

For those who prefer to read the text of the article directly, it is here: quillette.com/2019/10/07/oikophobia-our-western-self-hatred/

[@Maddie-yj5xj]

Can you define "western culture" because to be honest with you I don't really believe such a thing exists, I believe what is perceived as Oikophobia is a reaction to literally centuries of slavery, pain and colonization that white people have done.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

I talk a bit about definitions in the video "What is Western Civilization? (And the Abuse of Nominalism.)".

[@Maddie-yj5xj]

@@BenedictBeckeld Yes but I still do not understand because there are many valid reasons why western people would have disdain for our countries and cultures, because of all the painful history that they carry.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

The quickest reply I can offer is that things like conquest, plunder, racism, etc. are, unfortunately, not specifically Western, but human. If we Westerners should hate our culture for this reason, then pretty much all the peoples of the world would have to hate their own cultures.

[@Maddie-yj5xj]

@@BenedictBeckeld Well the interesting is is that while other cultures have committed similar things, they do not hate their culture, unlike many western people. I believe that the reason for this is because when you look at history the way western cultures have treated other cultures is uniquely horrible, and society still faces many of the consequences from those actions. Furthermore, I do not believe that people like myself hate our culture, I think we want to change it, and there is a difference, of course, we do not want to erase history, (obviously) but we want to stop the glorification of bad things and bad people, honestly people like myself who I think you would call an Oikophobe, are just pushing more a more objective history, one with many sides and perspectives, not only that of white people/westerners.

[@lfidarraga]

“If the fires that innately burn inside youths are not intentionally and lovingly added to the hearth of community, they will burn down the structures of culture, just to feel the warmth."

[@BlueisNotaWarmColour]

Great quote contribution

[@therealbahamut]

"Oikophobia." Thank you. The problem now has a name. If it has a name then it has a foil. It can be beaten.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

My pleasure, thank you. In my upcoming book I repeat it incessantly.

[@stonepaintertim]

shamefully; I never knew there was a word for this; just self loathing, and always equated it with a type of Christian self guilt gone awry -thank you for posting

[@BenedictBeckeld]

My pleasure, and don't worry, it's a fairly new coinage. But with my forthcoming book on the subject I intend to make it better known.

[@bighands69]

Phobia as a condition is a very modern concept and its usage as part of culture is even more modern. Oikophobia is a catchy term that works.

[@mikegan73]

Great explanation, you're way under subscribed.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you! And at least the number is growing, slowly but surely.

[@HolyGround777]

Instantly subscribing, great video!

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you!

[@willknott9675]

Perfectly brilliant. Outstanding.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you!

[@anderstopansson]

I miss that shirt , I had it 1992 on my military service in Österreikh. Big like.

[@rd4871]

Your awesome

[@YourLocalRussianNegro]

Holy shit! You spitting straight fax my G! 💯 Subscribed

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thanks, much appreciated!

[@chanasahler1244]

Very interesting and engaging video!

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you! ❤️

[@abrahkadabra9501]

Just subscribed and I'm really liking the content. Direct, concise and plainly spoken, well done! 👍

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you very much! I'll do my best to keep it up.

[@jakethejeweler3092]

Thank you for Verbalizing what's been on my mind. Also, serious question here, At what point does progress become a weapon? It's hard to find dialogue with this

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you, I'll be happy to discuss, but I'm not sure if I understand your question. What progress and whose weapon do you mean?

[@jakethejeweler3092]

@@BenedictBeckeld thank you for the response, i apologize at my lack of vocabulary to articulate train of thought like you do. It seems we've made great progress as a society, it's ridiculous to even consider past practices of society acceptable today, Jim Crow laws, Suffrage, the Bill of Rights actually applying to everyone equally, etc....these things that make us us. It seems like now their is no middle ground to talk and digest the fact that what was once taboo is ok and if you disagree you can lose your job because opinions can now have life long affects, the same way a bullet piercing flesh will leave a scar. Their are many topics that need to be addressed and resolved in America, how do we find the middle ground without resorting to violence? Edit: what I'm trying to say is the very hard discussions we've had in the past about those issues are the same ones being raised today, only it's the straight, white, western male who's being demonized and no one is asking why

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Ok, in the book I talk about how as a society progresses, there will be a new tribalism of sorts that sets in, where each little tribe within the society views other tribes as greater threats than they do external threats. And so violence or shutting down the opinions of those other tribes becomes justified in the eyes of the new tribalists. It is hard to find any solution to this, and previous societies who went through the same process did not succeed. One should always assume the good faith of one's opponent, unless evidence to the contrary is absolutely overwhelming; that helps a bit, but only, of course, if one's opponent does the same. Both De Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" and Mill's "On Liberty" include discussions of this theme, if you're interested.

[@jakethejeweler3092]

@@BenedictBeckeld i am, thank you. This is a subject we as a nation really need to understand A lot of the tension in this nation can be dealt with through debate if politicians on both sides would stop fanning the flames. Their are good men and women in this nation, except they want nothing to do with the meat grinder that is politics. For too long we've had to choose the lesser of two evils to "lead" this nation, and it's not fair to the people who live here.

[@maryjmurphy7351]

Thank you for posting the video.... Time for a TED talk....A great new perspective on what is happening in/to our country!

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it!

[@matthewwinchester7618]

Brilliant...

[@AMM.083]

Very insightful.

[@solomontruthlover5308]

Fascinating! thanks a lot!

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thanks!

