https://www.caitlinjohnst.one/p/the-west-only-has-pretend-heroes
As the US-backed atrocities in the middle east get uglier and uglier, I keep thinking about something that was said by an Iranian cleric named Shahab Moradi after the US assassinated Iran’s immensely popular general Qassem Soleimani in 2020.
Moradi complained that Iran can’t even really retaliate for the assassination because the US doesn’t have any real heroes of its own like Soleimani, saying, “Think about it. Are we supposed to take out Spider-Man and SpongeBob?”
I’ve never seen a more incisive and withering critique of western culture, and I probably never will. It’s such an accurate statement and paints such a clear picture of what this civilization is really like that it’s hard to imagine how anyone could possibly top it.
There are no real heroes with popular support in the western empire, because everything that’s truly heroic gets stomped down here, and everything that gets amplified to popularity is either vapid distraction or directly facilitates the interests of the evil empire.
Our own generals are busy butchering civilians for oil and geostrategic control.
Our military personnel are imperial stormtroopers.
Our police are the security guards of capitalism.
Our most prominent journalists are all propagandists.
Our most prominent celebrities are famous because of their ability to pretend to be fictional characters doing fake things in Hollywood movies.
Our most prominent artists are famous because of their ability to churn out formulaic pop songs about empty-headed bullshit.
Our most widely recognized symbols are corporate logos.
Our most highly regarded professionals are those who can sell westerners the most future landfill manufactured by wage slaves in the global south.
Our most well-known government leaders are those who’ve sold their souls to oligarchs and imperialists and can lie to the public most convincingly.
The only westerners doing truly heroic things here get thrown in prison, or murdered, or pushed into obscurity, because the only truly heroic thing anyone can do in today’s world is to take a stand against the western empire.
Be seeing you
MCViewPoint 