In today’s episode of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” Victor Davis Hanson and Jack Fowler described the “No Kings” protests, citing a Daily Mail article by psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert. They said that the event was an “empty expression of caring” where “elderly white baby boomers” sought “validation” through virtue signaling.
This transcript has been lightly edited for clarity.
Jack Fowler: “The ‘No Kings’ protest, from what I’ve seen in person and on TV, it seems to me like a big venting session. It’s almost like a big group therapy. So, people get stuff off their chest, and they feel better in the moment, but it doesn’t necessarily bring about any sort of positive change.” He said that “rather than actually affecting change, many of them are simply craving community or validation,” which he said, “can be addictive.”
Final thing here. “A lot of times people unhappy in their own lives, they may have anxiety or anger, and they project that onto others. That’s partly what we’re seeing play out in these rallies.” Victor, your thoughts on these rallies and what the psychiatrist said?
Victor Davis Hanson: Well, we have a rule, Jack. We do not use the K word.
Fowler: We don’t.
Hanson: The K-blank-blank-blank-N.
Fowler: Right.
Hanson: But these are the types of stereotypes by age, race, gender, and income status that I have a little something called the VDH radar. And it’s an early form of radar, so it only has a range of about 40 yards. But when I’m walking somewhere, i.e., a restaurant, a coffee shop, an airport, I have this little bleeper in my brain. It goes, “DEFCON 1! DEFCON 1! DEFCON 1!” And then this person comes up, and then I see the scowl, and then the pace increases, and then he’s in my circle. “You”—It’s usually you—“you think you know better.” It’s all this talking down to somebody.