[@nathanielsutton227]

Just discovered, and subscribed. Keep it up, good sir.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you, I will!

[@Orcinus1967]

Wow. Just when one thinks one is educated. Thank goodness I saw this because I couldn't put a finger on what is going on here in my country the US. This video was shared with me by another youtube commentator. I will share it likewise on Facebook and here on youtube, everywhere I can. Liked and subscribed, keep up the good work.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you very much, I really appreciate the shares and the support! I'll make an announcement when the book is coming out.

[@jasonlipka]

"The perennial doom of western societies is that, early on, many people tend to be more conservative and, later on, people tend to be more progressive - the exact opposite of what is needed." Perfect, couldn't have said it better myself. I think this also explains why the Democrats of old were much more revered than they are now. I think it also explains why it seems that Republicans and Democrats have traded positions on so many things. For example, around the time of the Civil War, the Democrats defended slavery. Now, they make it a point through virtue signaling to denounce any support of racial inequality towards blacks.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you! In a way, yes, I agree that Republicans and Democrats have traded places, as e.g. in the suppression of undesirable speech, where the right used to be more culturally dominant and therefore suppressed unwanted speech, but with the left now being more culturally dominant and therefore doing the same. In some respects, however, I'd suggest that the places remain largely the same, at least from a certain point of view. For example, whereas the Democrats have consistently held on to discrimination (first discrimination against black people, then discrimination for them), Republicans for a long time have also been consistent: no discrimination, which also means no special favors.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

@BVale Thank you. I agree with your dissatisfaction insofar as there only being two major parties means that one can find plenty of things to complain about with both. (In that limited way I tend to prefer the multiple-party system in most European countries, where it is sometimes easier to find an ideological home.) Having said that, for me it's about choosing the lesser of two evils, so I still find, at this time, one party considerably preferable to the other. But voting for individuals, as you say, is definitely a part of that, yes.

[@njbobf]

This is more prescient and frightening today, a year later given all that has transpired over the past 14 months. So are we on an inevitable path of self-destruction? Yes, one can say "no" if one realizes these issues, but therein lies the problem as with other societies that have failed...they refused to realize these issue and take actions to thwart the inevitable decline.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you, and indeed it has been tragicomic for me to see how strikingly the things I talked about have played themselves out over the last year. Stay tuned for an announcement on the release of the book on the subject.

[@bighands69]

The west is not yet in decline. Decline normally happens rapidly and is like something that collapses. At this moment the foundations are being dissolved. What you can see is the foundations being stripped and realize that it will cause everything else to come down. We have not yet declined. A good economic crisis would probably stop this erosion from taking place. The market crash of 2008 was not a true economic crisis so that does not count. So when the economic crisis does come along it normally creates a big dip and lots of hardship but what comes out other side is normally a revival.

[@eviltango]

THANK YOU!!!

[@BenedictBeckeld]

My pleasure!

[@alheemnaphet4554]

Great work Doc. Refreshing to see original thought so well formulated. I can only imagine your peers in academia have loathingly challenged this as you developed the concepts.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you very much! Yes, indeed some of them have, which makes me appreciate comments like yours all the more.

[@radthadd]

Good vid man

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thanks!

[@truthseeker3397]

Videos are needed as I love the topic but rarely read.... As I read too slow

[@aloma832]

You’ll never get better at reading if you don’t read !

[@nathanielsutton227]

Same here. Keep trying.

[@czr7j9]

I like living here in Australia some of the other countries were terrible.

[@monica1811]

Sadly, the same is happening there and has been happening for some time. I worry for my Aussie friends. Take care mate.

[@atomicslam1589]

...Yup.....everything that guy said....

[@AutoFirePad]

Thank you Dr. Beckeld. Is it possible to promote oikophobia by some rival states? Why are there well developed countries but without any oikophobic feelings in their society?

[@BenedictBeckeld]

And thank you for commenting. Are you referring to any particular country/-ies? I might think of eastern Europe, for instance, where oikophobia is hemmed by the memory of communism and the concomitant external threat from Russia. But perhaps you mean something else.

[@soros250]

@@BenedictBeckeld There is self-loathing in places like China, Arabia, India, but it's restricted to the progressive class. They hate their backwardness and inability to modernize on their own terms, to separate from the West that once colonized them. The post-colonial mentality is self-hating on a deep level. You find it in characters like Tariq Ramadan who go from inferiority complex to supremacism.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

@@soros250 Indeed we discuss this in the Quillette podcast on the subject, from December of last year.

[@mobucks555]

"one so fortunate, yet filled with self hate. but the mirror shows me an ingrate" ... "that the truth, it lies in my reflection; no this can't go on, there's no question!" -Type O Negative

[@elijahnixey-paton925]

Were you to see this comment, could you provide an effective response to a rabid oikaphpbia for people pooking to combat it. Thanks

[@BenedictBeckeld]

It's hard to reduce it all to an effective response in a few sentences, but oikophobes should be aware that their opinion is not at all revolutionary in any way (they generally think of themselves as such), but is an old and tired Western ideology that occurs and recurs in history. For more details, I can only say that the book on the subject will be out soon.

[@elijahnixey-paton925]

@@BenedictBeckeld thanks, much appreciated. Is it possible for you to release the title so I'll know what to look for?

[@BenedictBeckeld]

The publisher's marketing department has final say, but it will probably be: "Hatred of Home: Oikophobia in the Decline of Civilizations". But in any case I'll post an announcement video when I have the exact publication date, which will then also include the exact title. So stay tuned, and thanks for your interest!

