Is ‘Woke’ Broke? The Perils of Living in a Parallel Universe

'[The Left's] target is the destruction of Christian civilization and the moral law that sustains such an order.'

From The Imaginative Conservative

By John Horvat

If there is any word guaranteed to enhance a conversation or article, it is “woke.” Most people are not exactly sure what it means, but they sense that using the expression sends a message of being aware of the latest trends. Even the most convinced conservatives realize that a slight reference to the word establishes credentials for commentary.

The buzzword lends itself to many variations. It gives rise to great awokenings, wokeness, and being the wokest. It allows for dazzling displays of wit since it rhymes with broke, smoke, joke and other “-oke” words. The word stands out since its adjective form is not only politically but grammatically incorrect.

The Left uses the word in earnest as if it really means something. The Right employs it in jest to highlight its absurdity. Everyone in-between uses “woke” in order not to appear hopelessly “unwoke.” Its usage is a grand theatrical spectacle, which, to paraphrase Shakespeare, is “full of sound-byte and fury, signifying nothing.”

Is Woke Broke?

Merriam-Webster defines the word as being “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).” What that means is left to the imagination. Most sense that it means falling into step with the ready-to-go narrative offered by Critical Race Theorists by which just about everything can be labeled racist.

The big problem with “woke” is that it is not connected to the real world. Everyone knows it is theater but dares not say it. Like so many other liberal buzzwords, it inhabits a parallel universe divorced from reality. At the risk of sounding “wokish,” the word is in trouble: “woke” is broke.

In an interview with Vox, Democratic strategist James Carville surprisingly admitted this brokenness. He claims the Democrats are alienating a lot of people with their “woke” arrogance. “Woke” users are “people in faculty lounges in fancy colleges [who] use a different language than ordinary people.”

“Jargon-y Language Unrecognizable to Most People”

The “woke” crowd comes up with words and expressions that wow the coastal urban enclaves. However, expressions like “Latinx” and “communities of color” are not used by the people they describe. Ordinary people can’t make sense of this pseudo-elite verbiage that is much more virtue-signaling than genuine concern for the less fortunate.

Mr. Carville says that Democrats need to communicate “without using jargon-y language that’s unrecognizable to most people—including most Black people, by the way….”

The expressions might look good in op-eds, CNN commentaries, and political discourse. However, the former Clinton advisor believes that it would be better if “the language used should be something that regular Americans can understand.”

“Woke” Is Doomed

Mr. Carville’s observations highlight the problem with all liberal universes. They are based on fantasies that distort daily realities. These theories are shrouded in terms that regular Americans cannot understand. When these delusional theories become policy, they have disastrous results, shattering the lives of individuals and increasing government control.

“Woke” is a doomed word since it expresses a distorted reality. It is based upon Critical Race Theory that frames the debate to favor a class-struggle narrative, dividing humanity into oppressors and oppressed. Like all Marxist lingo, “woke” fans discontent. It deepens resentments instead of healing them.

The Left’s conversation does not appeal to ordinary Americans because it is much less attuned to human nature and the natural desire for unity. The Right often includes an appeal to Christian charity in its message. When charity rules in a social order, individuals become self-sacrificing and concerned for the common good. The Church’s action teaches unity in Christ, not division.

Living Off Of Illusions

The perplexing thing about concepts like “wokeness” is that promoters often perceive their lack of foundation. The Left does not seem to care if its schemes work or not. Its target is the destruction of Christian civilization and the moral law that sustains such an order. This end goal justifies any means.

The Left has always lived off of labels and illusions. Rather than change their skewed views, liberals deny the problem and attach themselves to the next reincarnation of their nefarious doctrines. “Wokeness” is no exception to this rule.

“Wokeness is a problem, and everyone knows it,” Mr. Carville admits. “It’s hard to talk to anybody today—and I talk to lots of people in the Democratic Party—who doesn’t say this. But they don’t want to say it out loud.”

“Woke” may be broke, but in leftist parallel universes, there is always the next illusion ready to wreak havoc on society as it tumbles down the slope to Marxist misery.