I believe it was late August 2016 or sometime in September 2016 when I first caught wind of the Proud Boys, and that they were setting up a website/digital zine for anyone to submit and contribute original pieces. Being a big Gavin McInnes from my college days from VICE Magazine to back then in 2016 with his classic REBEL MEDIA videos I was immediately interested in submitting an article. As for the actual club and it's charters-- I have to admit I never joined or had much interest in joining, but was always in full support for what always felt like, and still does feel like just a Punk Rock Version of The Elks. Long story short I submitted a piece about Social Justice/Political correctness in direct connection to Clint Eastwood's August 2016 Esquire Magazine interview where he called the current generation a "Pussy Generation." The Proud Boys liked it, and published the piece.
Although I'm not sure if Gavin McInnes had any editorial say or influence whatsoever with the zine, and it did not matter. He is and was, one of my all time favorite modern-day writers from VICE, TAKI MAG, and his book Death of Cool (best summer read of my life). So, to even be slightly and/or distantly associated with his group, and website in regards to a piece I wrote-- it had a profound effect on me. It led me to continue writing about current events, politics, and my own personal philosophy with confidence and pride.
This is that very piece from late Summer 2016, entitled:
"Clint Didn't Go Far Enough"
In a recent Esquire Magazine interview Clint Eastwood referred to the current combined generation of the ‘Gen-Xers and Millennials’ as the “Pussy Generation.” I wholeheartedly agree with him. But I am going to take it one step further. They are the “Compliance Generation.” Both Generations have perpetuated a philosophy and societal movement that is rooted in complying with absolutely anything in the name of safety, security, and political correctness.
Unfortunately, I am a thirty-one-year-old man born in 1985, and am associated with both Generations. At one time I felt great pride being closely related to the Gen-Xers, as I am an avid fan of punk rock, anarchy, beer drinking, and pretty much anything that is a big fuck you to the man. But as of late I am losing steam on my pride of feeling connected to “Generation X,” because more and more they are falling victim to the social justice movement. Which is now being shoved down our throats by my more closely related generational relatives the ‘Millennials.’
Every Generation prior to this one we are currently living in has become more intellectual and progressive through freedom of expression, thought, and action. Not this one. The compliance brigade is actually reversing the progression of thought and humanity in the name of progression and humanity. What are they missing here? The proof is so clearly in front of all of our faces currently, and written time and time again in our history books. The progress we have achieved so far as a species in such little relative time to the existence of Earth is astounding. And, it has all been based on going against the grain, and questioning everything. Especially, when there is a collective group of people espousing that you can’t say this, or do that, and if you are going to say this, it has to be said this way; and if you are still going to do that, please only do it this way, but only on every third Tuesday.
From Shakespeare to Washington, to Kafka to Eisenhower, we have been reminded time and time again we will lose our souls, and everything that is important to us in the shallow, and short-sighted search for absolute safety and security. They all spoke of the dangers of this philosophical, and political thought control seeping into all aspects of society. All these men warned us about a looming ‘Social Justice War.’
Shakespeare subtly and masterfully railed against the Crown’s religious and political persecution at the time.
Washington warned that such thoughts would divide us as a nation. Political correctness and social justice is dividing us, and creating more of a duopoly amongst our political class.
Kafka, where do I even begin. Every word he wrote was a lament against all bureaucracy known to man. Now, sadly we live in a generation of people in control that have rolled out the red carpet for the ‘Bureaucratic Takeover.’
Aww, My Man Eisenhower. This dude holds a special place in my heart. One of the truly last ‘Great Presidents’ our nation has seen. I wish I lived during his tenure as General and President. My pride as an American is merely a nostalgic one based on people like Eisenhower. He eloquently and specifically warned future generations as a sitting president against societal control in forms of movements such as The Military Industrial Complex, and it's misguided concept of preemptive war. He told us that the vein search for absolute safety and security would bankrupt us as a people, and he was right. These grave warnings can also be applicable to all elements of society.
Even with all these grave warnings from these great men separated by hundreds of years throughout our time and space, we still find ourselves right in the middle of this shit storm. The eternal strife we were so cleverly, and caringly warned against by these great men has never come to such fervent fruition as within this new generation. With a looming election right around the corner I hope a push comes to a shove, and something intrinsically societal and philosophical changes in our country or we are headed for an even graver, and more intensely divided future.
Political correctness will be the intellectual prison that destroys free speech and a peaceful society, and we are currently ushering it in as the new saving grace of the west. God help us all.
My experience with the Proud Boys was not racist or bigoted in any way shape or form. As for the idea of white supremacy being a backbone for the group? It wasn't a topic I felt like was even being in-directly approached in the editorial email chain I had with their site administrators/editors for this piece that got published, and for the few pieces I submitted that never made it up.
POYB
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