[@sharingfocus9144]

It would be a good idea to add/link the concept of "mouse utopia" here, of which Oikophobia is but one effect

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you for making that connection; it's an interesting one. I am not really competent to judge the precise extent to which the mouse behavior can be seen as reflective of human societies, but the jadedness that occurs in cities from overcrowding seems to me to be related to it. (In the book I discuss several of the reasons why oikophobia is obviously more prevalent in cities than in the countryside.)

[@sharingfocus9144]

@@BenedictBeckeld The basics are the same, in essence it's a lack of purpose for social animals, in the presence of opulence/boredom, ‘liberty,’ no more direction, ‘meaning,' which would influence more complex animals more, especially those whose intelligence is of a highly delusional nature = an evolutionary survival mechanism - these will have coping mechanisms against such mental stress, like religions… One might say that such animals need a certain amount of stress/challenge to function socially, a lack of it causes them to deteriorate, first sign would be decline of procreation - we’re not programmed for leisure, more for laziness and bursts of activity, 'hurry up and wait' - certainly not for ‘liberty’ Cities just necessitate behavior to be more social-centered ?

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you for this summary of the mouse behavior, which I don't know very much about. Indeed it sounds all-too familiar. (Some of the reasons for a concentration of oikophobia in cities are that there is a greater access there to foreign fashions and ideas; that intellectuals tend to congregate there, and intellectuals themselves are more oikophobic, which in turn has a whole slew of causes; that the connection in cities between land and survival is more nebulous than in the countryside; that constantly rubbing shoulders with others tends to lead to a more acerbic and jaded world-view, which is what I referred to in my first reply to you; etc. etc.)

[@sleepykitty8918]

I saw that study! It was so unsettling towards the end. The segregation, gangs, and suicidal tendencies were a disturbing parallel to some of the problems of modern society. I worry that the end of mouse utopia will happen to us as well, but I still hope that humans can overcome this decline.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

@@ProxyAuthenticationRequired Thank you, indeed I familiarized myself with that experiment after the other commenter mentioned it to me, yes. And what you describe about neuroscience conferences sounds quite familiar to me as well, from philosophy and philology conferences. And we're agreed on social media, although I find that the peer review process is getting worse and worse, at least in my field, with politics and ego taking over.

[@1966johnnywayne]

You need to add a few "cat videos" to get your view count, and inevitably your subscriber base up. BPS referencing your work in a recent video may be a slight bump. I don't say this because I believe that people such as yourself do this for the notoriety, but with the notoriety of creators like you comes hope for the next generation. Sub'd.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you for the sub! And yes, I see your point; I'm definitely not looking for notoriety, but having more followers would help in getting more material in general (including my written work) published. I'll think about the possibility of adding some quicker videos in addition to the mini-lectures.

[@jasonwu2964]

@@BenedictBeckeld rj

[@augustwavra196]

This just made me want to move to China.

[@bighands69]

China is not somewhere that recognizes culture. Chinese Communists eradicated Chinese culture and damaged China. In rural China there is still a strong sense of culture but that is not the case in the cities.

[@pops1507]

Dude works out, eh?

[@soros250]

I have the article but hoped for more in depth analysis of how Islam in Europe feeds on the sense of self-loathing (which Pascal Bruckner and others) have also identified as a malaise.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

I have written elsewhere about Islam, but in any case the article was only meant as a general overview introduction. My forthcoming book contains a lot more detail. As for your references to Bruckner, also in another comment, he did not say it all, if I may say so: his two books on the subject are - while he is right about much of what he says - mainly rhetorical tirades against cultural self-hatred, whereas my forthcoming book is actually a monograph study on the subject, where the phenomenon is analyzed from antiquity to the present day. So there is a lot more to be said about it than Bruckner did.

[@marcusaurelio2779]

Frankfurt School.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Yes indeed. I discuss that in the upcoming book.

[@alheemnaphet4554]

@@BenedictBeckeld Release date?

[@BenedictBeckeld]

@@alheemnaphet4554 Uncertain, due to the loathing academic reaction you mentioned, but it's currently in peer review for the second time, so hopefully it'll be out within a year or so. I'll announce it here on KZbin and across my social media when I know.

[@martinpospisil3747]

It can also be called Ethnomasochism. But Oikophobia is pretty much the same thing.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Indeed, though "ethnomasochism" has a slightly more racial flavor. I discuss the distinction in my upcoming book "Western Self-Contempt".

[@nonamesnonames]

I don't think xenophobia is the best antonym for oikophobia. I think chauvinism is a better antonym for armchair oikophobia. I think jingoism is a better antonym for active oikophobia. It's true that someone expressing oikophobic views is very unlikely to express xenophobic ones. However, a chauvinist need not hold xenophobic views either. A deeply held positive view of one's own culture needn't entail disdain or fear of others. However, chauvinism and oikophobia are mutually exclusive and are in direct opposition to one another.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you for that thought! You may be right, but I think it's difficult to say. My problem with chauvinism as a term here is that it is "positive", i.e. focused on what the person in question likes (his country). With oiko-phobia, the question is what a person dislikes, and xeno-phobia shares that negative meaning, which is why I still think it may be more appropriate as an antonym. I would have the same problem with jingoism as a term here, though I like your idea of suggesting that jingoism is "active", chauvinism "passive". So I'm basing the dichotomy around like/dislike, while you're basing it around the own country. I'd probably say that both points of view are valid. In the Introduction of the book I use Aristotle's idea of vice as lack and excess in the Nicomachean Ethics to explain how I view the dichotomy between oiko- and xenophobia.

