Young Voices, Old Fears: A Clash of Perspectives

The Unexpected Invitation

A few years back, during a family dinner, an unexpected message popped up. A friend alerted me to a Clubhouse chat about me.

Clubhouse, a social app that was big during the pandemic, is like a mix of a conference call and a panel discussion. People create virtual rooms, pick speakers, and others listen in.

That night, a room was titled "David French: Based or Cringe?" In the new right's lingo, "based" means sticking to your beliefs, no matter what. "Cringe" is the opposite. I decided to join, curious about the verdict.

The Verdict

Turns out, I was labeled "supremely cringe." A panelist was already ranting about my flaws as a writer and a person.

For the next three hours, I faced a barrage of questions from mostly young, right-wing listeners. They were upset that I didn't agree with their view that America was in a "death spiral." They believed the country was in crisis and needed drastic, even authoritarian, measures to fix it.

The Argument

Their argument was rooted in a quote from a novel:

"Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And weak men create hard times."

They saw America's past as glorious, built by strong men, and its present as weak and declining. They blamed modern conservatives like me for not fighting to reclaim that lost greatness.

The Nostalgia

This nostalgia is a big part of the new right's appeal. They contrast an idealized past with a miserable present. For example, a popular right-wing podcaster claimed that everything—food, clothing, travel—has gotten worse over the years. But this claim is far from true.

Americans today live longer, earn more, and enjoy better living conditions than in the past.

The Frustration

However, facts alone can't change deep-seated feelings. The young people I talked to genuinely felt that something had gone wrong in America. They were angry and frustrated, and my attempts to counter their views only made them more upset.

The Drag Queen Argument

One recurring argument was about drag queens reading to kids in libraries. To this, I responded with a friend's words:

"More drag queens, sure, but fewer slaves—the moral trajectory of Western civilization isn't entirely in the direction of failure."

The Lack of Perspective

Young people often lack perspective. They experience adversity without the context that comes with age. Older generations have failed them by not providing that context. We've taught them to see the other side as the enemy, fueling polarization and radicalization.

The Growing Divide

In 2014, a poll showed that most Republicans and Democrats viewed the opposing party unfavorably. This animosity has only grown, fueled by social media and constant outrage. We've taught our kids to despair, to see every election as a life-or-death struggle.

The Apology

If I could do that Clubhouse conversation again, I'd start with an apology. I'm sorry we turned against our neighbors, allowed political hatred to corrupt our hearts, and taught you to despair. We failed you, and now we're all paying the price.