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Sexual Freedom and the Struggle Against Authoritarianism and Fascism [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2023-11-10
It’s a safe bet that most readers did not think this article would feature a picture of Chuck Berry. I also considered a photo of Elvis “the pelvis” Presley as the lead photo.
The Early 50’s
So you’re probably asking, what in the world do they have to do with my title?
Let me start with the early 1950s. We had McCarthyism, the Korean War, Russia-phobia, and the threat of nuclear war. Conservatism ruled and sex in the closet, and something we were suppose to wait for until marriage probably after about 10 years of post puberty.
Hail, Hail Rock n Roll
Almost in response to this climate, a new music form erupted on the scene called Rock n Roll, which served as a way out of the sex-negative oppressive culture that had long captured America. While not outwardly political in any way, it eventually demolished the old dead culture for millions of young people.
Josephine Baker doing he Charleston, mid 1920s.
It certainly was outwardly and physically sexual. The music gave birth to new dances like "Mashed Potato", "The Twist", "The Frug" and "The Watusi” with movements that stimulated us sexually, even if we didn’t know it! Some had animal names, including "The Chicken", "The Pony" and "The Dog". The music and dancing stirred up repressed sexual behaviors and emotions.
The stage was set for further rebelliousness and eventually what was called the sexual revolution, which may have actually developed in the 20s but was dampened by the Great Depression and WWII, eventually leading to politicizing the social order.
We’ve had peace movements, the civil rights movement, S.D.S., the Black Panthers, Martin Luther King, George McGovern, the Anti-Vietnam movement, Actup, the Young Lords, Gay and Lesbian liberation organizations, to name just a few since the 60s — all of them up against the old conservative, right wing orientation of the country and put authoritarianism on the defensive.
Stimulating our Human Side
I strongly believe that increased sexual expression itself stimulated our humanistic side, and acted as a positive social catalyst. Of course it is far from a more complete and conscious sexual, class or human liberation, but they have in many historical situations had fundamental effects on society itself. In the same way, the more one’s sexuality is impaired and frustrated, the more they may lean towards a cynical, authoritarian view of the world.
MAGA Personalities
Trump worshiping is a serious manifestation of cultism and authoritarian dependence.
We’ve all been frustrated and puzzled by the rigid, angry, illogical and sometimes violent behavior of the MAGA followers, but similar such groups have been around much longer. It has been the fact that the Republican Party has given free reign to their irrational perspectives and made them believe they too hold the same ones that has awakened them on the political stage.
How Fascism Spreads
They have been captured in part by someone like Donald Trump because he has imparted to them a belief, as illusionary as that might be, that they are sharing power in some fashion with the upper echelons of society by supporting him. A God-like figure that shares their world view, fantasies and prejudices and gives a sense of validity to them.
This is how fascism develops and metastasizes. By recruiting the easily deceived and those who already are under the grip of, or who have tendencies toward, authoritarian ideologies.
Capitalism Cannot Resolve What it Creates
Partial list of short comings.
Another little considered factor is the failure of capitalist societies to address many critical problems which daily effect us. Influencing some people towards believing that what is required to solve these problems are authoritarian or dictatorial measures.
My own father, many years ago, said something I’ve often heard from other working class men. In response to reading some horrible crime story reported in the papers, he said “They should put a cop on every corner.” This is the type of thinking which can lead you down that road to authoritarian solutions.
This does not mean there is a magic bullet that can defeat the MAGA/Trump supporters or win them over. Most have leaned towards their current beliefs for most of their lives. The short term answer is to discredit and expose Mr. Trump, which would be a lot easier if he wasn’t propped up by the corporate media.
Sexual Repression and Generating the MAGA Problem
MAGA attack on the Capital, January 6th, 2021. The size of the demonstration and attack that day were large, significant, and nearly succeeded. Trump’s demise would weaken but not eliminate the threat they pose.
Sexual repression and imposed ignorance plays an under appreciated, contributing role in producing MAGA followers. The resulting sexual guilt and repression effects us in both emotional and physical ways, sometimes for most of our lives.
Wilhelm Reich, author of Mass Psychology of Fascism, was also a treating psychoanalyst, and documented many of these specific effects. He, unlike Freud and many others, believed that destructive tendencies (such as found in many fascist and MAGA suporters) are not natural within a person from birth, but were often a result of the repression of the libido (the natural energy generated by one’s innate sexuality, only fully released through a relaxed orgasm), which if not satisfied then builds up tension and pressures over time in both mind and body that can express themselves forcefully and often brutally in unpredictable and irrational ways. Reich described the effects as leading often to mental rigidity/inflexibility and sadistic or cruel behaviors, which is exactly the appeal of Mr. Trump.
Reich maintained, in the case of orgastic impotence, from which he believed a vast majority of humans are suffering, biological energy is dammed up, thus becoming the source of all kinds of irrational behavior. The cure of psychic disturbances requires in the first place the establishment of the natural capacity for love.
He further believed psychic health depends on orgastic potency, that is, on the capacity for surrender to sexual excitation in the natural sexual act. Its basis is the “non-neurotic character attitude and capacity for love.” In other words, mental illness can result from a disturbance in the natural capacity for love.
MAGA “Sex”
MAGA violence can be uncontrollable.
Of course, MAGA “sex” occurs later in life anyway, but in a fundamentally distorted and unsatisfying way, often without a fulfilling orgasm or not one at all. The inherent violent tendencies found in many patriarchal men being one effect. And also in the inability of women to have a pleasurable orgasm. This is, of course, is not the only factor in forming the MAGA type individual, nor is it always the primary one.
But the long term effects of sexually repressive upbringing can have far reaching consequences which are rarely appreciated. Any strategy to undermine Republican goals must factor in the strengths and weaknesses of their movement and the mass psychology of MAGA followers to prevent another more violent attempt at seizing power.
Recommended Reading:
More About Reich
The Mass Psychology of Fascism
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