[@soros250]

@@BenedictBeckeld Maybe look for the roots of western self-loathing in Christianity itself: the failure to live up to God's expectations. We made a mess of Paradise and blame ourselves for it.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

@@soros250 Western self-loathing precedes Christianity, though Christianity certainly has a part to play. This, too, is somewhat discussed in the podcast I mentioned in my other reply.

[@MarkAhlquist]

What's wrong with criticizing one's culture? What's wrong working to improve one's culture? Are all criticisms of your culture automatically invalid?

[@BenedictBeckeld]

There is absolutely nothing wrong with criticizing one's own culture, agreed; I myself do it frequently. But there is a distinction - which in the forthcoming book I lay out in greater detail - between constructive and rational self-critique on the one hand, and a more knee-jerk reaction against any aspect of one's own culture and traditions, on the other. It is the latter that I'm talking about, and there is a lot of it around.

[@MarkAhlquist]

@@BenedictBeckeld So we just have to use judgment when assessing each criticism. There is no general algorithm you can use to just dispense with the ones you don't like.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Well, one can usually tell pretty quickly, not only from the content but also from the form, when someone is being oikophobic. I can dislike or disagree with a particular critique without necessarily considering it oikophobic.

[@jasonlipka]

@@MarkAhlquist Interesting point. It seems that many people in this nation are doing exactly what you just said they shouldn't do - dispensing with criticisms and ideas that they don't like. BLM comes to mind.

[@MarkAhlquist]

@@jasonlipka it seems like you might be trying to make some sort of opaque point, but clearly it's over my head. Making wierd arbitrary distinctions between types of criticism is not a useful tool, since it is itself a type of criticism that might be the kind you don't like. You're obviously a white nationalist trying to argue a nauseating philosophy; if you are clear about what you want everyone will rightly hate you, so you balbber incoherently instead. Awesome! Keep up the good work! Why not advocate the eating of one's own shit? Same damn thing.

[@davidhunt7427]

*_A free man is as jealous of his responsibilities as he is of his liberties._* ~ Cyril James *_Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it._* ~ George Bernard Shaw *_[On ancient Athens]: In the end, more than freedom, they wanted security. They wanted a comfortable life, and they lost it all - security, comfort, and freedom. When the Athenians finally wanted not to give to society but for society to give to them, when the freedom they wished for most was freedom from responsibility, then Athens ceased to be free and was never free again._* ~ Edward Gibbon *_Government does not grow by seizing our freedoms, but by assuming our responsibilities._* ~ Michael Cloud *_It is indeed a singular thing that people wish to pass laws to nullify the disagreeable consequences that the law of responsibility entails. Will they never realize that they do not eliminate these consequences but merely pass them along to other people? The result is one injustice the more and one moral the less._* ~ Frederic Bastiat *_Then what is freedom? It is the will to be responsible to ourselves._* ~ Friedrich Nietzsche *_The essential psychological requirement of a free society is the willingness on the part of the individual to accept responsibility for his life._* ~ Edith Packer *_The real freedom of any individual can always be measured by the amount of responsibility which he must assume for his own welfare and security._* ~ Robert Welch *_.. the sense of meaning that life can provide to you, is proportionate to the amount of responsibility you decide to take on.._* ~ Jordan Peterson *_If you are not free to choose wrongly and irresponsibly, you are not free at all._* ~ Jacob Hornberger *_Entrepreneurs and their small enterprises are responsible for almost all the economic growth in the United States._* ~ Ronald Reagan *_Any doctrine that weakens personal responsibility for judgment and for action helps create the attitudes that welcome and support the totalitarian state._* ~ John Dewey *_The great escape of our times is escape from personal responsibility for the consequences of one's own behavior._* ~ Thomas Sowell *_The vision of the anointed is one in which ills as poverty, irresponsible sex, and crime derive primarily from 'society,' rather than from individual choices and behavior. To believe in personal responsibility would be to destroy the whole special role of the anointed, whose vision casts them in the role of rescuers of people treated unfairly by 'society'._* ~ Thomas Sowell *_We seem to be getting closer and closer to a situation where nobody is responsible for what they did but we are all responsible for what somebody else did._* ~ Thomas Sowell *_We are also responsible for our obedience!_* ~ Hannah Arendt *_The police can't stop an intruder, mugger, or stalker from hurting you. They can pursue him only after he has hurt or killed you. Protecting yourself from harm is your responsibility, and you are far less likely to be hurt in a neighborhood of gun-owners than in one of disarmed citizens - even if you don't own a gun yourself._* ~ Harry Browne *_The free market punishes irresponsibility. Government rewards it._* ~ Harry Browne *_The increasing dependence on the State is anything but a healthy symptom; it means that the whole nation is in a fair way to becoming a herd of sheep, constantly relying on a shepard to drive them into good pastures. The shepherd's staff soon becomes a rod of iron, and the shepherds turn into wolves... Any man who still possesses the instinct of self preservation knows perfectly well that only a swindler would offer to relieve him of responsibility, for surely no one in his senses would dream of taking responsibility for the existence of another. The man who promises everything is sure to fulfil nothing, and everyone who promises too much is in danger of using evil means in order to carry out his promises, and is already on the road to perdition._* ~ Carl Jung, CW 10, Para 413, _Civilization in Transition_

[@davidhunt7427]

*_Freedom is essentially a condition of inequality, not equality. It recognizes as a fact of nature the structural differences inherent in man - in temperament, character, and capacity - and it respects those differences. We are not alike and no law can make us so._* ~ Frank Chodorov *_Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal. And if they are equal, they are not free._* ~ Alexander Solzhenitsyn *_A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both._* ~ Milton Friedman *_Equality of opportunity is freedom, but equality of outcome is repression._* ~ Dick Feagler *_Americans are so enamored of equality they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom._* ~ Alexis de Tocqueville *_Envy blinds men and makes it impossible for them to think clearly._* ~ Malcolm X *_I have no respect for the passion for equality, which seems to me merely idealizing envy._* ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. *_Nobody is more inferior than those who insist on being equal._* ~ Friedrich Nietzsche *_Those who want to "spread the wealth" almost invariably seek to concentrate the power. It happens too often, and in too many different countries around the world, to be a coincidence. Which is more dangerous, inequalities of wealth or concentrations of power?_* ~ Thomas Sowell *_The great escape of our times is escape from personal responsibility for the consequences of one's own behavior._* ~ Thomas Sowell

[@davidhunt7427]

*_While Liberty is never Utopian, it is always Melioristic,.._* but that can *never* be good enough for the _left,.._ and so the world *burns!* ~ Me, I say this *_Liberty is always dangerous, but it is the safest thing we have._* ~ Harry Emerson Fosdick *_Liberty is the only thing you cannot have unless you are willing to give it to others._* ~ William Allen White *_The love of liberty is the love of others; the love of power is the love of ourselves._* ~ William Hazlitt _Where _*_love rules,_*_ there is no will to power, and where _*_power_*_ predominates, love is lacking. The one is the _*_shadow_*_ of the other._ ~ Carl Jung *_Where men cannot freely convey their thoughts to one another, no other liberty is secure._* ~ William E. Hocking *_Liberty is meaningless where the right to utter one's thoughts and opinions has ceased to exist. That, of all rights, is the dread of tyrants. It is the right which they first of all strike down._* ~ Frederick Douglass *_It is important to remember, as has well been said, 'the essential characteristic of true liberty is that under its shelter many different types of life and character and opinion and belief can develop unmolested and unobstructed.'_* ~ Charles Evans Hughes *_Liberty is the solution of all social and economic questions._* ~ Joseph Labadie *_Liberty is always unfinished business._* ~ American Civil Liberties Union *_Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add 'within the limits of the law,' because law is often but the tyrant's will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual._* ~ Thomas Jefferson *_The boisterous sea of liberty is never without a wave._* ~ Thomas Jefferson *_Where liberty is, there is my country._* ~ Benjamin Franklin *_Liberty is one of the choicest gifts that heaven hath bestowed upon man, and exceeds in value all the treasures which the earth contains within its bosom, or the sea covers. Liberty, as well as honor, man ought to preserve at the hazard of his life, for without it life is insupportable._* ~ Cervantes *_Liberty is not merely a privilege to be conferred; it is a habit to be acquired._* ~ David Lloyd George *_Liberty is not a right but a duty._* ~ Ezra Pound *_The true character of liberty is independence, maintained by force._* ~ Voltaire *_The inescapable price of liberty is an ability to preserve it from destruction._* ~ Douglas MacArthur *_The saddest epitaph which can be carved in memory of a vanished liberty is that it was lost because its possessors failed to stretch forth a saving hand while yet there was time._* ~ George Sutherland *_The true test of liberty is the right to test it, the right to question it, the right to speak to my neighbors, to grab them by the shoulders and look into their eyes and ask, 'Are we free?' I have thought that if we are free, the answer cannot hurt us. And if we are not free, must we not hear the answer?_* ~ Gerry Spence *_The fact is that the average man's love of liberty is nine-tenths imaginary, exactly like his love of sense, justice and truth._* ~ H.L. Mencken *_[The average man] is not actually happy when free; he is uncomfortable, a bit alarmed, and intolerably lonely. Liberty is not a thing for the great masses of men. It is the exclusive possession of a small and disreputable minority, like knowledge, courage and honor. It takes a special sort of man to understand and enjoy liberty,... and he is usually an outlaw in democratic societies._* ~ H.L. Mencken *_I believe that liberty is the only genuinely valuable thing that men have invented, at least in the field of government, in a thousand years. I believe that it is better to be free than to be not free, even when the former is dangerous and the latter safe. I believe that the finest qualities of man can flourish only in free air ~ that progress made under the shadow of the policeman's club is false progress, and of no permanent value. I believe that any man who takes the liberty of another into his keeping is bound to become a tyrant, and that any man who yields up his liberty, in however slight the measure, is bound to become a slave._* ~ H.L. Mencken *_One of the qualities of liberty is that, as long as it is being striven after, it goes on expanding. Therefore, the man who stands in the midst of the struggle and says, 'I have it,' merely shows by doing so that he has just lost it._* ~ Henrik Ibsen *_Liberty is to the collective body what health is to every individual body. Without health no pleasure can be tasted by man; without liberty, no happiness can be enjoyed by society._* ~ Henry St. John *_Liberty is the soul's right to breathe and, when it cannot take a long breath, laws are girdled too tight._* ~ Henry Ward Beecher *_Liberty is the possibility of doubting, the possibility of making a mistake, the possibility of searching and experimenting, the possibility of saying “No” to any authority -- literary, artistic, philosophic, religious, social and even political._* ~ Ignazio Silone *_The first step in saving our liberty is to realize how much we have already lost, how we lost it, and how we will continue to lose it unless fundamental political changes occur._* ~ James Bovard *_A day, an hour, of virtuous liberty Is worth a whole eternity in bondage._* ~ Joseph Addison *_Life without liberty is like a body without spirit._* ~ Kahlil Gibran *_Liberty is not a cruise ship full of pampered passengers. Liberty is a man-of-war, and we are all crew._* ~ Kenneth W. Royce *_Political liberty is nothing else but the diffusion of power._* ~ Lord Hailsham *_Liberty is rendered even more precious by the recollection of servitude._* ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero *_Americans have the mistaken viewpoint that Lady Liberty is only a peacetime luxury who is ill-equipped to fight the nasties. Therefore, they reason, we need an equally nasty Big Brother. Americans have forgotten that Lady Liberty is one ferocious mother when protecting her children._* ~ Mary Ruwart *_Liberty is one of the most precious gifts which heaven has bestowed on man; with it we cannot compare the treasures which the earth contains or the sea conceals; for liberty, as for honor, we can and ought to risk our lives; and, on for the other hand, captivity is the greatest evil that can befall man._* ~ Miguel de Cervantes *_Liberty is a slow fruit._* ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson *_What light is to the eyes - what air is to the lungs - what love is to the heart, liberty is to the soul of man._* ~ Robert G. Ingersoll *_The spirit of liberty is not merely, as multitudes imagine, a jealousy of our own particular rights, but a respect for the rights of others, and an unwillingness that any man, whether high or low, should be wronged and trampled under foot._* ~ William Ellery Channing *_The truth is that men are tired of liberty._* ~ Benito Mussolini *_It is true that liberty is precious; so precious that it must be carefully rationed._* ~ Vladimir Ilich Lenin

[@finn_underwood]

Usually elderly people are the conservatives in the USA. Unless you mean "society as a whole", in which case... there's always been a relatively even split between people who want to focus on problems that need fixing vs people who are happy with the current system and don't see much need to change things. I don't deny there's irrational disdain for the USA from citizens, but there's a myriad of valid problems that shouldn't be ignored out of a sense that we need to preserve traditions and old values. Times change, and pretending that a nation shouldn't change with the times is foolish. Idk, I got linked to this video by someone trying to weaponize it to obliterate any progressive argument, so perhaps that coloured my viewpoint of what you were trying to say. Apologies if I misinterpreted your tone.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Thank you for your comment and for your courtesy. I would be the first to acknowledge that identifying oikophobia in a particular person does not in and of itself invalidate that person's argument; the argument must of course always be dealt with individually on its own terms, as far as possible. And so this video/article, and my forthcoming book on the subject, do not try to suggest that progressives are always wrong; indeed I point out that both progressivism and conservatism are needed, in different doses at different times. Although I generally position myself against oikophobia, and although, by and large, I personally happen to stand considerably closer to the conservative than to the progressive camp (but without descending into blind partisanship), my larger effort in this context is simply to show something of how cultured societies develop, that they begin to turn against themselves, and when, how, and why they do so.

[@bighands69]

@Finn Underwood Valid problems? None of what the media and political order push is genuine. Here today gone tomorrow as long as it serves a purpose. We are watching a top down destruction of society because the base is currently weak and not interested in their world. We live in a vapid society of pure cruelty.

[@finn_underwood]

@bighand69 I direct your attention to topics such as Redlining, a practice by which, if you live in a neighborhood considered high-risk, it's significantly harder to get loans from banks. "Takes money to make money", after all, meaning you're kinda out of luck. And it doesn't help that many redlined districts were deliberately selected as such due to their primarily black population several decades ago by people who feared the idea of black and white people living side by side, and many of the laws that allow such redlining practices are *still* in practice or haven't been adequately compensated for. This is a real problem with the USA. I won't deny, major news organizations in the USA have a bias towards negativity and sensationalism - "Look at this thing that's horrible and could affect you plz keep watching past these ads to learn more" - but that doesn't mean it's all garbage or has no value. It doesn't mean all news reports from all news companies aren't genuine. And yes, the population of the USA as a whole has a substantial number of people who are privileged enough to not have to worry about, let alone be aware of, various issues that affect other groups of the population, which is a problem as it promotes ignorance of the ramifications when making decisions in law etc. But that doesn't mean everyone is like that, and it doesn't mean it isn't worth trying to fix things for the better.

[@jonathannadeau6218]

5:00 I’m a student of English (I’m French) and I’ve never heard the word “accompanied” pronounced like that. Is it also an acceptable way to say that word or did you just made a typo ?

[@BenedictBeckeld]

The way I pronounced it does occur from time to time, but you're right that it's not the standard pronunciation. In general, English words tend to have more "acceptable" pronunciations than French ones (there's of course no "académie anglaise" that decides what's right), but in this case you should pronounce it the way you're used to, and I should drop my somewhat unusual habit.

[@charlestruppi7793]

I don’t believe that the US is in “decline”. I think Oikophobia will play out by evolving to a totalitarian regime, either in service to the Oikophobia or in direct response to it and to crush it. The USA is in too advantageous a position with regards to geographical position (deep water ports on both the Atlantic and Pacific), surplus of natural resources, military power that will be unsurpassed for decades. I see the USA more at the end of the Roman Republican period then the Roman Empire 500 years later.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Whether the U.S. will become totalitarian one day is an open question (Plato, at least, would probably have agreed with you), but much of what you say here is exactly right, but this, too, is decline. In the forthcoming book on Oikophobia I explain the different ways in which a great power can decline. The Roman Empire is only one of many Western empires that have declined.

[@charlestruppi7793]

@@BenedictBeckeld - definitely agree and look forward to the book. I’m coming from the point of view that “decline” means that the country or empire will lose its standing on the world order. If and when (I definitely hope it never happens) the USA turns totalitarian, it will remain at the top of the global geopolitical hierarchy for a long time. Yes, the cultural “decline” will be felt far and wide and the world will be a much worse place for it.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Ok, that's actually part of what I also mean with decline by and large. Whereas we will not fall like the Roman Empire fell, with roving barbarians etc., I think we will lose power on the world stage relatively speaking (something similar to what Huntington describes in his "Clash of Civilizations"). But it's true that we are still close enough to our past peak that, barring some freak event, we will still remain dominant for quite a long time yet. You and I definitely share the same hope. (And thank you, I'll post a video announcing it once we have the publication date for the book.)

[@kebman]

Except oikophobia is a mental disorder.

[@radthadd]

Thats the point

[@codymccabe9050]

In other words. Their all Disloyal Fs.

[@dark_fire_ice]

Gonna argue against the "decline" of USA; in a comparison to others then one can say a relative decline, as our high not as substantially higher than our competitors, but that didn't come at our direct expense. The last 80 years the USA has been actively trying to increase other nations standards (because if not the USSR would). As for outward unified force, that's in the bag, like never before, the US armed force are more closely united than ever before, now than will likely lead to patronage, but we are not quite there yet (despite all the effort of those who should be against it)

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

I would say that your use of the word "elite" reflects a sense of your own oikophobia - self contempt. Should you denigrate someone just because the are studying for a phd? People are questioning the presence of statues and past leaders because they don't like elements of the current culture, not all of it. It's not "self hatred" so much as being fed up with pieces of it, which people wish to change. Fair enough. We are undoing an overdue internal review - the opposite of jingoism or national narcissism. We saluted our gods for hundred of years and now we question them. It's a healthy process, as long as reflection rather than hatred lead. - - You seem very anxious about communism. - - "Our culture is crowded out by diverse cultures and we do not defend it". I think you are spending too much time with twenty-something students. You need to get out more.

[@DrEhrfurchtgebietend]

I know its common to be taught that starting a factual article with a story but please dont. People just want the facts

[@BenedictBeckeld]

I was never taught this; I simply wanted readers to understand what sort of thing I'm referring to, since the term is new to most. And please do not presume to know what other people want, or to tell me how to write. If you don't like it, you are free to read something else.

[@DrEhrfurchtgebietend]

@@BenedictBeckeld I like the term and the article. This was just a tip. Professors in journalism school do teach this and it is a common issue. The main stream media suffers from this a lot. People's attention span is short now so the structure of how to "hook" somebody into an article has really changed. It was intended to be constructive criticism because I want the content of the article to spread easier. Its also possible that I am wrong on this. It really depends on the target audience.

[@BenedictBeckeld]

Ok, thank you, I appreciate the explanation. I've written pieces that do not include a story, but for the reason I mentioned I thought it would be appropriate in this case. I do agree with you, however, that stories are often included for the wrong reason, namely that people's attention spans are short and that they are not used to following long arguments or series of facts, which does make much writing nowadays worse, yes, that's very true. The book will be coming out soon enough, so hopefully the main contents will spread well.

[@EnglishSaxons]

I wonder who came up with the oikaphobia word was it some swine

[@badger1296]

Yeah, I call BS on this. To thrive for one culture usually means the beatdown of others cultures. But, taken the same groups in unity, the people without prosperity greatly outnumber those who are prosperous. It is with this flawed notion, he builds all other notions. Nations? If one could vacuum up all bricks and mortar elements of government, one would see multi factions and tribalism. If the one faction who has dominated over all everyone else, is this a testament to their greatness? If there is redress, is this proof of weakness. (According to the speaker)

[@Igneous01]

Show me a time in history where this has not been the case. Not all cultures are equal, nor do they produce the same outcomes for their citizens. Even in the home you will not find equal outcomes. There's lots of evidence that shows first born kids have higher IQ in general and are usually more successful than second and third born. Most astronauts that were part of the Apollo program were first born or only child. So if we can't even get equal outcomes in the family, what makes you think we can somehow attain equality on a societal level?

[@badger1296]

@@Igneous01 Straw man

[@radthadd]

@@badger1296 ...

[@jasonlipka]

And your doctorate is in???? He's been published in academic journals. You have an account on YT. You're free to disagree with him, but don't be surprised when people question what YOU say a lot more than him. Personally, his argument is far more compelling than your little snippet here.

[@badger1296]

@@jasonlipka Not to say this applies to this KZbinr, but many people hold a doctorate who are not respected very mych within their field (*cough*, Jordan Peterson). To me, a doctorate is the bare-minimum to be a revered researcher in a given field. This is why I called strawman on the original bloke who came up with the "Who are you, he has a doctorate" answer. Yes, people who work directly in a specific field are usually going to have A LOT more knowledge on subjects pertaining to their field than the usual everyday college graduate. BUT, this, by itself, means nothing. As Evangelicals are so quick to point out, there are even a few scientist with doctorates who back up their Noah's Flood narrative (bat-da-tis, Google "Answers in Genesis"). Usually (in America), the public does not believe academic professionals because 1) the people's piss-poor education systems and 2) piss-poor reporting on academic happenings, like the sciences (but generally in most fields, too). It is on this second point that I'd like to speak. Americans hear/read/see reports on a new breakthrough; next week they hear/see/read the opposite claim and think, 'Professional researchers/academics are self-serving, dishonest, and [pick biggoted belief or attitude and insert here].' Then, because of a lack of wealth and heslthcare too, Americans often go the psuedo-science/psuedo-accademic route. This last part happens, in part, because of clickbait titles of their articles, the journalist not understanding the science (or other subject) fully themselves, editors further dumbing down information (so Americans will understand the words better), and most importantly--AUTHORS OFTEN REPORT ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF A SUBJECT WHERE THE IDEAS ARE NOT SETTLED, WHERE THERE IS MUCH DEBATE, AND (MOST IMPORTANTLY) IT HAS NOT EVEN BEEN GENERALLY/WIDELY ACCEPTED AS FACT IN SAID FIELD, YET. The reporters often leave this last vital part out, much less ideas of peer-review, experiments on multiple populations and conditions, internal consistency, experimental flaws and limitations, future studies, metaanalysis, etc. Many a (truthful) doctorate holder may need to back down from a previously occupied position and say "I was wrong," and concede to the better theory (etc), despite them being a prolific peer-reviewed author. I cannot remember if you asked about my education or not (some others in this comment thread have). Honestly, I can relate ANYTHING regarding my degrees, accomplishments, honors, thesis, specific coursework, cutting my teeth in a specific field, etc. But, this is internet land and anyone can say anything without the ability for (most) others to check writers/commenter's personal claims. I will tell you what you might have already pulled from my comment; I am a man, who has many different experiences, who lived among people who are from cultures around the world, I got an education late in life (the Fr. in my name stands for Father of the non-religious variety). I EARNED an AA, BA, and MA in fields that directly deal with humans, society, and their interactions. Although my writing may not imply this, but my occupation since my education has been to work with EXTREMELY diverse populations of people, institutions, and their problems. However, what is more important than my degrees, titles, and my profession is that I can listen to an idea, consider apposing ideas at the same time, judge the ideas for reasons other than bias (or at least call my bias out and ethically deal with it), research it myself with diverse peer-reviewed info (if I think that it is important enough to expend the energy), and ADMIT THAT I WAS WRONG AND CHANGE MY MIND IF THE DAMNING EVIDENCE CONTRADICTS MY BELIEFS. But make no bones about it: Decent is VITAL to keep an open mind and research going forwsrd. For instance, the US Constitution, Federalist Papers, and many other contemporary American writings spoke at length about the rights and freedoms of its people, specifically Caucasian wealthy men who have an Anglo background (most Trumpists wouldn't make the cut, too poor). It is only through A LOT OF DESCENT did we struggled to break these bonds of inequality for many people. Still, many Americans descent and say that we are still fighting this battle of "all men are created equal" very much today. My moto is all people are equal and we all deserve the basic dignities of life. But, all beliefs and ideas are not equal and deserve to be called out, discussed, and ridiculed if needed (specifically dangerous beliefs and ideas that people dogedly hold). **Just as a footnote, PotHoler54 is a WONDERFUL science reporter, who has a STRONG background in geology, dispels many a biggoted belief in pseudoscience, current world phenomena, and the like. Cheers

[@emeyland-smith5986]

Talk a bit slower please

[@BenedictBeckeld]

I'll keep it in mind.

[@bellezavudd]

Theres a way to change the speed of youtube videos that works great for people who require a faster or slower speech. Its axcessed by tapping the 3 white dots in the top right corner of the videos. ☺

[@bradneece2409]

Thank you for the nationalist propaganda. This kind of hostility has hit boiling points within the US throughout its history. This is a product of those with institutional power either doing the bare minimum or the exact opposite of what's needed to be done for the working class and other marginalized groups. You're omitting how specifically our society is declining, and dismissing any legitimate reasoning for resentment people feel towards their nation, like our uncomfortable history that gets ignored, a shrinking middle class with growing wealth inequality and poverty including in white rural areas, etc. It'd be a bit weird to be proud of the very hierarchy that hurts you. Kind of masochistic. A coping mechanism to dismiss issues, and remain in a conservative framework, even though all these problems are arising under conservatism and moderate neoliberalism. ie- Reagan, Clinton, W. Bush, Obama, Trump, and now Biden. A big nothing-circle on a loop because our rigged 2 party system won't allow for ideas outside the established overton window of political thought in our country.

[@Igneous01]

You also need to ask why a shrinking middle class is even a thing. The shrinking middle class is related to the ever increasing cost of living, which is caused by irresponsible spending by government and business, as well as things like minimum wage laws, rent control laws, and over-regulated markets. Social programs like welfare, minimum wage, rent control all contribute to driving wealth disparity and making everyone worse off. We need to have an actual discussion on the problems with these programs and how to correct them so that they are more fiscally responsible. We also need to acknowledge the inherently racist intentions behind the creation of welfare state, because it's no surprise that Black families were enticed to going on welfare as long as they separated from their spouses, which is a form of social engineering to make Blacks worse off over the generations.

[@radthadd]

its not rigged in the sense that the other parties are too fringe and disorganized, therefore natural losers. You are oikaphobic. Your passive aggressive thanks doesn't help either